New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-22

| naVians he has an enthusiastic auhih"Ioh avn
their wild, massive, manly theology; for their ne
| roes, lords, and conquerors; for their honesty
| enterprise and knowledge of navigation; 1Or
| their colossal stature and incredible strength.
| OF what nober race could the great Washing
ton have GOMEZ Through them, too, as we
are informed his blood may be traced 10 the
Canaanitish Anakim, descendants OF ADak, de-
rived from Canaan, the son of Ham, the son
of Noah! 1t is really delightful and Inspiring
to know that Washington was descended from
Noall-it is such a pretty pedigree for the
pilot who weathered the storm!
The value of these discoveries to those who
may hereafter be designated by their fellow
citizens as Orators of the Twenty-second OF
February will be immense. They VIII no
longer be compelled to cOnfine themselves TO
the battles of the Revolution; for it will be per-
fectly proper and germane to the anniversary
to dilate upon the military talents of Odln,
his noble appearance, superior proves, hne
powers of mind, his cOnquests, his colonial
tons, and all the things which are written
about him in the Sagas, i'll the works OF
Snorre Stureson, and the histories of
Suhm. Such being the forcfathcr of
Washington, how easily is his great
success at the Battle of Trenton and the Siege
of Yorktown accounted for! Odn's followers
believed that victory hung upon his arm
WashngtOn's soldiers had the same high
opinion of their commander. OdIn, fleeing
from the Romans, retired to Denmark; Wash
ington, fleeing from the British, retired to
New Jersey. The true name OF Odn was
Siggc; the true name OF Washington was
washington. Odin crossed the Baltic; Wash
ington crossed the Delaware. After many
glorious victories, Odin withdrew to Sweden;
abandoning public life, Washington withdrew
to Mount Vernon. Odin died. So, 1t Is gem
erally, known did Washington. This interest
irc fact completes the resemblance. There Is
nothing more to say.
We have given these new and interesting de-
tails because we believe that they will send
a thrill of satisfaction through every American
heart. The great Wccms, whose Life OF
Washington sells for noble price at every
book auction, knew nothing about Odln ana
we have therefore, lost several pages OF the
most magnificent writing. If that most fascln-
ating of all biocraphers could only have learned
that his idol was descended from Noah, how
would the rcins of his clOqucncc have been
loosened, And what description he would
have given us of the Flood! The cherIy-trcc
and the Ratchet episode would have been
nothing to it
1t is a melancholy reflection that to Wash
ington himself knowledge of his descent
from Odin was denied. We console ourselves
with the reflection that such knowledge was
not needed TO fire his heart, to animate his
courage, to increase his dignity, to nerve his
strong right arm. He knew well enough
IL nt1 etx-
muniments that he was IA man, and that his
country looked to HIM for manly service.
viii the biOgrapher of some future founder
of a republic trace his line painfully up to tn"
Washington famly-not, alas, to Washington
himself, since Heaven left him childless that
all the land might call him father. People
with a taste for such matters may go back to
the Sagas if they plcaSe-a true American an
tiqlaran may stop with sufficient satisfaction
at February %, A. ID. 1892.
1t is, after all, beautiful life, whether we
consider it as passed in the camp, the court
or drawing to close i'll idyllc serenity Few
men come TO the last of earth, as Washington
did, with almost nothing to regret 1t Is not
10 the partiality of biOgraphers nor even to
the popular reverence with which he is re-
gardcd that we owe this almost perfect exam
pie. He had enemies enough among his own
countrymen, as well during the war as while
he was engaged in civil administration. There
were numerous libels printed against him, and
not one of them had the shadow of founda-
ton. There were constant arrangements OF his
ability and his record refutes them all. He
is not demigod, but it is only because We
do not defy after that fashion any longer
l,tt IN, tIon -hn L.
Washington
Mr. PHTRICK'S LITTLE DICTIONARY.
"Thn household EngliSh DictiOnarY' fills