Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-12-21
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FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY.


VoohAh6ton ulcu Occ. Ia, 1893, dnC
now, after the lapse OF 100 years, doubt
still exists as to whether or not we vel
now the man. He had performed
sMh great services for his country
had been 80 clear in the high stations
nc had held that criticism and en-.
nifty ceased at thettomb and he was
at once elevated among the demigods
of myth and fable. Not only his
contrymen, but 1.-THE wholeg world
joined IN his praise, and 5he was
idealized into an image that had lit.
'tle@ humanity about it save the outward
form. Never in all history has &
soldier or statesman in any nation
been so suddenly apotheosized as was
George Washington. This was largely
due to his early biographers, who were
men without critical SKILL. and nc
sense whatever of a biographer's re
sponsibility. They were without
ability to weigh the value of docu.
ments and other papers, where they
used any, and had no hesitation what.
ever in inventing any pleasing fable
that would illustrate the abstract per
lection of their hero The most re-
markable of these biographers was
Rev. Mason Locke Weems, who was
the first of Washington's American
biographers and the creator of the
ideal Washington.
Weems was native of Maryland
where he was born in 1850. He was
educated for the ministry and was or.
dained in the Episcopal church. He
preached occasionally at least In Pow
hich church, which Washington at
tended, and on the strength of this
signed himself the rector of Mount
Vernon parish, but Bishop Meade, the
historian of the church in Virginia
says he never was the rector OF that
parish or OF any other in that state
though in his travels through the state
as an itinerate book peddler b. some
times occupied a vacant pulpit and
sometimes read prayers to the servants
in the houses at which he was enter
tanned. He was, in fact. book agent
for Matthew Carey, the Philadelphia
publisher, and, being man of educa-
ton, occasionally wrote books for his
employer. In his travels through Vir-
ginia he heard many anecdotes of the
early life of Washington, and wher
Washington died he Immediately in
corporated these and some others of
his own invention into a biography.
which was published on the 22d of
February, 1900. but little more than
two months after Washingtin's death.
The title of this volume is impressive
enough. "A History of the Life and
Death, Virtues and Exploits of Gem
eral Washington. Dedicated to Mrs.
Washington and containing a great
many curious and valuable Anecdotes
tending to throw much light on the
private as well as public life and char
acter OF that Very Extraordinary Man,
the whole happily calculated to furnish
a Feast OF true Washington Entertain
ment and Improvement both to our
selves and our children Printed for the
Rev. M. l.. Weems."
1t is to the imagination OF this
writer we owe the far-famed 'hatchet
story and the kindred tales of Wash
lngton's childhood and boyhood, none
Of which has the least foundation else
where. Edition after edition of this
book has been sold since 1t first APP
peared and 1t has been published year
after year. No subsequent life Of
has had half the circula-
hon OF Parson Weems' lying little
volume. The children OF the United
States for three generations have been
brought up ON it.
The next culprit to Weems in OBJ
'curing the human side of Washington
was DR.. Jared Sparks, at one time
president OF Harvard college and a
educator in the early
lays Of the republic. He edited and
published the writings of Washington
and wrote his biography. He had,
however, so little sense of responsible
ty that he undertook to smooth and
amend such letters of Washington's
rs he thought were not quite credit
pble to a perfect man, going to the ex-
.ent often of changing their meaning
hus destroying their value altogether.
But ii made Washington from his
youth up appear very perfect. Nor
we're Marshall. Irving aRd Everett re-
uctant TO keep their hero on the
PEDESTAL to which he had been exalted.
They did not, of course, relate the silly
tories of Weems, but they were loath
o see any imperfection in Washing
on's acts or character and in a meas
ire confirmed the dedication which
lad been accredited to him by the
EARLIER biographers.
For number OF years past the crit
cal students of American history have
'evolted at this false and unscientific
method or writing the biography of
me who was the foremost man OF his
lay. but no god. McMaster in the
irst volume OF his history OF the
United States. published fifteen years
lgo, said: General Washington is
Snown to us. and President Wash
ngton. But George Washington Is
n unknown man"
Other writer's and critics have said
he same thing and some attempts
ave been made to unwrap these gar
nents OF indiscriminate eulogy which
ave so long concealed the man George
and find ont n noSSihle |