The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-02-22
Life of Washington.

Tic leading incident, cf the life OF Washing
ton ere 70 familiar 10 the public, that bu, Ii Ito
more than a brief outline and an Gllus'on 10
few names and dates are necessary to recall the
memory Of his services, on occasion Of ecle1rst-
Jog the anniversary f his birth. George Wash
iugtou was born in the parish Of Washington
Nvstmorelaud County, Virginia, on the 42d Of
February, 1882. The house in which he was
b, 10 wss destroyed a little before the Rsyou-
tiou, but the SPOT whore II stood is marked by a
stone, ar will be for evor sacred in the eyes Of
posiority. Tho records Of his boy h,od, marked
by all the honorable traits Of his future life We
must necessarily omit. lie received as
liberal an education m tho condition OF
the colonies at that time afforded, and embraced
the profession Of civil engineer, which after
wards proved Of this greatest service u him, as
IL made HI n familiar with the topography Of
Virginia, a. trained his eye to measure dis
tanc,1 accurately. On the breaking out Of the
Seven Years War, being then Il years old, ho
offered his soryices to Governor DinWiddie, and
received commission. lie accompanied Bad
dcck's Inflated eXpedi ion in 1876, and estab-
lish,d his reputation for bravery end his fitness
TO command. Ia the battle OF M9nongahela,
his noble form was q conspicuous target q the
enemy, ard his escape seemed 80 miraculous TO
tho old border soldiers and the Insians, that
they ever Afterwards regarded him as holding a
charmed life.
Wafhington's services commended him so
much to his country men, that in August 17jj
he was appointed Comm ,nder.in.C e. aief Of the
Virginia forces. The petition was arduous. The
colony wos expo,ed to the inrosds of thu vic
torious French aud Indians. In 1867 he shared
in the capture Of Fort Duquesno, and soon afCer-
wards retired to Mount Vernon, his health bo-
ing seriously injured.
In 1909 his marriage with Mrs. Custis took
place, ard he lived as couLtry gentleman,
kssping house wi h generous hospitality, until
the breaking out Of the revolution. Tnen the
common voice Of his countrymsn pointed him
out as their leader, and on the 18th OF June,
l77j, he WIS 'nanimolsly elected Comnanisr
int Chief
With III, particulars Of the war its sue
cssses, is reyerses, AID lie croSnlns
triumph GU, readers are already "a.
niliar. Tho life Of Washington is the history
Ofhis eountry's greatness, and the whole world
resounds with the fame Of lis calm endurance
and heorc fortitudo and magn iuimty.
When Independence was achieved. Gso-so
Washington took solenn farewell Of his army,
and roturnsdonre more to Mount Vernon ~
taste the swScesc privacy. But ho wss douJt,
f.l Of the success of tho Collaboration he h ,d
called into beirr. Its jarriIg elements Gled
h'm win forobodinss, and he behold with
amgzrm,rt tho iealOu'ies andfaui of his coun
tymco, already divided wi.a sec'iofL isalss
lt~as mere that the iioA Of Federal Con.
-'i'u,iou 10 remedy the defects Of the eAs inp
state q ilrgs, was frat preached. CJn.
NV i,.ers hai been apr,iold by tar
Statcs or Mag land and Virginia to fo,u
"a corr pct roh ing TO the nsviss ion Of the 20
tonic and pant Of Chosapo,ka Bay, am they
he'd ue.r te,s'oEs in AicNaG4rGe.Ihov u'lel
visited Nc1tt Norn,n. ant tae u ,-,. Of u ,
Htet!ng to the gOyo'nmsEtso o. tLsva.i5lg sts.e
tho sproin'uUrt ef d.lsgatrs 20 estlIi,1
ma i p'"rr on pert of t1s CL,sip.aLs ~.
originated. TIE .dfs was elaborated. and ora
iul.ly 49, ,m.a practical shape. It was suite.
10 the u.c.s i'ies Of tho times, and mot Will
| seuersl hy'r.
Accordingly, o Convention Of DasgsteI from
tho several tta assembled in Philidslphil OF
the second Monday in May, 1857, with G sorg'
Washington as President. The Convention
Eat four months, and formed a Constitution
which was finally adopted by the majority o
| States, and in March, 1889, George wAshIngtOr