Show it r Incident Typical ft of Washington's ington Life LUe e A Astory story illustrative of of t the firm and determined character Of Washington Y s i g on ish is xe h told told iIi in f the the- following description of of affairs af- af fairs fairs during the frontier warfare r The labors and da dangers gers of th the field were not the only troubles with which whit li Col Washington at this time had had to to contend contend- By an timed Ill parsimony the the- pay of the officers was red reduced ced s slow so low as to td cre te mur uis and and- and discon discon tent throughout the camp Complaints Complaint grew loud and vehement vehement accompanied with threats to resign and leave lea the army to its fate Under Unde this pressure re the character of Washington n shone hone with the same purity and nd lustre that the often distinguished it afterwards o on i similar trying occasions In his letter letters to the he governor he ssu fl-ssu assumed e a firm an and ma manly lly tone ton demanded for himself an and nd his associates an aIlo allowance ance equal tot to t t that received by the kings king's ing s troops an and j deprecated deprecate the i idea ea of being place placed w up upon upon n a footing which should imp Imply y a an t inferiority Interiority In rank or In the value o of 1 their services 4 While he took this high stand i in 15 defending the just claims of of the officers officers t cers he endeavored to calm their f feel feelings e tl ings and reconcile them to their con condition condition conw con con- w j by appeals to their honor an anthe and l the obligations of duty I have have- communicated com com- communicated muI Your sentiments to the other other other oth oth- er officers officers said he 1 to the governor a and d as far asI as as- I could put on the hypocrite hypocrite hypo hypo- 4 crite trite set forth the the- advantages th themay the that t may accrue and accrue and advis advised d them to accept accept ac ac- ce the terms as a refusal al might i re reflect fleet dishonor upon th their thir ir character leaving it to the world to to- to assign what who f x reason It pleases for quitting the thet t ti JK r a service And again considered the perR pernicious cious consequences that would attend attend at- at tend a disunion and was therefore too r. r much at attached ched to tomy my country's interests interests inter inter- I ests to suffer it to i ripen In this weLy he he con concealed eale his une uneasiness siness and tranquilized tran- tran the minds of his officers al although although al al- f.- f. i. i though he f felt u the the wrongs they suffered suf sut- fer d. d and approved the spirit that would not tamely submit to them 1 y 1 As to himself was It was not so much r- r th the smallness of the pay that gave r. r him concern as the Indignity and In in- InJustice In- In justice of having his services estimated 1 at a lower rate than In the British y establishment when in reality no service service service ser ser- vice could be more severe se-Jere and hazardous hazardous hazard hazard- ous or less promising of glory than 4 f the one in which engaged Now if we Ve could be fortunate enough said he to drive the French from the Ohio as far far as your honor would please to f have them sent In time our E L' L pay will not be sufficient to discharge discharge our our first expenses I w would uld not have you imag imagine ne from this that I have said eald all these things to have our pay vay Increased but to justify myself and w. w i to show you that our complaints are not frivolous but toun 4 founded on strict i. s reason For my own part it is a mat mat- s ter almost indifferent whether I serve 1 r for full pay or as S a a generous volun volun- T teer Indeed did my circumstances correspond with my i inclinations I sho should d' d not hesitate a moment to pre pre- i fer the latter for the motives that i have led me here are pure and noble 4 s I had no view of or of acquisition on but that r of honor by serving my my king and 4 J country o In this declaration uttered in the sincerity of his heart we perceive perceive per per- it the principles the eminent virtues virtues vir vir- tues that dictated every act of hi his J public life |