Bisbee daily review., 1902-02-22
GEORGE
 WASHINGTON.

Today we commemorate day made sacred by the birth of George Wash- ington. Though he lived in two cen turies and hundred years have come and gone since he ceased to serve his cOuntrymen, he lives today in all his towering greatness among those who honor and revere his name.
 And why does the heart of the Amer icsn people beat faster at the mere suggestion of Washington Why does his name not pass into oblivion and cease to be spoken at fire side alters? Simply because ne was our greatest American. His personality stands out in bold relief while others fade and are forgotten.
 Like the hero of some stalwart mission he came from the wilderness unknown; without the prestage Of pOsterity, with neither heritage of wealth or promise of the future he must forge success or admit defeat His early life ran on like the planter of Old Virginia. The care and joys of every life were his and when eventide fell upon earthly creature he lay down in peace to rest. Beneath the great oaks of the primeval forest he went forth an unknown surveyor and with dauntless courage mellowed the fierce ness of the back-woods.
 But it was later in life, when King George sent his soldiers to subjugate the Indian tribes, when this young lieutenant saved an entire army from annihilation, that stalwart young Washington first stood forth to all the world. He quickly saw situation and grasped it. We follow him into the far frontier dealing telling blows to the enemy and again see him leasurily reclining beneath the friendly shade of his boyhood home.
 But the usefulness of his great life is suddenly called into heroic action when the colonist called for leader. Human liberty had been denied the stalwart characters of America, and the galling
 
 heavily. Beneath the old elm at Cam. bridge this splendid chieftain drew his sword and led the continental army.
 But who then could predict the out come? Eight long, trying years this little band of patriots followed Wash ington, never doubting nor looking back, across freezing streams, through forest, with neither fool nor clothing nor compensation, the sturdy colonist marched along buoyed up by the hope of victory.
 It wac about the low, burning biv- ouac fires at Valley Forge where the colonists lowered, cold, chilled and starving, that the heart of the gentle leader vas touched. Up1n his pended knees in the depth, of the wilderness his voice went up in prayer, and his luxurious eye, that his soul looked through, would oft time dim with tears.
 And his victories of peace were as momentous as in war, and when the last echo of hostile canon had died away at Yorktown all turned to the great Virginian for their greatest Pres- ident. Eight years more were devoted to the service. .of his countrymen. aud then he returned to Mount Vernon. There, with friends and the comforts of 6 simple home, he was free from care and responsibility.
 And as he lived he died, loved by all. Beside the sweet music of the rippling Potomac his great heart ceased to beat. The old slave wept bitterly away down in the garden and all America did homage. All honor and gratitude to Washington, the soldier of progress, the builder of states, the founder of new civilization in this free empire of the west.