Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-20
EXERCISES
Observance Of Washington's
Birthday Anniversary
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MUSIC, REGULATIONS, FLAG sA-
Lutte AND ADDRESSES.
Observance Of Program Provided by
Board Of Trade Committee
Leading Features.
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

With patriotic addresses and songs. sup
plemented with drills and marching exer-
cises, the public schools Of the District Of
Columbia today observed Washington's
birthday anniversary, under the auspices Of
the Board of Trade. The exercises began
at 30 o'clock this afternoon and the cele-
bration was quite general throughout the
District. The addresses were delivered by
the speakers designated in yesterdays Star.
while the pupils Of the schools also partici-
pated largely in the observance.
Red white and blue bunting and American
flags were the characteristic features OF
the decorations in the various school build
ings The exercises were attended by many
parents and friends Of the pupils, and the
sentiments of loyalty and national pride
expressed by the orators were cheered with
enthusiasm.
In general the speakers referred to the
life and character Of George Washington.
with occasional references Of local interest
in regard to his part in the founding Of
the city which bears his name. His early
struggles as a surveyor. his services as
soldier, and as President Of the United
States, were mentioned in terms OF high
praise. His devotion to his country, as evil
denced by his self-sacrif1ce and the hard
ships endured while leader Of the Amer1-
can forces III the struggle lOE lHutptuu-
ent government was depicted forcefully,
and the younger generation were urged to
emulate his example of patriotism and de-
votion to principles.
Many comparisons were drawn between
the country Of Washington's time and that
of today. The development Of resources, the
inventions for facilitating business and
trade, and the increased opportunities for
development of men and women along IN
telgent lines were also mentioned in the
various addresses.
The exercises at Eastern High School
were presided over by DR.. A. P. Pardon,
and the principal address was made by
Commissioner H B. F. mcfarland. The
members of the school assisted in the pro-
gram with songs and Rotations and flag
drills.
Mr.. Netherlands Address.
Following the introduction by the pre-
siding officer, Mr.. mcfarland spoke in part
as follows.
I'm the city which Washington founded
and planned, which bears his name, and
on Capitol Hill, where he would have had
a winter residence If he had lived we
Washingtonians ought to celebrate Wash
ington's birthday with intelligence as well
as enthusiasm. We know that Washing
tons feet trod the very soil Of this hin ;
we know that from it he looked westward
beyond the rising Capitol. to the Presi
dents house and so on up the Potomac
toward the west which he won for the
United States and that he looked from 1t
southwark toward Alexandria and Mount
Nernon.
I'VE ought to be able with all the knowl-
edge within our reach to make him real
to ourselves. and so to get the greatest
benefit Of his example. If he Is unreal
to us he Is but a myth. But we need to
know him as man, not, like Greenough's
heroic and unnatural statue in front Of the
Capitol, but as in the lifelike and life
size Houdon statue reproduced in Statuary
Hall. We see then that he was a man.
with like passions ours. but with self
mastery that enabled him to be master Of
all other men and the greatest servant this
country had. The more we know of him
the more We admire him. and even love
him"