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Story
June 25, 1870
The Ottawa Free Trader
Ottawa, La Salle County County, Illinois
What is this article about?
George Washington writes a humorous letter from West Point on August 16, 1779, inviting Mrs. Cochrane and Mrs. Livingston to a simple dinner, detailing the modest fare including ham, roast beef, greens, and possibly pies, served on iron plates.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Dinner Given by Washington.
A newspaper correspondent at West Point has come across the following letter in a book of American memorials:
West Point, August 16, 1779.
Dear Doctor: I have asked Mrs. Cochrane and Mrs. Livingston to dine with me to-morrow: but ought I not to apprise them of their fare? As I hate deception, even when the imagination is concerned, I will. It is needless to premise that my table is large enough to hold the ladies: of this they had ocular proof yesterday. To say how it is usually covered is rather more essential, and this shall be the purport of my letter. Since our arrival at this happy spot we have had a ham (sometimes a shoulder) of bacon to grace the head of the table, a piece of roast beef adorns the foot, and a small dish of greens or beans (almost imperceptible) decorates the centre. When the cook has a mind to cut a figure (and this, I presume, he will attempt to do to-morrow), we have two beef steak pies or dishes of crabs in addition, and on each side, the centre dish dividing the space and reducing the distance between dish and dish about six feet, which, without them, would be nearly twelve feet apart. Of late he has had the surprising luck to discover that apples will make pies, and it is a great question if, amidst the violence of his efforts, we do not get one of apples instead of having both of beef. If the ladies will put up with such entertainments, and will submit to partake of it on plates, once tin but now iron, not become so by labor of scouring, I shall be happy to see them.
I am, dear doctor, your obedient servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
To Dr. Cochrane.
A newspaper correspondent at West Point has come across the following letter in a book of American memorials:
West Point, August 16, 1779.
Dear Doctor: I have asked Mrs. Cochrane and Mrs. Livingston to dine with me to-morrow: but ought I not to apprise them of their fare? As I hate deception, even when the imagination is concerned, I will. It is needless to premise that my table is large enough to hold the ladies: of this they had ocular proof yesterday. To say how it is usually covered is rather more essential, and this shall be the purport of my letter. Since our arrival at this happy spot we have had a ham (sometimes a shoulder) of bacon to grace the head of the table, a piece of roast beef adorns the foot, and a small dish of greens or beans (almost imperceptible) decorates the centre. When the cook has a mind to cut a figure (and this, I presume, he will attempt to do to-morrow), we have two beef steak pies or dishes of crabs in addition, and on each side, the centre dish dividing the space and reducing the distance between dish and dish about six feet, which, without them, would be nearly twelve feet apart. Of late he has had the surprising luck to discover that apples will make pies, and it is a great question if, amidst the violence of his efforts, we do not get one of apples instead of having both of beef. If the ladies will put up with such entertainments, and will submit to partake of it on plates, once tin but now iron, not become so by labor of scouring, I shall be happy to see them.
I am, dear doctor, your obedient servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
To Dr. Cochrane.
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
George Washington
West Point
Dinner Invitation
Revolutionary War
Simple Fare
Honesty
What entities or persons were involved?
George Washington
Mrs. Cochrane
Mrs. Livingston
Dr. Cochrane
Where did it happen?
West Point
Story Details
Key Persons
George Washington
Mrs. Cochrane
Mrs. Livingston
Dr. Cochrane
Location
West Point
Event Date
August 16, 1779
Story Details
Washington informs Dr. Cochrane of the simple dinner fare for the invited ladies, emphasizing his honesty about the modest meal of ham, beef, greens, pies, and iron plates during wartime constraints.