The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-02-25
RANKED HIGH IN MORAL FOR
HIS TIME-INSIDE FACTS
ON AUTHORITY

great moderation, imbibing wine
very seldom because it disagreed
with his Digestion" William Ian
Ter Washington, of Westport,
Conn, said last Sunday at a pa
triotic symposium in the church
of st. Mark's-in -Bouwerie.
Mr.. Washington, a member of
the first presidents family, defend
ed Washington from recent state
ments of Rupert Hughes, novelist.
''This talk about him gambling,
drinking and swearing is rot and
without foundation" he said.
Gives True Story
Drawing on family history, Mr..
Washington made the following
statements about Washington:
He had a great temper and
swore at times, but did not habit
ually use profanity.
He liked the women and liked
to dance.
He was very athletic, a wrestler
of power and a good broad jumper.
He gambled for trifling stakes
as was customary in the society
of his day.
His first set of false teeth was
made by Paul Revere.
His complexion was "pasty"
and married by smallpox scars.
His clothes were once stolen by
two girls as he bathed and one OF
the offenders was sentenced to SIX
months when Washington failed
to appreciate the joke. ,
Demanded Temperance
George Washington considered {
temperance n of his characters
tics to be taken into account when '
considering the promotion Of his
officers, it is shown in confidential
notes written by the revolution
ary general and now in the vault
of the state library.
The notes comprise a report ON
the generals staff compiled at a
time when a vacancy was about g
to occur. They reveal chat OF lot
generals, Washington had heard 70
reports that three of them were
"no enemy to the bottle" and four
"sober." Of three he reported a
that he had no knowledge whether 5
Ahev drank or not, and in the re Z
ports on the others he did not t,
mention drinking. a
Penknife VS.. Hatchet n
Not the famous Ratchet OF c
George Washington, but a dainty e
white-handled penknife reveals b
better his character. a
So says DR.. Paul F. Bloomhardt' f
of biology at Witten- 81
oerg college, Springfield, o.
Washington's father gave the z
Ratchet. as even school children re-
member, in February, and George
down a choice cherry tree
the orchard. Later ne con-
fessed, and promptly. =
But the penknife was given 10 !,
him by his mother. She was 50 :,
pleased with the lads BEHAVIOR !,
hat she gave him a bit OF hne :,
~cautioning the young ma n
always to obey his superiors' y
This knife he carried as a oailS- :
man. oo5
compliment as general of the Am -
sricans who fought for their lib p =
rites in the Revolutionary war y
At the lowest ebb of the Revo- ";
,,tion with a weak Congress ian ~
to provide even food for ms
,~aIf-clothed men at Valley Forge =,
Washington once wrote out MS II
,esignation.
Greatest Battle
He struggled with himself. TINS u
his greatest battle, says DIR; u.
3loombardt. who studies ana Il
caches the lives of Great Amera-
General Knox came into the u
.abin which was general head y
|1oy,ters at the valley and Wash &c
ngton showed him the resignation
is written. IA =,
81 know what to do until his eye NJ
- the CLINT of the penknlte M
n General Washington's desk,
E" Knov knew its story, and with II
nj anv utterance, gently pushed ia
ne keepsake under the clencheu Y
ands Of General Washington CT
washington flushed.
Knox said, "You were always to or
how vour superiors. No n a M
ommanded you to cease leading m.
his army"
ion was tossed into the log
re-. and the great Washington te.
on. ,4o 80
The hatchet showed the truth pa
of the boy; the penknlfe re
oowed the stability of the a TO
The knife should replace the of
atchet, DR.. Bloomhardt says. d
The knife is among the Wash pa
o-ton relics in a Virginia Mason