v&v tfftissrtiHiisresi
THE FATHER of
HIS- COUNTRY
Why We Delight to Celebrate
Washington's Birthday.
q ORN upon our soil of parents
j also born upon It never for a
moment having had sight of
tho old world Instructed according to
the modes of his time, only In the spare,
plain, but wholesome elementary knowl
edge which our Institutions provide- for
tho children of the people growing up
beneath and penetrated by the genuine
influences of American society living
from infancy to manhood and age
amidst our expanding, but not luxurious
civilization partaking in our great
destiny of labor, our long contest with
unreclaimed nature and uncivilized man
our agony of glory, the war of inde
pendence our great victory of peace,
the formation of tho union, and the es
tablishment of the constitution ho is
all, all our own. Washington Is ours."
The foregoing was written by Daniel
Webster In regard to tho Father of His
Country, tho anniversary of whoso
GEORGE WASHINGTON
birth occurs February 22, an occasion
that is ever freshly remembered by
American hearts. "Ho was the first
man of tho time in which ho grew,"
wrote Rufus Clioate. "His memory Is
first and most sacred In our love; and
ever, hereafter, till tho last drop of
blood shall freeze in tho last American
heart, his name shall bo a spell of power
and might. There is one personal, one
vast, felicity which no man can share
with him. It was the daily beauty and
towering and matchless glory of his life
which enabled him to create his coun
try, and at tho same time secure an im
plying love and regard from the whole
American people. Undoubtedly there
were brave and wise and good men be
fore his day In every colony. But tho
American nation, as a nation, I do not
reckon to have begun before 1771, and
tho first love of that young America
was Washington. The first word sho
lisped was his name. Her earliest
breath spoke it. It is still her proud
ejaculation. It will bo the last gasp
of her expiring life. About and around
him we call up no dissentient, discord
ant and dissatisfied elements, no sec
tional prejudice or bias, no party, no
creed, no dogma of politics. None of
these shall assail him. Yes, when the
storm of battle grows darkest and rages
highest, the memory of Washington
shall nerve every American arm and
cheer every American heart. It shall
relllumo that Promethean fire, that sub
lime flame of patriotism, that devoted
love of country which his words hav
commended, which his examplo has
consecrated."
Tho story of George Washington'!
life Is au old ono, but the salient fact!
will bear repeating. He was born al
Wakefield, Westmoreland county, Vn
February 22, 1732, lived from 1735 tc
1739 at what is now Mount Vernon, and
when he was soven years old ho was
taken to an estate on the Rappahannock
almost opposite Fredericksburg. The
father was one of tho prosperous plant
ers of Virginia, able to give his children
what education tho times could afford.
The first teacher of Georgo Is reputed tc
have been a cpnvlct, whom his father
bought for the purpose. All of Washing
ton's schooling ended before ho was 16
His long and brilliant career as a sol
dier nnd statesman has given to history
some of its most interesting pages.
"It was strange," wrote Thackeray,
"that In a savage forest of Pennsylvania
a young Virginia ofilcor should fire o
shot, and waken up a war that was tc
last for GO years, which was to cover
his own country, and pass into Europe
to cost France her American colonics, to
sever ours from us and create tho great
western republic; to rago over the old
world when extinguished In tho new;
and, of all tho myriads engaged In the
vast contest, to leave the prize of the
greatest fame with him who struck the
first blow."
As to tho esteem and affection in
which the name and character of Wash
ington were held ono cannot do better
than quoto Lafayette, who wrote from
France as follows:
"Were you but such a man as Julius
Caesar, or tho king of Prussia, I should
almost be sorry for you at the end of
the great tragedy where you are acting
such a part. But, with my dear gen
eral, I rejolco at tho blessings of a peaco
when our noble ends have been secured.
Remember our Valley Forge times; and,
from a recollection of past dangers and
labors, wo shall be still more pleased at
our present comfortnblo situation. I
cannot but envy, the happiness of my
grandchildren, when they will be about
celebrating and worshiping your name.
To have ono of their ancestors among
your soldiers, to know ho had tho good
forluno to be the friend of your heart,
will bo tho eternal honor In which they
shall glory."
Tho poet Shelley, aboard an Ameri
can ship, drinking to tho health of
Washington and tho prosperity of tho
American commonwealth, remarked:
"As a warrior and statesman ho wns
righteous In all ho did. unlike all who
lived before or since; he never used hi3
power but for tho benefit of his fellow
creatures." Four .Vow Ilrotlierx.
"My affections are already engaged,"
ho said.
Sho turned pale.
"I am very sorry," he added.
Then he aroso and took his hat.
"Good-night." he said.
Sho looked after his retreating form.
"That's my fourth failure," sho said,
"but tho year Is young yet." Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
Ui! Clic-crrnl View.
Joel Grump Well, I seo our boodlln'
common council's gone an' voted ?200
fer Washington birthday doin's an
other sheer waste o' good money.
Illram Pond Mebbo It'll turn out a
lucky Investment, .Tool, like three
years ago, when tho cannon busted
an' killed four on 'em. Judge.
THERE was a ready rcsponso of
good and prominent women In
both ''an. and America to
tho call fof--- during the late Spanish-American
and South African wars.
This brings to mind tho kind nnd holp
ul attitude of Martha Washington dur
ing a critical period of American his
tory, long slnco happily superseded by
tho good feeling, based on mutual un
derstanding, that both countries now
Beck constantly to fOBtcr. William Por-
rino tells tho story:
"Martha Washington was then 4fi
years of ago, and those who went to tho
camp and expected to find her arrayed
In tho gowns which they had supposed
would bo worn by tho general's wlfo
MARTHA WASHINGTON
were disappointed. 'Whilst our hus
bands nnd brothers aro examples of pa
triotism,' she would sayto her country
women, 'wo must be patterns of indus
try.' Sho did not hesitate to wear a
brown dress and a speckled apron when
receiving fastidious and elegant vis
itors at Morrlstown. It was said after
ward that sho acquired her Inveterato
habit of knitting In her zeal at Valley
Forgo to relievo tho barefooted men
around her. On every fair day sho
might be seen walking through tho rudo
streets of tho town of huts with a basket
In her hand. Entering tho hut of a ser
geant, she found him dying on a pallet
of straw, his wife beside him in the an
guish of final separation. Sho minis
tered to his comfort with food prepared
by her own hands. Then, kneeling, sho
earnostly prayed with her 'Bweet and
solemn voice' for the stricken couple.
All day long she was busy with theso er
rands of grace, or in tho kitchen at tho
stone house, or-ln urglngothcr women
to lend a helping hand. And when sho
passed along tho lines of tho troops sho
would sometimes hear tho fervent cry:
'God bless Lady Washington!' or 'Long
live Lady Washington!' Well, Indeed,
might the men feel that thoy could fight
to their very last drop of blood with a
commander whose wife, who was for
merly tho hello and leader of her set
imong the dames and damsels of Vir
ginia, was not ashamed to bo seen darn
ing his and her own stockings!"
GHOUCI2 RKVISI3S HISTORY.
Teacher Tho first thing tho Puritans
did after landing on Plymouth Rock was
to fall upon their knees. What was tho
next thing they did?
Little Georgo Washington They fell
upon tho aborigines. Boston Budget.
,S(hk--.SI ruvU.
Mother It won't do to tako our
daughter to the theater so often. I am
afraid she already imagines herself an
actress.
Father Has sho taken to studying
Shakespeare?
Mother N-o; but within the past six
weeks she has been engaged to half a
dozen different men. N. Y. Weekly. .
Where Johnny Demurri-il.
"Remember, Johnny," said his elder
ly uncle, "that actions speak louder
than words."
-Sometimes they don't," objected
Johnny. "When mamma's spankin mo
I can yell a good deal louder than sho
can spank." Chicago Tribune.
ftlvln and RenelvIiiK.
Goodman Do yon ever think of tho
good old saying that it's moro blessed
to give than to receive?
Pugsley Yes, whon I've got the box
ing gloves on I do. Vogue.
mi
, human happiness theso firmest props
of tho duties of men and citizens. Tho mere politician, equally with th&
pious man, ought to respect and to chorlsh them.
It Is of infinlto moment that you should properly cstlmnto tho Im
mense value of your natlonnl union to your collective and Individual hnnnl
noss; that you should chorlsh cordial, habitual, and Immovablo attachment
to It; accustoming yourselves to think nnd speak of It oa tho palladium
of your political safety and prosperity; watching for Us preservation with
Jealous anxloty; discountenancing whatovor may suggest oven a suspicion
that It can In any ovont bo abandoned; and indlgnnnlly frowning upon tho
first dawning of ovory attempt to allonato any portion of our country from
tho rest, or to enfcoblo tho sacred tlos which how link togcthor tho vnrloua
parts.
Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has n
right to conccntrato your affections. T)m namo of "American," which bo
longs to you In your national capacity, must always exact tho Just prldo
of patriotism, moro than any nppollatlona derived from local discriminations.
With slight shades of dlfforenco you havo tho snmo rollglon, manners, habits,
and political principles. You havo. in n common causo, triumphed togcthor.
Observo good faith and Justlco toward all natlona; cultlvato peaco and
harmony with nil. Rollglon and morality enjoin thin conduct; and can It
bo that good policy does not equally onjoln It? It will bo worthy of n frco,
enlightened, and nt no distant porlod a great nation to glvo mankind tho
mngnnnlmouH and too novel oxamplo of a pooplo alwaya guldod by an ox
alted Justlco and bcnovolcnco.
As an Important sourco of strongth nnd security, chorlsh public crodlt.
Ono method of prosorvlng It Is to uso It as sparingly ns possible, avoiding
expenso by cultivating peaco, hut romomborlng alBO that tlmoly dluburso
mcnts to proparo for danger frequently provont much greater disbursements
to repol It; avoiding likewise tho accumulations of debt, not only by shun
nlng occasions of expenso but by vigorous exertions In times of peaco to
discharge tho debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned; not un
generously throwing upon posterity tho burden which wo ourselves ought
to boar.
The basis of our political Bystom la tho right of tho pooplo to mnko and
alter their constitutions of government. But tho constitution which at any
tlmo exists till changed by nn explicit nnd authentic act of tho wholo people
Is sacredly obligatory upon all. Tho Idea of tho powor and tho right of tho
people to establish government presupposes tho duty of every cltlzon to
oboy tho established government.
And remember especially that for tho efficient management of your
common Interests, In a country so oxtenslvo as ours, n government of as
much vigor as is consistent with tho perfect security of liberty is Indis
pensable. Liberty itself will find In such a government, with powers propor
ly distributed aud adjusted, its surest guardian.
a
Although, in roviowlng tho Incidents of my administration, I am uncon
scious of intentional error, I nm nevertheless too sonslblo of my dofects not
to think It probablo thnt I may havo committed many orrors. Whntovor
they may bo I frovontly beseech tho Almighty to avert or mitlgato tho ovlla
to which they may tend. I shall also carry with mo tho hopo that mycountry.
will never cease to view thorn with indulgonco, nnd that after 45 years of
my life dedicated to Its sorvlco, wth an upright zeal, tho faults ofMnconv
potent abilities will bo consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon bo to tho
mansions of rest.
Hy Hoiiju-Tti in- J? Z.U yyo t
The heights nro Ftlll In tho wlndlesa ntr,
And tho mendaws nit aglow
With aster-blooms nnd goldenrods,
While tho river winds below.
A quiet haze o'pr the vnlley broods,
And the leaning lilllM enfold
Tho guarded gates of tho storied camp,
As there In tho duys of old.
Peace reigns to-day whero tho enmpflres
burned
And tho winter smoko upcurled,
While the loyal sons of freedom held
Tho fato of thu vast Now World.
Tho woodpecker beats his sharp tattoo,
Tho Jay with a scream upsprlngs,
And far In his nolo of quick alarm
The sentinel's challenge rlngn;
In shadows that drift across the hllln,
Or trail In the tangled grnsi,
Tho ghostly files of nn army march
To-day, as tho shadows pnis.
.Along tho lines of thu old redoubt,
Ily valley and meadows wide.
Where tho winter fires to. ashes turned,
The shadowy legions glide.
Their footprints blush with a crimson stain,
They reel through hunger nnd cold,
While faces pale with fever and pain
Ulow yet with $i hopo untold.
Urnve henrtB and true of tho olden time!
Dim shades ot tho long ago!
Who kept the igil of Freedom well
At Valley Forgo In the snow!
Youth's Companion.
AS A PLANTER.
Hotv W.iwhtiiarloii MunriKeil HI Finn
tntlon and IHurUctetl Ilia
Crop of ToImicmmi.
As a Virginia planter Washington's
chief crop was tobacco. This tobacco
was shipped to tho London market
under his own ntfrne, loaded upon ves
sels which sailed up tho Potomac to
Mount Vernon, or other landings
convenient to it. An agent in Lou
don disposed of tho shipments.
Twice a year Washington would
forward lists of needful articles for
farm and household to this ngent. re
questing thnt the things bo purchased
and shipped to Mount Vernon. Wear-
Short Extrnctn from Hio X?are
well Atldrooo to tho Nation
IIo Had Founded.
Of all tho dispositions and hnblta
which lead to political prosperity, re
ligion and morality aro Indispensable
supportH. In vain would that man claim
tho trlhttto of patriotism who Bhould
labor to subvert theso great pillars of
mg apparel in this way was ordered
for every member of his family, tho
names aud measurements of each per
son being given.
In addition to tho general bill for
theso purchases mado by tho agent,
tho latter was required to forward re
ceipted bills from thoso persons of
whom ho bought goods. In this way
n check was kept upon tho purchaser
made. In thoso days as a planter
Washington was his own bookkeeper,
nnd thot care with which his booku
woro kept Is an examplo or tho Dior
oughness that mado tho man.
HIS CLOSING YEARS.
Tho Venerable WiiMhinirtnti Wim Nol
I'ei-iiillted to I.lvo Them In
I'eucw mill (Inlet.
Whllo WashlngtoiKwna permitted X
spend his remaining days at Mouut
Vernon, ho did not succeed in finding
tho peace and leisure that ho had
longed for. Ills house was filled wltli
guests, and his correspondence wns
largo and laborious. In ono of thu
kaleidoscopic changes In the govern
ment of Franco tho United States was
on tho verge of war with that peoplo,
and Washington was mado commander-in-chief
of tho forces which woro
tc bo raised. Ho accepted under pro
test, with tho condition that ho should
not bo called In active sorvlco unlesa
tho country was Invaded. Tho cloud
passed over, however, without war.
During his closing yenra ho took great
Interest In projects for opening ut
commerco with tho country being set
tled west of tho AlieghonIe3, nndana'de
a donation which led to tho establish
ment of Washington college, now
Washington and Leo univorslty. He
took much Interest In tho Society of
tho Cincinnati, comprising commis
sioned officers of tho revolution. The
euro of his estates took up tho re
mainder of his time, and of leisure Go
had none. Tho end camo December
11, 1799, through a cold ho took from
getting wot In looking over his es
tate ChitnKCithle.
Clara Are you an optimist or a pes
simist? Clarence When I'm tired I'm a pes
simist; when I'm rested I'm an optimlsL
Detroit Free Press.
