Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-21

tain, on this anniversary of Washing
tons birth. presents a brief biography.
OF course, only the principal events in
his career can find room here.
George Washington. the first president
of the republic, was born at Popes creek,
near Bridger creek, in WestmoreianG
county, Va, February %, 1882. He died
at Mt. Verton, Va, December H. 1879.
The father of George was Augustine
Washington. The mother was the sec
ond wife of his sire, and George was her
first born. Before marriage her name
was Mary Ball. She lived to see her son
president.
Augustine Washington moved from
Pope's creek to an estate on the east side
of the Rappahannock. George took his
first lessons in an ''old-field" schoo1
house. with Hobby, the sexton of the
parish, as first teacher. When the
Washington family returned to Pope's
creek, young George attended a little
better school than Hobbys, although
the whole course of study embraced
nothing more than reading, writing,
arithmetic. with a little geometry and
surveying. George evinced marked
preference for the latter study. In his
copy-book We're many maxims, and the
one most noteworthy must never be
omitted from the story of Washngton's
boyhood-"Labor to keep alive in your
breast that little spark of celestial fire,
Conscience"
Young George was instinctively a SOL
der and a captain, just like Napoleon.
He formed company of playmates and
drilled them like veteran. Running,
leaping and wrestling were favorite
pastimes. He never went to college.
At 10 Washington was appointed adj
jutant general, with rank of major of
militia. The approaching war between
England and France involved a conflict
for the possession of a large part of the
American continent. French posts were
established on the banks of the Ohio.
The governor of Virginia invested
Washington with perilous commission,
that of presenting himself before the
French commander and inquiring what
authority he had for invading the terri
tory of the king. Washington set out
without military escort for a journey of
600 miles over mountains and wilder
ness. The trip was full of adventure.
One related to prOvidential escape
from savages; another from assassina-
ton by a treacherous guide, and the
third an escape from a watery grave
while crossing the Allegheny river on a
raft. AT length washington reached
Williamsburg and delivered to Governor
Dinwiddie the reply of the French COM
mander. This journey was a signal test
of Washington's characteristics. talents
and courage. .From that moment"
says Irving, The was the rising hope of
Virginia" Washington was then about
81 years of age.
During the war which succeeded,
Washington was aide-de-camp to Gen.
| eral Braddock. On the bloody field Of
| Monongahela, where Bra1dock was
| routed and killed, Washington had two
| horses shot under him and four bullets
penetrated his coat.
The next important event in the life
| of Washington was his cOurtship and
marriage to the charming widow, Martha
| Custic, the ceremony taking place Janu-
| airy 6, 1859. No wife of president since
Washington's time ever excelled Martha
| Washington in courtiy grace as the first
| lady of the land.
Fourteen or fifteen years elapsed be-
| fore the struggle for independence be-
| gan. Meanwhile Washington was elected