The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-18
THE FATHER OF
HIS COUNTRY
Next Thursday is the Anniversary OF
His Birth.
WAS A MARECHAL DE FRANCE
Tradition That this Rank ana 1''e
Mas Conferred on Him-Thc Hou-
don Statue in tho Capitol
the Greatest EIXtant.

It Is only in quite recent years that the
1ranscendental genius of Washington mas
l,ee,, recognized at its true worth. All
countries must needs have NauellaI
Qlsro, but they are all prone 10 tHdhe u
that hero something more Than moriai
and to fail down and worship nm. Ii3ls
mas been particularly true III the cas-
OF Washington, but there are lew ciiiif7
acters i'm history, ancient or mouefh,
which are Capable OF supporting tins
haro-yyrship as well Is that OF t!-e
Father OF His Country. lie II was more
lhan any other who carved out our IN
.,anaDdence and established the infant
Rabuhlic on a basis 50 sccure tiia' II mas
w!1hstood fhe shocks OF q century, anu
is as Yet uDSh2ken.
This is the day We celebrate as Tue
anniversary OF the birth OF TINS iiluslriouS
man. and not only in this his own coun-
try but in lands beyond the SEA Will i!ie
day be remembered 1itunSly
In view of-the fact that an heoric statue
is being erected to his memory IN france
il will prove Interesting TO recall the
tradition that Washington was a marshal
of that country.
MARl2C14AL DE FRANCE.
In an old copy of the National Repubii-
can. published Il Washington. Is Nha
following:
1nond, Va. gentleman an ancient porce-
lain mug, Oh which is printed the edlET
of Washington on horseback, with the
inscription beneath, George Wa<7hinG-
ton, ESD, General-in-chief OF the United
States Army and Marshal OF France.
This latter title being one not generally
understood to belong TO the Father OF
i 4y.,,. y I, IN a
from c. w. Parke Gusts. dated in 1854.
which explains how General Washington
came by the French rank ItIa history
of the american marshal of France,
writes Mr.. Gusts. Is simply this: when
in l.g1 Colonel 1-aurens went TO France
as special ambassador. a difficulty arose
between him and the French ministry as
10 the command OF the combined armies
in America. Our heroic Laurens SAID:
Our chief must command it; il is our
cause ana the battle is on our soil 'C'cst
impossible exclaimed the F'ienCtlmen: by
tho etiquette of TIE French service the
Count de Rochalnbe;iu. being an Old
Northumberland. can only be command
ed by the King in person or marechal
de France. Then exclaimed Laurcns,
make our Washington a nlarchal de
France, and the difficulty Is at an end
IT was done. A friend OF mine heard
Washington spoken of as Monsieur le
Marechal at the siege of Yorktown.
Washington never coveted rank or title;
but 1t Is bcyound doubt that, from the
force Of circumstances Just related. the
rank and title Of marechal de Franco
was conferred upon the Gencral-in-ch
of tina combined armies of America and
France.
HoUDoN STATUE.
or the many statues erected to Wash
tngton's memory. Richmond, the capitol
of the Stale that gave him birth, boasts
the two finest.
The IIoudon statue in the Can,tol is
one OF the finest works of art that has
ever been executed in marble, and is
acknowledged 10 be the finest statue of
Washington cXtant. There was formerly
a copy OF the 3Ioudon statue in Raleigh
but Il was destroyed by fire and could
not be replaced.
The Crawford equestrian statue in the
Capitol Square is another work of art,
and ranks high among the equestrian
statues the world over. The position Of
both the horse and rider are perfectly
natural. The horse is full OF fire and
nrdor and the man of great power.
Among the books in The library of
George Washington at the time of his
death was the ''l'oetical Works of vii
liam Preston The inscription of the
author IS a truthful and comprehensive
tribute 10 the memory of the great man.
To His Excellency.
George Washington,
The Father of His Country:
Undismayed in Danger.
Unshaken IN Adversely.
CncoIrupted in Prosperity.
In Whom
Military Talents.
Consummate Wisdom.
and
Cne1amp!ed Moderation
Most Happily Unite
and Render Him
The Boast OF Human Nature.
A Society Cake Walk.
GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE, IA.