The news & observer., 1901-02-23
CELEBRATION At
THE UNIVERSITY
Hon, Francis D. Winston S
Address on Washington.
NEINTtn NHrYAt ,ssN u,E
VIVID SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Mr.. Winston Limns a Character Pic
ture That Will Live.
ORATloaS DELIVERED BY The STUDENTS
The Speakers Are KIyitz and Skinner, Their
thoughtful Efforts Win Applause. The
College Choir Sings America.
An iaborate Program.
Especial to News and obseryer)

Especial TO News and Observer.)
Chapel Hill. y. c.. Feb. 22.--WashinG
tons birthday was celebrated here With
an elaborate program. At eleven o'clock
Mr.. JOS. E. Avent President, called the
meeting to order The. college choir
sang America" with good effect After
prayer by Rev D. J. Currie, OF the Pres
byterian church. the student orators were
presented They were Mr. b. S. Skin
ner, of the Phi. Society" and Mr. White
head Kluttz, OF the "Di." Society. Their
orations were of a high order ard elected
much applause.
The closing address was made by Hon.
Francis D. Winston of the class OF 70.
Twenty three years ago today MIR. Win
stOn spoke when the custom Of celebrating
Washingtons birthday was revived. He
i5 popular speaker with tire students
here. His lund of good huInor and col
lege reminiacenee are very taking.
Mr. winston said IN part:
Il have lacked opportunity TO prepare
4 finished GRAFTON. and have simply cull2d
and strung together few facts and in
cidents Illustrating Washington, as {; man
OF flesh and blood, OF like emotions with
ourselves. intensely human, some times
even one OF the boys.
Not an angel, nor demigod. nor a
prodigy, bat lnan--strons and we'll bal
anceG. still man; sucn a man as might
have been once sophomore in this Uni
versity.
He was not mere serupulous in his
accounts and contraets with the National
Government. or with his London COM
mission merchants, than with his own
butler and gardener The gardener was q
jealous devotee OF the God Ct Wine,
and the assiduity OF his devotions IN
tsrfered too frequently with the perform
ance of his horticultural functions Wash
ingtun could not give mp his gardener. The
gardener could not give up his Bacchana-
lian deVotions Years of experience had
satisfied him that gardening, unless re-
freshed b. systematic relaxation, would
prove ruinous 10 the best constitutions,
and, so, Washington and Philip, his gardc
ne-. drew up contract, carefully worded.
legally phrased written by Washington
himself, signed, sealed and delivered with
due form, ceremony and solemnty. Philip
agreed that he would serve faithfully as
a gardener and keep sober at all times, eX-
cept those mentioned in the contract.
Washington, in turn, agreed to allow
Philip one dram every morning and
drink OF grog with his dinner at noon, 81
extra at Christmas, with which to be
drunk four days and four nights. 50 at
Easter for the same purpose, 81 at Whit
suntide TO be drunk for two days.
Although scrupulOus ard exactipg in
business matters, ne was generous to
those in distress. He pensored his aged
servants. His old body servant Bishop
lived in an elegant cottage handsomely
provided, like retired gentleman Ever
the good steed Nelson, which had borne
him bravely in the field row bad pastures
assigned for his individual Use, ana wens
hopceforth, his own master, forever un-
saddled.
During the whole term OF his services
as general in command OF the army,
Washington refused 10 accept any pay,
but was careful TO keep minute ac-
count of his expenses He saved the Gov.
errment considerable expense account
When it was hard pushed for funds; ana
saved himself payment in deprecated Goa :.
tihental -plaaters; but got his pay af-s
teTwards IN gold, he sum total being
$54 5000. OF this amount nearly a thous-
and dollars was interest which he
charged on former amount due him
by the Government; and almost $5 ,0Oo
was TO pay the expenses of a trip by
Lady Washington, who drove all the way
from Virginia, in a-coach- and four, to
visit the General at his headquarters in
Cambridge
I'm rendering this account Washington
said that he had hesitatad little wheth-
er he ought to charge the Government
for Lady Washingtons expenses. but
that he finally decided to do so, because. if
she had not come 10 him, he would have
gone to her, at the expense of the Gov
einplent."
While modest about taking office,
Washington did not shrink from using
power. supreme power. if occasion
demanded.
"On December 26th, 1776, Congress
created him distator, with as full pow
ers as were ever exercised by Cincin-
naus or Napoleon. The Congress
granted him full, ample and complete
power to raise, collect together and
aQuip an army. appoint officers and re-
move the same, to take what property |
be pleased wherever he might be, for |
the use of the army, to arrest and con-
6ne persons refusing 10 take the conti- |
mental currency. ragged shin plasters) !
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