Founding Fathers of the United States
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:13pm
Thread Topic: Founding Fathers of the United States
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And the story of Maria Reynolds is great. It involves adultery, which is always entertaining.
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yea history is something that actually happened it's like studying an artifact in words
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*nods* I am a storyteller at heart, so I am always more interested in the people and personalities than the politics, to be honest.
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so
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iceman3 Newbiehi
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social actually is one of my favorite classes
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A Story Told by Thomas Jefferson
Perhaps I cannot conclude these recollections more pleasantly than by relating an anecdote of himself, which he told with great humor as having occurred shortly after his election to the presidency.
He was riding one day in the neighborhood of Washington, in his usual plain attire —a black suit verging on brown—when, from a cross-road, a Connecticut farmer trotted up to him, and immediately displayed his provincial spirit of barter by surveying the president's superior steed, and asking him to " swap." Jefferson, however, asked too much money in exchange, so, after a fruitless attempt to draw him into a commercial transaction in respect to the saddle and bridle, the stranger began to favor the president with his history.
He had lately quitted "Down East," and was coming South to " explore " a brother, hid away somewhere among the blacks in Virginny. He was anxious, therefore, to obtain all the knowledge he could of the country and the state of politics in parts " contagious " to the seat of government. This wish led directly to the topic of the new president, Thomas Jefferson, who had been elected to that dignity in direct opposition to the said stranger's advice.
" I," said he, " support John Adams, a real old New-Englander, after the manner of our forefathers, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. I have smallish faith in these chaps from the slave states, upon principle. Doesn't it stand to reason, mister, that they must be a largish bit tyrannical?"
Jefferson attempted some refutation of the charge, but the farmer scarcely listened to ten words before he rejoined, " Come, come, mister, I guess you don't see the moral sin of slavery; but it ain't only that. This Thomas Jefferson—did you ever see him?"
The president nodded. " Well, that's more luck than Pve had; but that doesn't matter. Now I hear that this Thomas Jefferson is a very wasteful chap with our hard-earned money" (Jefferson stared), " and you'll allow, mister, that that's unpatriotic upon principle. They tell me he never goes out but he's got clothes on his back that would sell for a plantation, or kiver a wagon-load of immigrants; he's a couple of watches or more, that he never thinks of swapping; rings on all his fingers; and a frill to his shirt big enough to turn a windmill. Now, if you've seen him, mister, you can tell me if that's about right."
Jefferson laughed, and replied that, on the contrary, the president was seldom better dressed than himself at that moment. The farmer had his prejudices, and shook his head knowingly as he continued, "Come,come, squire; I see you are a small measure biased. I guess now this Jefferson's a friend of your'n ?"
The president confessed it. " I dare say a man you speak to when you please?" Another nod. " Perhaps the smallest end of a relation ?" Nod and laugh. " There, now ! I guessed it. I knew you could not speak the truth on principle."
At this moment they came in view of the president's house, and the farmer inquired who it belonged to. As soon as he received the intelligence he burst into one of those conventional substitutes for oaths which emphasize the language of the Northern lower orders. " Well, now, may I be 'tarnally starved down for mutton broth, if that sight doesn't come over a man like a suspension of the works of natur'. Now, mister, doesn't that prove my words, awfully strong ? There's a house as big as Noah's ark? At the smallest count, there's thirty rooms in it. What can any careful chap, 'pon principle, want with more than six ? I ha'n't got more than four. I say this Jefferson's wasting the people's money, and Congress is winking at it, and I guess it's all naked truth about the frill and watches; and I ain't afraid to affirm that it's my guess the inside of that house shows just as much wastefulness as Jefferson a-horseback."
To this charge the president could make but one reply—an offer to introduce the farmer to the mansion, and give him ocular conviction.
The latter readily consented, and they rode on, Jefferson planning an elaborate lesson of reproof to his calumniator. But, as they approached the gate, some gentlemen, who were engaged to dine with him, stepped forward and exclaimed, " Good-morning, president; you have had a fine day."
At the word " president " the farmer, who was trotting on briskly, drew up so short he was near flying over his steed's ears. He turned and stared at Jefferson with a mixture of curiosity and alarm, which drew from the latter a quiet smile of enjoyment. In another instant he had struck his spurs into his horse and was flying away like a whirlwind, fully convinced that he should in some way pay for his temerity.
" Hallo, friend!" shouted Jefferson, " won't you go over the house?"
" No, thank ye, president," was the reply; " I'll look in when I come back."
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