The Newtown bee., 1889-04-26
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

l Washington.
 In Virginia, the mother of seven presi- dents, George Washington first saw the light, February P, 1732. In those early days, 1t was customary for the wealthy to educate their sons in England; but the young Washington was an exception to this custom and remained at home The meagre education, reading, writing I and the rule of three, doled out to him at the humble school house which the neighberhood afforded, was supplement- ed by a>thorough mental and moral cult ure at home, from an excellent father and an atfectionate and devoted mother. When the youth was but eight years old, he saw his brother fitted for war, with a captains commission and embarked for the West Indies. This circumstance and frequent reports by letter of the warlke scenes in which the brother par ;;%ipated seemed to imbue him with martial spir- it and all his recreations took military turn. His playmates at school were fel- lows soldiers and with them he mingled in sham fights, skirmishes and parades A self-disciplinarian in physical training, he exercised himself in all sorts of ath- letic sports, leaping, wrestling, tossing bars and pitching quoits. His frame, even in infancy, had been large and powerful and, as he grew to mans es- tate, his tall, gigantic form was symmet- rical, sinewy and of extraordinary strength.
 At 16, Washington set out on horse back on a surveying expedition through the fertile valley of the Shenandoah, put ting in practice the arts of surveying in which he had been particularly interest ed while at school, keeping regular field books of boundaries and measurements and making diagrams with neatness and exactness. The magic of method which he thus acquired proved of inestimable value in his military service of later years and his rugged experience among the mountains, at the bivouac and in the woodman's cabin with couch of straw and threadbare blanket added strength and vigor to the constitution which was destined to be racked with the heavy strains incident to career of many years as military commander and civil magis- trate.
 Having completed his surveys, he re- turned home. The manner in which he had acquitted himself in this expedition led to his appointment as public survey or, in which occupation he continued three years, thus having opportunity of again indulging his fondness for field sM&rts and engaging in the chase. He carried books into the wilderness and occupied much of his leisure in diligent- ly reading the history of England.
 At the outbreak of the French and h. dian war, Washington, then 19, was ap- pointed by the governor of Virginia to a position as adjutant general, with rank of major and pay of fl50per year, whose duty was to attend to the organization and equipment of the militia. It shows . what must have been his maturity of mind and the confidence inspired by his judicious conduct and aptness for busi- ness, that this position of responsibility and trust should be assigned to him. In 1775, when, Federal Union having been formed, leader for the army was sought, the members of Congress mani fested their appreciation of Washington s skill and experience as an officer, whose } great talents and excellent universal character would command the approba
 tion of all America and unite the cordia $ exertions of all the colonies better thar : any other person in the Union, by hi'
 unanimous election as commander-in : Echief of the Continental army.
 f On his acceptance of this commission ]. the charming character of Washington :, shone forth in full resplendence. gen I tleman of one of the first fortunes upol
 the continent, surrounded by family ant
 friends, he might have lived in deliciou IS retirement amid the rural delights o
 Mount Vernon, so dear to his heart. Bu e the nations veal was uppermost in hi e mind and he sacrificed all personal hal
 piness to serve his country with unceas
 ing loyalty and zeal. He was now ', the yigor of his days, 43 years old, stat' z ly in person, noble in demeanor, call
 and dignified in his department. As h + sat ahorse, with manly grace, his milit' relry presence delighted every eye ant wherever he went, the air rang with a !; fclamations. His renoWn as a leader ha ,,, already been achieved. The great cor {, mander's military career had already b q gun,-a career which knew no termin |, tion until the British forces under Cor
 wallis grounded their arms at Yorktow
 October 19, 17s1 and American libert ne of which Washington had been tl 1r mighty champion, was finally won. on At the close of the Revolutions
 struggle, having delivered his farew' ng to the army, he took his leave of the e ce ployments of public life and pecan ds again private citizen on the banks
 the Potomac. At Mount Vernon, t
 home of his boyhood, he resumed t \ life of husbandman, which,
 all others, he considered the most { ka lightful and sought again the eomps he ionship of his wife and the domestic ' pose he had so loved and longed for. n renewed the pleasures of the chase "
 friends who came often to see him.
 stables were never wanting in fine s asn dle horses and he continued to indu IFS himself in horseback riding, in which, q youth, he excelled.
 E. It was with reluctance that Washi An- ton left his quiet country home in 17Si
 preside over the convention which ado
 ed the constitution. Having assisted guiding the ship safe into port, he ca