Now he no longer walked or rode abroad,
but drove about in a fine coach drawn by six white horses. He no
longer went to see people, but they came to him on certain days
and at appointed times. When he held receptions he dressed himself
splendidly in black velvet with silk stockings. He wore a jeweled
sword at his side and buckles both at the knee and on his shoes.
Instead of shaking hands with people he merely bowed.
All this ceremony and state came easily to Washington. Even as a
simple Virginian gentleman he had been used to a certain amount of
it. For in those days plain gentleman folk were much more ceremonious
than they are today. Besides, kings always surrounded themselves
with a great deal of state, and it seemed to Washington that a
ruler must do so to keep up the high dignity of his office.
The first President's post was no easy one. The whole machinery of
government had to be invented and set going, and first and foremost
the money matters had to be set straight.
They were in a great muddle. The war had cost a great deal, so the
new government began in debt and nearly every separate state was
also in debt. But a clever man named Alexander Hamilton took hold
of the money matters and soon put them right.
Among other things he said that the government must take over the
war debts of all the states. At once the states made an outcry.
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