General Washington’s Negro Body-Servant by Mark Twain. Short summary

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The author mocks excessive heroization. The idol Washington made famous everyone around him. To make money, city mayors repeatedly announced the death of his black servant.

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Washington did have a black servant, George. This man had served his master during his lifetime, and when he died, he attended his funeral along with other servants. George’s fame came after his death, which occurred in 1809.

The Boston Gazette wrote about it. The notice was rather scanty on words. It was reported that George died in Richmond at the age of 95, and that he was of sound mind until the last minute. This man witnessed Washington’s ascension to the presidency and also attended his funeral.

It would have been all right if George had not died again in Macon in 1825. This time a Philadelphia newspaper devoted more attention to the black servant’s personality, lavishing praise and patriotic slogans.

In 1830. George died a third time, and then he did it again and again, in 1834, 1836, 1840, 1855, and 1864. And each time the aged crook (his age did not change — 95 years old) managed to do it in different cities and different states.