Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-02-22
The Birthday of Washington.
Take him for all In all
II look upon his like again. "

ago. this day, respectable Virginia
matron gave birth to an individual that
history delights to fondlc. The mother,
OF small mental culture, was, neverthe-
less, possessed Of a strong mind and
large moral force, and endued her boy
with strict notions Of virtue and rigid
economy. Traditions reach us Of excep-
tional veracity connected with the early
youth of Washington. They are on,
titled to but little credit. The truth is
that children, one and all, are Jumps OF
depravity, and are moulded into truth
and other cardinal virtues by the con.
slant appliance Of earnest counsel and
the infection Of vigorous stripes. Young
George was the recipient of very
meagre scholastic facilities, and his
deficiency in photography and syntax
was matter Of lifelong annoyance and
embarrassment. His transmitted cor.
respondence and military and State pa
pers, replete with strong sense and logi-
cal acumen, have yet been subjected to
careful revision by competent hands.
BY some means he acquired the art Of
surveying and quito early In life amassed
landed property that eventuated In large
fortune.
AT the age Of %, in General Braddock's
unfortunate expedition against from
tier French post, young Washington
gathered much military eclat. He
eyinced GOODNESS and courage and STRAIT
egg, and emerged in safety, though his
garments were pierced with three bull.
lets. Deputed to tho memorable Con.
eress of l76S and with scarcely any
forensic ability, and in body dis
iinguished by individuals Of eminent
parts, he soon concentrated upon him
the eyes of the leading men Of the colo.
mics. Patrick Henry, Intercepted as to
the leading man in that august assem-.
blsge, replied; 'Tf you refer to clear
vision and sound judgment, unquestion.
ably Col. Washington" To body of
great size, and features regular and ex-
pressive Of calm thoughtfulncss and self
command, was joined mind already
trained to the management of both civil
and military affairs of much difficulty.
So evenly were his faculties balanced
that no pressure or blow seemed ever to
materially disturb their equipoise.
Reason and judgment gave his opinions
an almost judicial clearness and equita-
bleness. Though slow in thought he
was rapid in action.
A Mr.. Chamberlain invited the young
gentleman to dine with him Mt his resi-.
dence on the York river. lie there
encountered young and beautiful and
wealthy widow. He laid seige to
her heart and she surrendered uncon-
dtionally to the young hero-and
the happy couple retired to Mount Yer.
non. But gathering storm soon
aroused him from his Arcadan retreat.
The great effort of revolution is TO in
duce men TO resolve. This s mainly ac-
complished by the glowing pamphleteers
and the fervid orators of that eventful
period. A rebellion determined upon,
men will fight, and vigorously, too, for
behind taem stalks the headsman II
was soon apparent that the issue be-
tween the mother country and the colo
MES could only be adjusted by the
bloody arbilrament of the sword, and
Washington was unanimously chosen
Commander.in.C Chief of the Continental
forces.
II is safe TO say that he was the only
man of his time who was peculiarly
fitted by solid and patient parts to
achieve the fierce and protractod labors
then unfolding-intrepid without rash.
ness, cautious without slowness, hu.
name without soft .heartedness, decided
without stubborness, and never per.
uniting the expedient to outweigh the
Just. Who else could have borne up
for seven long years against the tardy
and niggard supplies of an irresoute
and yaeillating Congress; of raw and un.
undisciplined recruits; of the constant
jealousy of his subordinate Generals,
often verging on mutiny, and of the
wailing dependency of the masse,
OF ths peoples But the yea
of his indomitable heart never
slackened. The victory achieved
at last, and mainly through his agency
and the Colonial stem abrupted from tn,
parent tree, this good man again betool
himself to his Mount Vernon acres ant
domestic bliss--again to be called t,
preside over the new nation.
The weight and influence of his nam
and character were deemed all essentia
to complete his work; to set the ney
government in motion, and conduct i
through its first perils and trials. Ii
discharged his civil functions with in
flexible integrity and scrupulous regar,
to the public veal.
The character OF Washington ma,
want some of those brilliant postica
elements which dazzle and delight tn
multitude, but it possessed fewer inc
qualities and rarer union Of virtue
than perhaps ever fell to the lot of on
man. Prudence, frmness, sagacity
moderation, and overriding judy
ment, an immovable justice, courag
that never faltered, patience that neve
wearied, truth that disdained all artifce
magnaminity without alloy. 1t woul,
seem as ii Providence had especial,
created him for the high destiny he wa
called upon TO fulfl-to conduct mo
mentons revolution which was to form
an era in the history Of the world, an,
TO inaugurate new and untried govern
ment which, to use his own words, wa
TO lay the foundation "ior the enjoy
ment of much purer civil liberty an,
greater public happiness than have hith
erto been the portion Of mankind"
The fame Of this good and great MAJ
stands apart from every other in history
shining with truer lustre and NOR
benignant glory. His name, with tn
favored denizens of this land, forms
universal tie of brotherhood-a watch
word Of our Union. He will ever b