The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-22

Testimonies About washington-Earl RusselPs
and Washington Irving's 0pinions-How
We Came to Get tho Stars and Stripes
The Celebration Of the Day and
How It VIII Be Done.

The few holidays which Americans take to them.
selves are well worth noticing, for 1t Is din1cult
thing to get the hardworking Yankee to stop day
to rest unless something very extraordinary
arouses his patriotism. Genuine patriotism, how
ever always is called forth when the honors are to
be done to the memory OF "the father of his cOun
try" and to-day, the birthday OF washington ITO
morrow, OF course will be for the secular Observ-
ance), must be the source OF much anniversary
recoiectiOns III hundreds Of thousands of house.
holds all over the land. No name in history Is
purer or brighter than that Of George Washington,
and perhaps, the best testimony to his memory Is
the revival OF the encOmums which great men, |
after his own time freely accorded to the part he
took in the doines OF the period in which he lived.
Earl Russell in his 'llfe and Times OF Charles
James Fox" thus speaks of Washing on :-"GeOrge
Washington, without the genius OF julius Caesar
Napoleon BOnaparte has q far purer fame, as his
ambition was OF higher and nolier nature. In
stead of seeking to raise his own name or seize
supreme power he devoted his whole talents, |
military and civil, to the establishment OF the
dependence ana the perpetuity of the liberties Of
his own country. In modern history no man has
done such great things without the selhshness or
the stain OF groveliing ambition. Caesar, CrOm-
well and Napoleon attained higher elevation,
but the love OF dominion was the spur that drove
them on. John Hampden, William Russell, Ager.
non Sydney may have had motives as pure and an
ambition as sustained; but they iel. TO George
Washington alone In modern times has it been
given to accomplish wonderful revolution, and
yet TO remain to all future times the theme OF q
peoples gratitude and All example of virtuous and
beneicent power.'
good deal OF controversy has been had In re-
gard to the origin Of the stars and Stripes as the
national flag, and the subject has been written
about again and again. In this connection the
statement Is Of interest that in Brighton church,
over the grave Of one OF the Washihgtons, the
shield OF the family is found on the sepulchral
stone, and the alternate gues and white OF the
American nag are supposed to be exactly similar
to these, with the stars, which have the parallel
REGULARITY OF being hve-pointed instead OF six as
is generally the case.
Washington Irving discusses the parting Of
Washington with his officers at the close OF the
War OF independence in this beautiful way
In the course Of few days Washineton prepared to
mand barge was in waiting about noon on the 4th OF
@ ssssss the
ss s H. l. AKA aass S$.s
ss sss. a yss
s Ta aa ms
ycssay sys
snf nS
dcton he aided with EMOTION = cannot each
him ssaerf sa'sse
% the TEX % asee
feeling and manly sndernesso these Veterans IN he
Silent and solemn they followed the loved commander
s
ns sarsH he to In @ % his aa
nSI and having watched tn barge until the intervening
the Place whss they nsd M
sembed ~N 90
the Birthday falling on sunday. The Post ONCE
will be closed at ten O'Clock. The Stock Exchange
and public Offices Will be closed all day. The State
courts Will also be closed, as will be seen from the
tollowing:-
Chapter 80 Laws OF New York for 1870 on page s1,
Others the I'D Of February shall dessnated as legal
sunday the following Monday shall be- deemed n
pT9e holiday and any biz of sxchanse bank check
april 2s $50 which but Tor THIS would fail due and
following Such Sunday SS0 or Nom,
The United States courts viii not be closed.
Christmas, New Years and other days which NAV
be designated by the President, such as Thanks.
giving, are the only national holidays.
The following has been issued to the Veterans:-
Hn1s sfs ,ss.so yErrnAss or THE WAR orr
NEW YORK, Feb H. 1874 :
r to from the Govern
auested assemble at their armory, No ia East FL
tseR rng place and Third
saTy Of me BIRTHDAY Of Washington. W ~'e''
s ssi ss al General SfI'f aav%ana
J. GouLp WARNER, Acting Xdiutant A''"'' Aa]u'anI
The nag will be hoisted on the old fort at the
upper end OF Central Park, which was built Tor the
defence OF TINS city, at nine A. M. on Sunday ana
Mr.. James E. Ayde win perform the following
programme on Trinity church chimes, IN honor OF
Washington's Birthday. on Monday, February 20.
1874 commencing at noon:-
l. Ringing the changes eight bells
Scotch melodies from Guy Mannerings
asa.' kG s'es g. 8: sSm nTn!'y bells
g. RED, White and Blue
TSs s sHs GiS12 sifdsS Hero Comes"
j! Let the Merry Church Bells Ringn
Y Columbia the Gem OF the Ocean"
X Ring Out the Bells"
l. "I ins Ean 6o @, rra"''e'"
A musical and literary entertainment will he
given on Monday evening OF the rooms Of the John
T. Dowley Association, 2O4 East Broadway The ID
company, Seventy-nInth Highanders, win have
their seventh annual invitation ball at Ferrero's
Assembly Rooms. musical and literary enter
tainment VIII be given by the branch of the Young
Mems Christian Association, Eighty-sixth street
and Third avenue. An annual meeting of the Ger
man society," at Liederkranz HAM, will be made a
feature or
Other entertainments too numerous TO name
Will be given IN various places. The following pro-
giamme may be selected as showing the spirit Of
. At special meeting Of the Club in union with the
boulevard Quartet Club the following programme for
adopted = ~ vs. ~ ~ ''' "'
The American flag will be raised and national salute
Will be 1red at SUNRISE and sunset
The members OF the Club meet a the CIuh Bouse
johnson with the ONION Home cornet Band
all young Americans. orphans OF patriotic soldiers and
Pm ~ ' " ''" @'oe~
Patriotic songs by the boulevard Quartet Club
Washngton's Farewell Address will be read by Pro.
lessor William H. Pope.
Hon. Hosea b. Perkins will deliver an oration IN ..rbo
DAY We Celebrate y" '"N
"Hai Columbia" by all present
Jerome Buck will deliver an address an triot
sm.n
Recitation by Henry Clay Demorest.
Speeches by Hon. j. X. Fellows, Charles H. Kitcheu
and other eminent speakers who Will be present
The entertainment will close with thirteen guns hon.
fires and Nominations " 'o'
COOPER INSTITUTE CELEBRATION
The large hall OF the Cooper Union Institute was