President George Washington had a reputation for being particularly polite He doffed his hat to common servants and to fine gentlemen alike Though such behavior was one of the many reasons that my family greatly admired Mr Washington there came a time when the President’s politeness became a laughing matter
One day his old friend Mr Charles Willson Peale invited George to visit a new display at Charles’s world famous natural history museum Of course George said yes But it was out of more than politeness and friendship that he accepted the invitation I am sure that he was also a bit curious Like most of us in Philadelphia the President knew that Mr Peale didn’t do things in a normal run-of-the-mill way Never had never would
