"
Governor Washburn was a thorough gentleman, through and through,
courteous, well-bred, and with an entirely sufficient sense
of his own dignity. But he had little respect for any false
notions of gentility, and had a habit of going straight at
any difficulty himself. To this habit he owed much of his
success in life. A very amusing story was told by Mrs. Washburn
long after her husband's death. She was one of the brightest
and sprightliest and wittiest of women. Her husband owed
to her much of his success in life, as well as much of his
comfort and domestic enjoyment. She used to give sometimes
half a dozen entertainments in the same week. She was never
disconcerted by any want of preparation or suddenness of demand
upon her hospitality. One day some quite distinguished guests
arrived in Worcester unexpectedly, whom it was proper that
she should keep to dinner. The simple arrangements which
had been made for herself and her husband would not do. She
accordingly went at once to the principal hotel of the town, in
the neighborhood, and bargained with the landlord to send
over the necessary courses for her table, which were just
hot and cooked and ready for his own.
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