The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-01
Continued from Third Pages

washington OlC WOhto bNCd iiidh
his uniform. Little by little this idea
took possession of him. There was no
sudden conversion; it was slow pro-
cess of imitation. At first he made ne
effort except to play the part when the
occasion permitted him to wear the
dress of Washington. He RETAINED
from drinking to excess at such times;
he told no big stories. Originally this
abstinence may have been largely due
to fear of ridicule, for others were quick
to follow Simon GARDENERS lead But
eventually he played the part thoroughly
for its own sake. He tried to think
what Washington would have done in
this or that event. Books furnished
him with ideas of the great patriots
language and demeanor. He became
noticeably courteous, especially to
women, whenever he wore the uniform
of the leader. Gradually the self-com-
mand he thus acquired produced its
effect upon his daily life. He was
Washington at all times; often stilted
and ridiculous, no doubt, but on the
whole better and an honester man
than he had been before. He schooled
himself to tell the exact truth in the
smallest as well as the greatest affair.
AT the time when l first saw him riding
at the head of Rockport'S parade, he
was man good deal laughed at in a
quiet way, but implicitly trusted by
every person who had the sense to
understand him. His home was a
model; he prospered in his trade; he
was the George Washington of Rock
port
AT last the traitor came. | was II
years old then and my present memory
of the events is accurate. Mr. Green
had relatives in Green's Landing, on
Deer Isle, in Penobscot Bay. His
ancestors had given the landing its
name and it had given them little in
return. Slas Green of the Landing
was a young man with no money and
meagre prospects. 1t came into the
charitable heart of George Washington
Green to take this young man into his
own family and train him up in the
painters trade. Slas gladly accepted
the offer, and for two years he welded
the brush under his kinsman's tuition
Then Silas began to complain that his
earnings were insufficient. He quar-
relied with his benefactor and started
into business for himself
1t seems incredible that this migrate
should have had support from the men
of Rockport, but such is the fact,
Jealousy of George Washington was al
the bottom of it. His enemies saw a
chance to strike at him by the agency
of this young man. 1t happened that
the Washington features which, in a
general way, marked the family, were
accumulated in Silas. There is no
doubt that he looked far more like the
immortal George than did his bene.
factor. Upon this resemblance a
wicked plot was based Its object was
no less than the retirement of George
Washington Green from his place at
the head of the column in the Fourth
of July parade, and the substitution of
Silas.
l believe that was the first person
in Rockport, aside from the plotters
themselves, to get hint of their base
designs. An incautious word in my
presence gave me the clew, and made
a counter-plotter of me in second.
Wrapped in an old piece of canvas in
Hiram Leavitt's ail-loft, subsequently
heard the scheme discussed. Had |
simply gone out into the town and told
all about it, doubtless that would have
stopped the mischief; but what boy
would have done that? To work in
secret, to conspire, is boys delight, |
summoned my immediate cronies, and
we organized a society called the Rock
port Patriots, the object of which was
the destruction of Silas Green's hopes.
We met many times, surrounding our
proceedings with deep mystery; but
before we had decided whether to
drown Silas, or simply to kidnap him
and imprision him on desolate island
in the bay, the mask was thrown off by
our opponents and the whole town was
talking.
They had been exceedingly clever.
By "packing" the committee on Fourth
of July observances, they had secured,
apparently, the success of their nefari
Gus enterprise. With this committee
rested the question who should lead
the parade. They voted for Silas
Green. Then arose one of those
village wars which are so amusing to
witness. The spirit of partisanship ran
high. 1t seemed at first that all this
might result in the abandonment of
any celebration, but finally it became
certain that there would be two parades
Two Washington's would take the field
on single day.
Throughout the controversy the de-
meanor of the true Washington had
been worthy of his prototype. Not a
word of bitterness had escaped him.
He had been inexpressibly panied, but
he had borne it as the hero bore the
winter at Valley Forge. He had argued
against the idea of two parades; he had
worked for peace in every honorable
way; but at last, finding an unquestion-
able majority of the townspeople be-
hind him, he had reluctantly consented
to lead the cause he knew to be just.
Then came such preparation as
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