Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-22
A mEmorsBUE BAY,

elmer OF hOIel, SuetI, DOuleNatu, SteaiDcT,
engine, or something else. The same
cannot be said of any man who ever
was, Or probably who ever will lie
born. The 22d of February would
be no moEe than any other day
of the month, or the same day
in any of the months of all the year,
but for its being the birth day of Wash
ington. Upon the apex of the Hottest
pyramid, of his own erection, that Fame
ever conceived, the world for its admira-
ton and eternity for its background,
there is just room enough for the Fairfax
Surveyor. The grandeur and statelincss
of his wonderful character is bounded by
no ocean, nor marked by any geographI
cal lines. The march OF centuries to the
buglc blast OF time sounds down his name
through the long aisles of ages,
George Washington was born IN West
moreland county, Virginia, Feb. %, 1892.
The house in which he was born was de-
stroyed by fire in his bOyhOod, but the site
was indicated many years afterwards by
one of the chimneys which had wittstOJd
the raVagss of time; and in 1915 stone
with a suitable inscription was placed ON
the spot by Mr.. George Washington Parke
Gusts. 1t is now owned by the Stale If
Virginia, and is suitably enclosed, so as
to be preserved forever IS 9 memorial of
the Father of his Country. Going back
through long line OfhonOsed ancestry, the
name appears upon the English archives in
the twelfth century. The name Originally
was DeWessington. The family dropped
the signorial appellation of de-" and
then it was Washington, aflerward
Washington, and finally Washington.
They filled various offices in Eng
land of honor and responsibility, th
the civil war between Cromwell and the
Stuarts resulted in temporary overthrow
of the British monarchy and the estab-
lshment of the PrOtCc.Orate. The
Washingtons were true tothe Stuarts, and
their sovereign loyalty elected relentless
persecution This induced their emigra-
ton TO America over which the Protcclo-
rate claimed no jurisdiction. John Wash
ington, the grand father of George, be-
came an extensive Virginia planter. His
son, Lawrence, married and had three
children, the youngest of whom, Angus
tine, was the father of George Washing
ton, whose birth made the 22d of February
immortal i'll the calendar of time. 4
hali-brothcr Of the Father Of his Couu-
Try, named Lawrence, the son of d prior
marriage, had served with distinction in
the West Indies under Admiral Vernon,
from whom the classic grounds of Mount
Vernon take The name. His half brother
UawrenCe) was fascinated with the naval
scryico, and made arrangements for
George t. enter he navy, from which he
was tissuadrl by his noble Christian
mother. Hal it MT BEEN for this con
trolling influence we would perhaps have
had no historic iigh's AZ Trenton, Bran
dywine and Monmouth, or hard suffer
ings at Valley Forge.
The 22d Of February viii live in the
minds Of mca forever, clear as live in
history the T.bcr, the hppiau Way, or
The white capped waves Of Salami3. The
bands Of music that stir the souls of
people, and the 1lags that tlu'tcr io the
breeze to-day, and the professions and
ora'ions, and patriotic re Uuiols, speak
more than the empty emblaz1ury of her
aldries, honors, or cunning device of
kings and armoriaI bearings. They show
that one mighty man at least occupies a
niche in the temple Of fame, "a place in
the hearts Of the human race, a sighjless
distance above the shafts of calmmuy, and
even beyond the reach of envy, beyond
the influence Of all time, or charcr, or
change.
~ ,..,.,., -. A.. IL. ,.,
~ 'i'c u't't 81 'ie v' warrior taNr
~ Where hylng he wish d in death to rtpese;
" mere @ ct MIN inc lfaNtS III lhe summer Wlod
pay
Anu hehta'h the rotor &C m male'ty flows. |
h't tue spot "he'e ne died when MS honors were
full,
Ever shield IN It's shade the reno|nd Of his race,
Nor the IaFage Of ages BIZ triumph. deflce.
aver bless IN hl2 sleep, unpTofan be his Er We,
Wore man may III silence ms Lono's oe'toF;
WINE the tnLutcs which Nature sCCord5 to the |
brave,
ABOVE MN proIuse III sweet 7ohtnde grow
honRh hlm'Ie MS iolnb, Yet sublime Il lis |
name
Immortal in blessings he wild to m 'nkind;
Ana llne To Eternity bearing his Fame,
" bird d. ''' y ''' ''"5 '' the say ''''''lns
The a,tS splash OF the stream or the rash Of III"
)r the psce Of the pilgrim in so ituds heard