Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-25

One hundred and seventy.one years
ago last Sunday in Westmoreland,
Virginia, occurred tho birth Of the
"Fsther OF his Country" Geo. WASH
ington first saw the light OF day, Feb.
%, 1882 and bid farewell to this
world at Mt. Vernon December IA,
1899.
His father, Augustine Washington,
and his mother, Mary Ball Washing
ton, had six children-four sons and
two daughters - George being the
eldest. He received common En-
glish education, and at the age OF 10
was appointed one OF the adjutant
generals Of his state, with tbs rank
OF major. Soon afterwards, before he
was 20, he was appointed colonel,
which posit ion he held until 1858.
At the age Of q he married Mrs.
Martha Curtie, u wealthy widow,
about three mouths his junior.
Washington was man with human
faults and human imperlections. but
his inestimable virtues stand out in
marked contrast to the human back
ground, and it is because OF these
that his name is so highly esteemed.
He was something OF an aristocrat in
his ways OF living; he was not always
c onstant in his affections; he had a
temper which now and then led him
to act with unseeming violence, but
these failings bring him only the
closer to ourselves and call forth all
the greater admiration for the sterling
characteristics which brought him
forward as a man among men and
enabled him to impress his personal-
ty so strongly upon the nations early
life. No nobler figure ever stood in
the foreground OF nations life and
there is little danger that the dignity
of Washington will ever suffer by
microscopic inspection OF his life and
unimportant short comings to which
the flesh is heir. He whose name will
90 down the ages Of greatest history
as first in war, first in peace and first
in the hearts Of his countrymen, left
an estate valued at about $800,000,
was the first and only President chos-
en- unanimsusly and he never made
set speech during his long public
career. He exercised the veto power
twice in the eight years of his
Presidency. He had light-blue eyes,
verging on gray, and his hair was
dark-brown, was six feet and two
inches high, had large hands and feet,
and face showed marks from the eff.
feet Of an attack OF smallpox. He
was a very good horseman and fond
OF riding, racing, driving and hunting.
His Farewell Address," published
Sept. 10, 1876, is one of the most rro-
found documents ever penned by an
American.
He was member OF the Masonic
order, which, in his day, WAS the
leading, if not the only secret society.
He was fond OF instrumental music,
especially the harp, on which his step
daughter, Eleanor Parke Gusts, was
a skilled performer.
He loved animals and his horses
and dogs were all fine blooded stock.
Lotteries were common in his day
and he was frequent investor. He
also bet when playing cards, Of
which he was fond.
His mouth was large and he had
habit OF clinching bis jaws when in
q serious mood.
He was a hearty eater, and a mod
crate wine drinker, but did not use
tobacco, although he raised it for ex-
port.
Like Lincoln he was fond Of the
theatre, and attended whenever he
had the opportunity.
He could swear with surprising
vigor and earnestness, and at times
was known to get into towering fits OF
anger.
He was always in doubt as to his
own ability and was never adverse to
receiving advice from friends.
Monday was observed here as
legal holiday in eommemoration of
the world-leading hero. Most OF the
business houses were closed and
fitting services held.
Thus it is wise for the American
people, in its headlong race for the
supremacy among the nations OF the
world, to pause on the anniversary Of
Washington's national day, and reflect
upon the principles for which he
worked, and to endeavor to initiate
the methods which he pursued-both
In the administration of public affairs
as we'll as the virtues which Wash
ington practiced in his private life.