The Kanzas news., 1859-02-19
i 5aa From the Boston Atlas, Dec g.
Washington, the Man Of Integrity
Az ADDRESS By REV. rHiEoDoRr n 'l.rh pARkER. OR.


Az ADDRESS By REV. THEODORE PHRKER
The lecture last evening, before the Fra
ternity Association, Was delivered By Rev
Theodore Parker, upon 'sWashington, the
Man of Integrity, % and was one every way
worthy of the speaker and his theme. .5
+ In the beginning of the last century, said
Mr.. Parker, in Westmoreland County, Va,
between the Potomac and Rapahannock riv-
ers, at spot called Bridges Greek, there
was living an obscure farmer. named Au-
gustine Washington. He was born in 1894,
and belonged to short-lived family, which
had emigrated to Virginia in 1647. He In
herited but little, but by his own diligence
and thrift acquired considerable property,
consisting chiefly of wild land, negro slaves
and cattle. In the rude husbaudry of the
time and place, he raised horned beasts,
swine and tobacco. Augustine was first
married at the age of twenty -one, to Jane
Butler, who became the mother of four
children; but she died in 1928, leaving two
sons, Lawrence and Augustine. Fifteen
months later, for his second wife, he mar
ried Mary Bell, who is said TO have been
beautiful, and the belle of the neighborhood.
She became the mother of six children
George Washington was the oldest /; the
fifth child of his father, his mothers first.
She was twenty-eight at the time of his
birth, and the father thirty eight. He was
born on Saturday, the 99d of February,
1732-a day famous in the political annals
of America.
He first saw the light in rude farm
house, steep-roofed, with broad caves, one
story high, with four rooms or the floor,
and some in the attic, large chimney at
each end, carried up on the outside of the
house. 1t was old and ricketty then not
a trace of it now remains but blue stone,
with the inscription, ''The Birthplace of
Washington" Descended from the COM
mon class of Virginia farmers, the boy has
become great man. No ruler of Anglo
Saxon stock has so great reputation for
the higher qualities of human virtue. For
more than thousand years no political
man has left a name so much to be coveted,
none become so dear to thoughtful mankind.
In the long line of Kings, Generals and
Emperors, from the first monarch to the last
President or Pope, none rank SO high for
the prime excellencies of heroic virtue
example and character are held up for the
modei of all men in authority. So much is
he estimated at home, that the most selfish
and deeeitful of politicians use his name as
a stalking-horse which they creep behind
when they would deceive and exploiter the
people. He is one of the great authorities
of American politicians. All parties ap-
peal to him, eoEnatines for good most oeT11-
monty for I'LL. Let US look at this newborn
Saturdays child, and see what he did, what
L. Il l., Al L l.
came and was.
The lecturer then, at considerable length,
sketched the life of Washington, dividing
it into six periods-his boyhood and youth,
his services in the French and Indian wars,
his life as a Virginia farmer and as a mem
Der of various political bodies, his services
in the revolutionary war, then as President,
| and at last, the end of ALL TIE story is
one that, though often repeated, never grows
old, and the large audience listened to this
review of grand life, made vivid by the
feryor and eloquence of the speakers words,
and enlivened by .'fne touches of nature, -
with rapt attention.
Mr.. Parker said he should speak first OF
those great acts of his life which indicated
the mans character, or had great influence
upon it. In his boyhood and youth his
opportunities for academic education were
small. One Mr.. Hobbie taught him read
ing, writing and spelling in his early day.
After his fathers death, be lived with his
brother, and learned geometry at superior
school at Bridges Greek, and became quite
finished in whatever studies he entered on.
He had military spirit very soon, and at
IA he obtained midshipman's warrant
his luggage was put on vessel; but his
mother would not let him go; he was not to
be midshipman. On such small events
do grand results hinge. He afterward learned
surveying. Before he was IL he fancied
he was in love with Miss Perry but the
course of true love did not run smooth
He called her .'the lowland beauty" but
he survived her weeful scorn, and only his
verses remain to prove that he was in love
He fell in love again, but this time he was
cured by athletic sports. Thereafter, he
bade farewell to verses and love.
His mother had hard temper, fitted to
command; and when Lafayette visited hel
in the Revolution, he found her wedding In
her garden. and she had the good sense moi
to change her attire, but came forward al
once to welcome her courtly visitor. Wash
ington acquired much of her character
He was trained, too, not by books, but by
events. He continued his practice of sur
veying with success.
His military career commenced early, and
he was active in raising troops to act against
the savages. When he joined the expedi.
ton of Braddock, he had more knowledge
than the commander himself and had his
advice been followed. he would have been
successful. After that defeat, Washington
was appointed Commander-in-C Chief. He
had many difficulties to contend with. In
all his proceedings he was firm, but very
moderate. and this moderation is peculiar,
since it is SO rare for military men to lose
an opportunity TO be tyrants.
From 1859 to 1774, with his rich and
beautiful wife, Mr.. Curtis's widow, he lived
] on bis farm. in the old stYle of Virginia eI.