Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-23
MONDAY EVENING. FEB. %, isC
DAys WE CELEBRATE.

toms birthday, ana 10 many oik'"i 'iNO'
citizens the affair brought to mind
pleasant "reminiscences of by-gone years
when, apart from Christmas, the 22d OF
February was anticipated by Alexan-
drians with more pleasant expectations
than any day in the calendar. The al
fair was, in almeasure, REPRODUCTION
of those of other years, and honest
enthusiasm has been manifest IN every
soul. 1t has been a gala day from start
to finish, and success has crowned the
efforts of the committees having the
celebration in charge; hence the zzd OF
February of 1903 will long be re-
membered.
The birthdays of two illustrious Vir-
ginians-asr great men in every sense as
have ever appeared in history-occur
within about month of each other.
The 10Th of last month was observed as
the anniversary of noble and truly
great son of the Old Dominion who was
contemporaneous with most of u.s. The
event met with its usual observance,
and the memory of ROBERT E. LEE, ever
green in the hearts of the people of the
southern portion of the United States,
received the honor it deserved.
Today is the anniversary OF the birth
of another immortal Virginian, GEORGE
WASHINGTON, who has slept within a
few miles of alexandria for a century
and over. Amid the greatest hard
ships and followed by a gallant and
determined band for seven long years, he
finally compelled the mother country to
order its armies out of this portion OF
North America, and acknowledge the
fact that another English-speaking ma
ton had appeared on the map. HIS
mission was crowned with success-un-
like that of the other great chleftaln
who for four years kept al bay an army
overwhelming in numbers while con-
tending for the rights guaranteed his
mother State when it entered the fed
eral compact. While it is meet to
celebrate the birth of Washington with
Joy and gladness, another spirit comes
over us when our thoughts are turned
to the great commander of the Army OF
Northern Virginia 1t is then we are
reminded of gentleness, true greatness,
genius and Christian character blended
in one who was more noble in failure
than were any of his contemporaries IN
success. We bow with reverence. to him
and the principles for which be contend
ed. His memory is not perpetuated In
storied urns, fretted vaults now imposing
mausoleums, but in the hearts of a
grateful and loving people.
Washington, possessing similar virtues
and genius, had a more prolonged mill
tary career and labors and anxieties after
he had placed his sword in its scahtard.
He had brought to the birth a re-
public which at times was unruly. lie
had his enemies and critics, but with
fixed and steady purpose of mind and
an undertaking path of rectitude, he lived
to see his course approved, and when at
last his eyes were sealed, in death, an
entire country lamented, that he was no
more.
1t would be bringingl Goals to New
castle for the Gazette to sketch Wash
ington's life-certainly to an Alexandra
clientele. 1t has been in our nursery
literature and incidents frsm it were in
our school readers while some we knew
in our early days saw and conversed with
him. There have been many orations
delivered on the illustrious hero from all
standpoints, and he now stands out as
great historical figure invoking our con-
temptation. Alexandria has performed
its duty today in hOnoring the memory
of Washington. He always evinced
interest in her welfare, and when he was
gathered to his fathers Alexandria
realized that she had lost one of her best
friends and that familiar figure
had passed from our midst to become
a fixed star in the galaxy Of the great
which have appeared in this world.