Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-09

tnat review the same complaint emanatcd ''that
all who had written Of Washington had brought
him down to posterity on stills. They have
rarely" they say, ''allowsd the huge feet Of the
worlds greatest hero TO touch the ground"
The explanation given more recently, when the
same charge was made against Jared Sparks
and Washington Irving for these omis-
sions, is contained in the letter Lord
Erskine, the great English barristor. addressed
to Gen. Washington in which he said. ~ have
large acquaintance among the most valued
and exalted classes OF men. but you are the
only human being for whom ever felt IN awful
reverence"
Lord Erskine had never seen Gen. Washing-
ton. and being an Englishman. would in some
against him. Wbs Sen must have been his in
fuence upon those wrought in contact with
him? Tho nearns Q. Washington to our day
and the proximi q Mt. Vernon TO our neigh
boring towA Alet :ndria, where he WAS re-
business was tran1 Fed and to it he was a ire
quent and famR visitor accounts in some
measure for the ~ instances related of him
as exhibiting soms of the foibles Of human na-
ture. His biosraphers however. would be
likely to omit such illustrations Of the weakness
OF mankind in their hero. The veneration of
posterity, however, will not be lessened by the
knowledge that he was . man with impulses
and passions and some Of the infirmlties of the
human family. All heard OF him, however,
tends to add to the greatness Of the man.
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
When the convention met to frame the Con-
stitutioE and when the trouble Of dissenting
opinions seemed likely to lead tc its disruption.
Washington rose from his seat as president Of
the convention and in a few sentences, uttered
with the deepest emotion, secured the adoption
OF the Constitution. His personal influence
was overpowering. On another occasion, when
the army was about to be disbanded, Gen.
Gates and q few other officers had inhammatory
appeals circulated among the troops urging
them to demand their pay or overthrow the
government. The date was fixed for the meet
ing OF a convention, but Washington, to gain
time to learn the extent Of the conspiracy, Or
dered Postponement of the convention. The
meeting when held was q large one. Gen.
Gates presided, but before the proceedings
had gone very far Washington entered
the meeting unattened and unannounced,
his face wearing sad and troubled look. He
began short speech. admitting the justice Of
their claims and expressing his deepest sym-
pathy, appealed to them not to desert their
country's cause after covering themselves with
scars In its defense, and above all not to be
dupes Of British intrigues. He assured them
Congress would do them justice and took from
out putting on his ylasses- Slowly raising
them, he said in q voice full Of solemnity and
pathos, ''1Iy brothers, have grown gray in
your service and now find myself becoming
blind" At the conclusion Of his remarks he
walked slowly out Of the meeting, which pro-
plicit confidence in Congress and loyalty to
their country.
his AurnonrY UxD1sPUrHD.
No one disputed his authority to rule,
whether he was at the head Of the
army, in the presidential chair or in
retirement at Mount Vernon. His voice
was as authoritative and his word as alb
solute when he stood on the banks of the Po-
tomac as when chief magistrate Of . mighty
nation. In this respect he was without par
allel. The Rsoietn from which these extracts
we're made. or the substance Of them. acknowl-
edge him as the greatest Of the heroes Of the
world. and depreeate the Withholding from his
biography the few faults of human nature
he possessed. No one, l believe, was
ton to take the slightest liberty with him.
A story is told Of wager Of
pipe OF madeira made by Gouverneur Nor
ris with Alexander Hamilton, that he would
throw his arm round the Presidents neck,
and at their next meeting he approached the
President and, laying his arm on his shoulder
in familiar manner, hoped his excellency
was well, &c. Washington raised his hand de-
liberately and removed Mr.. Morris arm in a
manner SO filled with offended dignity that an
won by Alexander Hamilton.
ALEXANDER vATTEMoRR.
The name Of Alexander Vattemors was re-
called to me the other day As one who had
rendered valuable service to this and other
countries, if not to the whole world, by in
augurating the system of international sx-
change of books between the government sof
Europe and the United States. and between the
Libraries Of the respective countries. There are
however. very few who remember even his
name. had not heard it for years. but recall
books very distinctly. He found very earnest
support in the National Inteligeacey, whose
columns were opened to him. and through
them he made known the system which has
world OF letters. He at one time held posi-
ton under the French government, and losing
1t, he had recourse to his dexterity as a sleght-
of-hand performer and ventriloquist
for his support, and was celebrated as Mons.
Alexandra. cannot remember ii he gave pcr-
formances here in public, but 1 do recall an
amusing exhibition he gave one night at Mr.
Seatons with whom he WIS upon very friendly
terms, as, indeed, he was with all the distin-
guished men Of his day. His "torrent of i'm
advance of the period, but the seed he sowed
has ripened and the fruits are seen in the
international exchange, which is in charge of
the Smithsonian Institution. whose agents in
INC uiHereht CLUES OF Europe conduct the
exchange. Heretofore Congress has made no
appropriation in aid of this important inter-
change, and the Smithsonian Institution.
under the able management Of Prof Langley
has conducted this most important function
for which it was founded, The diffusion Of
knowledge among men, Last year, think il
was, for the first time. Congress made an an
preparation of $40, 600 to defray the expenses
Of the freight and charges which heretofore
the steamships have transported free of charge
Mr.. Spofford of the library of Congress saws
that now there are thirty three foreign govern
ments who exchange all their national publica-
| tons with us ana those publications are sent
| to the library of Congress. All this vast ac-
cession to the knowledge of those countries
| aud the world in general owes its origin to
Mons. Alexander vattenore, who devoted the
best years OF his life TO this project. now real
lied as fully as could have been hoped.
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
This subject brought me to the new library.
the great national library, which, when COM
pleted, viii dofy comparison with any library
in the world, the only building in the world
which has been built for library. Strange. Il
may seem to the general reader but all other
libraries in the world OCCUPY buildings which
have been adapped to their use but not one al
| them occupies a building expressly built for
| that purpose and mona other. The eoyernmsnt.
| as . general thing, builds for the preseut and
\ in few years they have outgrown the buildinoa
erected for their use aud houses by the dozens
| all over the city are rented to sheIter the
| numbsrless clerks needed to conduct thu uubIic