New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-22

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earned deservedly the title of 'the great
est of good men and the best Of great
men" is the one to which the attention of
our youth ought to be specially called as
counterpoise 20 the morbid notions
abou. greatness as incompatible with the
tame virtues" so apt 10 be entertained by
the young. This is the lesson of his life,
that loftiness of character unsurpassed
except by that Of one not 70 be mentioned
here is not incompatible with a scrupulous
attention to the minutes. details of every
day life; that no care demanding attention
under the name Of duty appealed in vain
90 him Who had charge of a nations
destinies. To specify the distinguishing
exploits of Washingtons heroic career
would be to ,ehearse what every school
boy knows; but to call attention 20 the
humber traits which marked his private
life. may not be improbable. In these
there is nothing which to q common eye
would seem heroic; no eccentric devla-
tions from the prophecies which bind or
binary mortals; no cratic evidences Of
genius such as make friends tremble for
the future; but in boyhood truth. ODE.
dience, industry; in youth the same vir-
tues developed by deliberate choice and
supplemented by economy. courtesy, self
control, and self-reliance. In early man
hood steadiness and sobriety of deport-
ment not incompatible with that fond
ness for out of door sports. that interest
in practical matters, that keen observation
and ready decision which mark the voca.
ton for active life. IN all this we see su-
periority indeed, but hardly the incipiency
of greatness. Nor is this apparent in the
readiness with which he gave his advice
or assistance TO his friends and neighbors,
executing commissions for them when his
business threw him in the way Of doing so.
His disinterestedness. great almost to
sublmity. his sympathy with suffer
ing, his ardent patriotism; all these
attributes which 70 tho lover of
goodness make his life poem.
are, to the vulgar craving for something
startling, no evidences Of greatness. To
such the bloody and SELF clarifying career
Of Napoleon furnishes IL far better illustra-
ton of the heroic. Think Of great man
keeping minute account of farm ex-
penses, laying out for years beforehand
the rotation OF his crops, ordering knick-
knacks for his wife and female friends; re-
firing voluntarily from the highest posi-
ton in the country. This is not greatness
to uaLd de chansbrc. And yet it is pre-
ci5ely these facts whose contemplation
may encourage the aspiring youth, dis
heartened by the commonplace surround
ings Of life to hope that he. too. may yet
do deeds worthy to live. In the life
of Washington. SO loyal TO the low
Hest charge. SO equal TO the Hottest.
he may see an example OF admitted great
ness no. disdaining life's most common
place duties. but on the contrary cheerfully
fulfilling them; making no display. yet by
its inherent force inspiring trust so
profound and firm that repeated military
failures and the even more trying test Of
prolonged inaction. when action seemed
indispensable. were unable to disturb it.
It's fitting, then, that character so ex-
allied in its simplicity, and SO simple in its
grandeur, should be held up often before
the youth Of our country. II is well that
his birthday should be celebrated, and
that on it all Americans. whatever their
differing views on matters of present mo-
ment, should unite to do honor TO one
whose memory is so dear to all.