New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-23
yESTFRD4y'S CELEBRATION.

Washington's Birthday was yesterday duly COM
memoratcd. People like to have a holiday and
when there comes one they are more interested IN
getting pleasure ont of it than in remembering the
person to whom they their respite from every
day toll. The calendar is full of saints who are
only thus preserved from absolute oblivion. We
are not sure that the majority of those who yester
day enjoyed themselves know much abOut Wash
inrton. or care much for that illusrious man They
would readily acquicsce i'll whatever might be said
in his honor but it would be acq1iescence with
out much heart in it, much intelligent recOgni-
ton. This is the popular meliocrity to which most
great men are consigned, but it is pecially 10
be amented since they have their fix ed place in the
pantheon of history A thoughtful observer seeing
Yesterday how the whole city was ayailng ITSELF OF
Washingtons fame to escape from toll. to enj y
the pleasures of the promenade to Visit the theatre,
might have cynically remembered various things
the hunger at Valley Forge the annals of the RevO-
luton and the ealonsies Of Jefferson III the annals
of the United States Do those who recall Wash
ington to themselves, all great honest and self
sacrificing think of the shameful scandals TO which
he was subjected There were lev years during
which he was the wors5 lampOoneI man in the
country: but never did slandercr or lampooner in
the least disturb his equanimty. That was be-
cause he was so great lie seems to not only the
independent men of all time Those who would
know how great he was must look below the sur
faces of history. There have been only five or six
like him since the world began; and this is the
reason why his birthday was yesterday observed.
What other person of the Revolution receives like
honorP Its secret IL in the character of the eXcep
tional man. The heroes do not come in crowds and
he we may be sure, one of them.
There was something peculiar abont the obser-
vance yesterday. II marked the hundred and
fftelh anniversary of Washngton's birth, and
should, as such things go, have been honored with
somewhat more pomp and circumstance. The CEN
tennial in 1882 much more generally noticed
throughout the country lis observance was like that
of a Fourth of July. The guns were fired Mt morn
ing noon and night while all the bells rang merry
peal. There was a brilliant display OF the militia
and of fireworks. There were oratIOns OF the most
eloquent description, and balls in the evening. Yes
terday the public celebrated upon its own response
bility without official or executive assistance. Pos
sibly il likes best TO he left 10 itself Yesterday it
rather graytated toward dinnCrs-a sensible course
There was tolerable display OF the star-spans led
banner. The general ie5tlvity was quiet but upon
the Whole we are inclined to think that such is the
general American tendency IN the Jubilee direction
Everybody knows how much quieter our Fourth Of
July joys are becoming. We are perhaps getting
tired OF blaIe, and noise and buster
We do not admire Washington less because we
make less noise about our admiration. We have
found out new ways OF enjoying ourselves while We
do him honor; and the new ways We must confess,
are somewhat more rational