Evening star., 1897-02-23
ON WASHINGTON
The Celebration of His Birthday by
the Schools.
EXERCISES At The OPERA HOUSE
Stirring Speech Delivered by Major
| General Miles.
o T. H E R ROC R A Nj S

The pupils of the public schools of the
| city were a day late in celebrating Wash
| ington's birthday this afternoon, but the
| extra amount of patriotism secured YES
terday and brought over was fruitful of
pleasant results all over the city The
board of trade is to be Congratulated on
the outcome. The entire program was ar
| ranged by 1t. The students went away
| from the exercises in their respective
schools delighted and more impressed than
| ever with the fact that the father of his
country was fit man to emulate in all
| things.
The programs Of the schools printed in
yesterdays Star were carried out with few
! changes. The leading meeting of the day
was at the Grand Opera House. which
| was filled with the pupils Of the smaller
| schools Of the city. President s. w Wood
ward Oh the board CT trade presided, and,
after appropriate remarks, introduced Com
missioner Ross the first speaker Mr.
Ross held the little ones spellbound He
talked to them in a manner that could be
| understood. The next event on the pro-
gram was a stirring patriotic recitation
by John Tweedale. Gen. Nelson A. Miles
| made the last speech Of the day. He was
attentiveiy listened to by the youngsters
| Inc Marine Band discoursed at intervals.
| Gen. Miles Address.
| Ieh. Miles SAID: The government of
these United States has very properly dedi-
Gated the 22d day of February to the mem
ory of the father of his country and made
his birthday public holiday. in order that
| 1t might be duly celebrated by those who
| love the name, who revere his memory,
bless the cause, and who are devoted to
| the principles for which he gave his best
| thought and the services Of his life to es-
| tablish.
Fortunate are the children of this city in
h0iT ora1
| enlightened civilization, amid the monu-
ments erected to valor, patriotism and
humanity.
1--WE could not in all this wide world find
place where the environments of youth
| are more beneficent than in this national
capital, or where there are better advan-
tages for acquiring the best education. 1
| trust you will all appreciate it in the high
| est degree. and take every advantage of
| the blessed privileges you enjoy. While
| you may not all aspire to the highest posi-
tions Of honor and responsibility, yet every
one may nourish the ambition to be up
right and honorable and as patriotic as
was the father of his country in his youth
| and manhood.
You are enjoying better advantages for
| education than Washington enjoyed during
his time. AS he was the author of his own
career. blocked out his own destiny and
| cay by day contributed not only to his own
| wei! being as man and citizen, but also
| to the welfare of his country and humanity.
| SO you can govern and control your own
| actons and dictate your own destinies. In
| the broadest and highest sense YOU can
cultivate and promote the true and noble
| spirit OF patriotism. You can be equally
| honest earnest and jealous in every good
| ana generous work in which you are en-
| gsged, as was the father of his country
fortunate are the youth of this country
| In having such an exemplar. The charac-
ter of Washington has stood the crucial
test OF hundred years Of careful examin-
| atlon and criticism. 1t stands forth today
In all its grandeur. purity nobility and
generosity to illumine the pages of his
tory, beacon light and bow Of promise for
| enterprising and fearless; in domestic Efe
| the most refined and gentle always a gen
| tleman; in civil affairs the master mind
statesman OF the highest order, wise and
| sagacious In war he organized from the
pioneers and woodmen from the fields and
| forests into an invincible army and COM
| manded It successfully against the strong
est military nation of the world. In all
| Of character he lowered above all Others
the best type of an American citizen-the
| Dest-rounded soldier. statesman and patriot
that ever walked the EARTH
THE liberal civil governments with which
| the people are blest along the line of the
| western hemisphere, and in the very heart
! or Europe, are to a great extent the result
OF the enlightened thought and patriotism
| OF Washington and his compatriots. Wsrds
| fail in any effort to eulogfze the name Of
| Washington. The civil. humane, liberal
| governments Of the world, speak the eu-
| logy that should be ascribed to that name
| The blessings that are now enjoyed by sew
enty millions Of intelligent free people Of
| this country sing his praises. This most
| beautiful capital Of the world is graced by
| his name. That most chaste and grandest
| of all monuments towers to the sky to en-
| phasize the purity and nobility of Washing
ton.
mo more fitting eulogy could be given to
language than was expressed by that pa
i triot and martyr, second only to Wash
| irgton himself. when in 1912 he had. with
others. assembled like ourselves today to
| father of his country and referring TO
his name, Abraham Lincoln used these
| words: The name of Washington Is the
mightiest name on earth. Long since the
mightiest name in the cause Of civil lib
erty. Still the mightiest name in moral
| reformation. On that name a eulogy is
| expected. 1t cannot be. To add bright
| ness to the sun or glory to the name of
| one attempt 1t. In solemn awe pronounce
| the name and in it's naked, deathless splen-
dor leave it shining on
The High Schools.
At the Western High School the exercises
| were simple and impressive. The entire
| school assembled in the large lecture room
| on the top floor, and opened the exercises
by singing America" Col. H. F. Blount
| presided and made short address, In
|
occasion, Rev. DR.. Thomas s. Childs. The
entire school sang the patriotic hymn of
| Francis Scott Key, 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" DR.. Childs delivered an inspir-
ing and eloquent address. in which he spoke
! of the immortal Washington in the various
stages of life The students attentively lis
| tened to and enjoyed his remarks. The
Battle Hymn OF the Republic" was next
sung. with Miss Mccullough as the soloist,
| the school Joining in the chorus. Jesse II.
! Wilson, member of the board of school
trustees from that division. made short
address, The exercises closed with the
singing of Hail Columbia"
At the Central High School, Prof. Percy
Hughes, principal. John Joy Edison presided
| and made short talk in opening the exer-
cises Senator-elect George L. Wellington
| was the speaker of the day. He was given
| close attention by the students: Beyond
| the singing Of the "Star Spangled Banner
| ard America" there was nothing else on
| the program.
The program at the Eastern High School,
Prof. johnson, principal. was as follows:
Song, America" by the school; w. c.
Dodge board of trade. address; Wash
irgtoa's Farewell Address" Miss McMn-
Ian; Washington the Statesman" Miss
McNally; "Washington. the Man." Miss