The border vidette., 1931-11-14
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON,
HOST AND HUNTSMAN

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ington was au enthusiastic hunts
man is evidenced in many of his
own writings and letters, accord
ing to the Division Of Informa
ton and Publication of the Unit.
ed States George Washington
Bicentennial Commission. He
was a superb horseman; many
contemporaries in their writings
noted bis splendid appearance on
horseback. lafayette, in des
cribing him a letter home, spoke
of him as the most magnificent
figure be had ever oeheld, when
mounted on his white charger.
General Washington loved his
horses and his dogs, and enjoyed
the keen sport and excitement of
the chase. In fact. he joIned in
hunting and all sports and games
more for this reason than for
honors or success.
He was in the habit of hunting
three times week If the weather
was favorable. During the hunt
ing season, Mount Vernon enter
Iaineds many sporting guests
from theneigh boringestates, from
Maryland and elewhere. Taese
guests arrived, often with their
own retinues Of servants, their
own mounts. and remained for
visits, not of days but of weeks,
during which time they were en-
tertained royalty in the good old
style.
Breakfast was served at can
delight, the table groaning with
the bounty of delectable south
ern dishes. Washington himself,
however, rarely partook of any
thing but Indian corn cakes and
milk. He often asked the bless
ing at his table. unless there was
q clergyman present, all stand
ing during this ceremony.
At dawn the cavalcade would
be ready to start, Washington
mounted 90 his favorite hunter,
Blueskin, a fiery animal of grea,
endurance, dark iron gray iu
color. For hunting be wore the
fashionable costume of the times.
a blue coat, scarlet waist-coat,
buckskin breeches, top boots
and velvet cap. He carried a
whip with tong thong.
Billy, who was Washington :
body-servant during the war,
rode with the hounds, mounted
on Chinking, q French hunts.
mans horn slung across bis
shoulders, riding fearlessly
through brake and tangled wood,
in style which would strike
terror to the heart of most mod
ern riders.
Washington took great pride
in his hounds and had his pack
so critically drafted as to speed
and bottom, that in running, if
one dog lost the scent, another
was Immediately at hand to re
cover it. When running IN full
cry, you could cover the pack
with a blanket"
Mt. Vernon had large kennel
of hounds and a fine stud of
horses. Washington kept with
his own hands CAREFUL register
in which could be found the
names. ages and marks of each.
Had the records of horse breed
ing during the Revolution, and
the time Immediately following,
been more carefully kept, there
is no doubt that the stables of the
present day could boast descend
ents of the renowned stable.
which included the fiery Blue
skin, the famous full-blooded
Arabian, Magnolia, Ajax, Val
liant, and Chinklin. Some of the
hounds we're named ulcan, Ring
wood, Singer, True Love, Music,
Sweetlips, Forester, and Rock
wood.
Following these early morning
hunts, the party would return to
Mt. Vernon for dinner, ussually Y
finding additional guests who
had arrived from neiborlng estat
es to learn the result of the hunt
and to enjoy the afternoon's 5
gayety.
A bounteous dinner was serv
ed. after which some of the
guests would play loo, the pre-
ferred game of the times, others
would gather about the harpsich
ord. and with the accompaniment
of lutte and violin. raise their
voices in pleasing choruses.
After supper which was serv
ed about nine or ten o'clock was
usually dancing-the minuet, and
jolly country dances which the
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