Seeking the Real Man
Who slept where?
When an American receives the 2020 dates for her SN column and sees February 22nd at the top of the list, it is crystal clear what she will write about – George Washington, of course! Revolutionary war hero, Founding Father. Certainly a man of finest mettle.
Born on February 22nd, 1732 in Virginia, GW’s childhood and youth were uneventful. Obtaining a surveyor’s license, he travelled the country widely. Hence the many markers to be found on inns and private homes even today, proudly claiming “George Washington slept here”.
At the age of 26, GW married a wealthy widow – Martha – with two children. They made their home at a thriving plantation – Mount Vernon – amid extensive tobacco fields, a whiskey distillery and several hundred slaves.
As of 1775, Washington was commanderin-chief of the American forces which eventually conquered the Brits. After over eight years of military service, GW longed tobea full-time family-man and planter. But fate had other plans for him. In 1789, he took the oath of office and was inaugurated as the first president of the USA.
Washington was certainly a model of courage, wisdom, integrity. But, as even the Smithsonian website laments, “bringing him to life is a hard row to hoe”. What do we really know about GW the man? Well, he was a fantastic dancer, some say the best in all Virginia. He looked irresistibly handsome in uniform, on horseback. His hair was white because he powdered it. Dental problems probably explain his somber portraits. He loved dogs, experimented with innovative farming techniques like crop rotation, adored his two stepchildren. It is said that when his daughter Patsy died at age twelve, George cancelled all business obligations and stayed at home every evening with Martha for three months.
GW’s portrait hangs in many a US classroom. He observes us from the one dollar bill as well as the 25 cent coin, or quarter. His likeness peers down at the millions of tourists who visit Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota yearly – along with three other former US presidents carved into the granite mountainside. One state is named after GW, as well as too many cities to count. Not to forget a slew of institutions, universities, geological features like Lake Washington, Washington Peak, Washington Island, various parks, bridges, highways, avenues and monuments.
Before we close what has turned out to be quite a history lesson, you must still hear the story of “George Washington slept here”. Few will know this is indeed the title of an extremely successful comedy movie (1942). It features a couple that has to leave an apartment in NYC because of their badly behaved dog. The wife, Connie, purchases a rundown house in the countryside, somehow convinced that GW slept there during the Revolutionary War. Connie & hubby want to fix the place up and cash in on its illustrious history but are nearly driven into financial ruin with renovation expenses. In the nick of time, the dog digs up an old boot and – surprise, surprise – inside they find an original letter written by George Washington! They sell it for enough money to complete their dream-house and all’s well that ends well. The topic of house renovation disasters isa recurring one. We see a similar plot in “The Money Pit” (1986) with Tom Hanks when a do-it-yourself handyman is thrust into a home repair nightmare. And of course who could forget “Hinterholz 8” (1998), one of the most successful Austrian films ever.