Evening Star Newspaper, February 22, 1931, Page 70

F2 [ BY JOHN L. COONTZ. N old Alexandria the citizens revere George Washington’s memory as one of them; still refer to him as “the General”; still recall days and occa- sions on which he came to town, when he visited this or that place, attended this or that social gathering, put his interest and infiuence behind this or that project. They recall when, as a young man, he drilled “his soldiers” on the “commons,” where now stands the City Market, and they envelop with idol- jzed military romanticism the giant, clear-cut frame as the dusk of evening swallowed it up at the great doorway of Gadsby’s (then the City Tavern) after each imaginary fray against the French, while the belles of the village cast glances in the near presence of the “mas- terful, forceful Napecleon in their midst.” There were stumps in the square then; maybe the jail was there; sure, the Court Hcouse. How well do they recapture the early scenes— the rough-hewn streets of clay in the wilder- ness by the river, its gleaming silver at the foot of King, the famous Ramsey and Carlyle houses by it. And there they still stand, the 6ne facing the Potomac as of old, its neighbor nearby it and a bit way up old Fairfax, Gadsby’'s Tavern and the square across the street. One hears the echo of foosteps of long ago as he treads this memorable ground. He shuts his eyes and the dim past rises up like a wraith that soon resolves itself into corporeal reality and there stands before him old Alexandria set in its half-thinned world, a tavérn here and a tavern there, a few shops scattered wide, the market square with its civic buildings and in the fields to the west Christ's Church. And clouding the doorways and standing at tavern bars and on the streets neighbors and friends of “the General.” IT is the year 1798. “The General” is back home from the affairs of state. His services are over. He is living quietly at Mount Vernon under “my own vine and fig tree,” as he hoped that he soon would be able to do in a letter to Lafayette shortly after the close of hostilities in 1781. He was visiting Alexandria from time to time, taking an active interest in the welfare of the town, where he not only owned property .and voted, but resided from time to time in his “town house.” There were many sides to the character of “the General.” He not only won independence for the Colonies from “Mother England” and served as the first President of the newly founded Republic, but he stood in his own home community as a sterling citizen in his own right, one of integrity, industry and vision. The battles for independence over and the young Nation on its way to a place among the nations of the world, he retired and took up again in the community from which he went forth to war and headship the old duties of citizenship and local leadership. What Washington did for Alexandria would have endeared him to the community had he never answered his country’s call to arms or sat in its highest seat. When the town was surveyed and the lots laid out in 1749 Washing- ton was at the elbow of John West, jr., county surveyor, as assistant. In 1766 he became a trustee of the town and as such saw to it that many things improving the municipality and the trade centered there were introduced. The water of the city being complained of by Brad- dock years before, Washington, as trustee, saw that a new water supply was set up for the town through the digging of wells at various corners within its boundaries. He was an honorary member of its first fire company, a property owner in it and taxpayer, member of its Masonic Lodge, subscriber to its lotteries, patron of its shops, securer of its standard weights and measures and guest with his family at all its grand socials, to say nothing of being guest of honor to the city and its inhabitants on great nationhal days. ALL of which accounts for, aside from the greatness that was his as a result of his exalted services to the Nation, the love, honor and esteem in which he was held by Alexindria and Alexandrians. And because of the man and the affection he was held in at home and abroad throughout the land they hon- ored him. As Washington’s birthday ap- proached in 1798 it was recalled by many citizens of Alexandria that an old custom used to obtain among them of celebrating the birthdays of their majesties. This was be= fore the Revolution, when every Virginian was a subject of the Crown of England, Washington among the rest. The custom was to give birthnight balls, to which all the gentry of the countryside came, bringing with them their wives and swecthearts. It was the custom to hold them in Alexandria, and it is not to be doubted that there were many squabbles between the tavern kecpers as to which should have the signal honor of the ball of the season. Washington used to attend these balls with his family, and to the half-dim light of flicker= ing candles he danced the evening away. These birthnight balls were joyous affairs, indeed. Why not now, therefore, thought the citizen- ship of Alexandria, “honor our most distine guished citizen as he and we formerly honored their British majesties”? And no more sug- gested than done. Thus originated the custom that has prevailed to this day of honoring with every form of dignified entertainment the birthday of Washington. What was the form of the first celebration of Washington’s Birthday in Alexandria? It occurred February 12, 1798. The 11th, old style, was recognized as his birthday. It fell in 1798 on Sunday. So the birthnight ball was planned for the next evening. What a stir it must have caused in Alex- andria, which was now a thriving port of some 4,000 souls. Mine host was astir from morning to night, his tavern a seething mass of servants putting up decorations, gay bunting and like- nesses of the great Washington. In boudoir and bower the coming ball was being discussed. Flying horses’ feet carried from gallant to fair maiden swiftly-indited epistles asking the favor SR 2% R THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FEBRUARY 22, - “The General’s” First Birthday C In Old Alexandria This part of Gadsby's T P G Y He Was Still Alive When the Citizens Decided to Honor Him With Celebration at Gadsby’s Famous Tavern—7The Mystery of the Missing “Toast.” of their company to the forthcoming affair. And back as fast flew the feet of the galloping horses, urged on by Sambo, carrying to his impatient and imperious master either fatal words of declination or happy and ecstatic ones of acceptance. The ball this year was set for Gadsby's, now standing, at the corner of Cameron and Royal. The “newer” section of Gadsby’sTavern, where, historians (§iim, the fir.;t George Washington birthday fete was held. This part of the tavern was completed 1792, . 19315 elebration An addition had been built to the older and smaller portion of the inn but six years before., Three stories it stood, with a half story above, and dwarfed its parent at its side. GADSBY‘S reputation as a host undoubtedly got him the honor of holding this birthe night ball. His fare was of the best, his wines the choicest, -his fire the merriest, his guests the most entertaining and his stable the most attentively hostlered. A Frenchman visiting Gadsby’s in 1801 characterized it as “the best in the United States,” and Washington often dined there. “ne of his last orders at the famous hostelry, given upon inquiry if canvase back duck were to be had, ran: “Very good, sir, Give me some of them with a chafing dish, some hominy and a bottie of g-od Madeira and we shall not complain.” In the Alexandria Gazette of Pebruary” 13, 1798, appears the following news report of the celebration of the day ard night before: “Yesterday was celebrated as the Birth Day of our fellow citizen, Gecrge Washington. The day was ushered in by a discharge of cannon. In the evening there was a splendid ball at the City Tavern, at which George Washington was present. The following toasts were drank by a company of gentlemen who dined together in celebration of the day at the Union Tavern, accompanied by a dischargz of cannen. “1st. The Hero whose Birth we celebrate— may the virtuous principles which ever have influenced his conduct be preserved through succeeding generations. “2d. The President of the United States— may his administration be successful in supe porting the dignity and independence of the United States. : “3d. The Vice President of the United States—may his virtues and abilities deserve the love of a free people. “4th. The Congiess of the United States— may they never be influenced, in any degree, by foreign politicks. “5th, May we never forget those who fought and bled for the independence of our country. “7th. The State of Virginia. “8th. The Spirit of '76—may it never be erased from the American mind by foreign influence. “9th. Those who are persecuted throughout the world, in consequence of asserting their rights as men. “10th. May those in office, have an eye to the spirit of our Constitution, and not the opinions of those vested with the administration thereof. “11th. The comme:rce of the United States— may those who endeavor to distress it know that in doing so they distress themselves. “12th. A speedy termiration to the misunder= standings between the United States and the Republic of France, on terms which will pre serve the peace and dignity of our country. “13th, The nations of Eurcpe, who by their military exertions, or neutrality, assisted the United States in their struggle for independence. “14th. De la Payette—may he speedily arrive in America, and spend the remainder of his days, with that tranquillity of mind which always attends good men. 3 “15th. Kosciusko—may he long enjoy the United States in the evening of life, the bless= irgs of Preedom, for which he has borne so large a share of sufferings. “16th. The Fair of America. IXTEEN toasts well and heartily drunk in old Alexandria in a day when a man’s pleasure was a part of the liberty for which he fought, bled and died. Just what happened to the sixth toast on this occasion nobody knows. Whether it was Jost in the confusion attendant upon the convive fality and abounding good fellowship and humor of the day is not apparent. But it would be interesting to note what became of it, Per- haps it was silently intended for Thomas Jef- ferson, next to Washington the greatest Vire ginian. Silent, paradoxically as it may seem, because of his attitude in the war flaring up between the United States and France. A year later, at another birthnight ball to Washington, this toast was drunk to him: “The Vice Presi- dent of the United States—the correspondent of Mazzei—may he abjure his present political creed; or expatriate hime<e!f to that country best adapted to it.” But if it is so that those who drank the toasts at the Union Tavern on the twelfth of Febru~ ary, 1798, drank a s‘lent cne to the Vice Presie dent of the United States, J>T=rson, before the Adams administration had come to a close, had mollified them., For w. arnother two years he was the choice of Virg for the presidency. The birthnight ball of 1789 marks the first of but two given to “the Gen-ral” during his life= time. The other, held the following February; was, if the newspaper account is to be conside ered, a more elaborate and pretentious affair, At least, it was so writt'n. The success of the first emboldened the ci ns to a_more general celebration the follow ar. For this occa- sion a military review staged in honor of “the General’s” birthda t which he was pres- ent, followed in the ing by a ball and supper given at Gads ell of such mag- nificence, brilliance and uty as to cause the editor of the Gaz:tte to exclaim that “did he possess the chaste langua of Addison, come bmed with the creative imagination of .Shakes~ peare, he would feel himse!f honored and happy in using them on this occasion.” But at that he did get in a line or two of royal wordage, to wit: “Aurora rcse with more than common splendor, as if wishing to assist the tribute of respect paid to our hoary chief——" Another year and “the Goneral” was no more. His passing in December left the town to mourn and to recall his virtu's until they became a part of the traditional conversational lore of the community. In 1801, shortly after the death of Washing- ton, there was formed the George Washington Society of Alexandria. It was made up of his pallbearers and friends and had for its purpose the keeping alive of his memory through the yearly celebration of his birthday. That society exists today. Its president is William B. Mc- Groarty, who lives within a stone's throw of the old Carlyle house, Rams>y house and Gads~_ by’s Tavern, hard hy. ;