Potosi journal., 1904-02-17
GEORGE WASHINGTON

1endence-our great victory of peace.
the formation Of the union, and the es-
tablishment Of the constitutiOn-he is
all. all our own. Washington is ours"
The foregoing was written by Daniel
Webster in regard to the Father Of His
Country. the anniversary of whose
birth occurs February %. an occasion
that is ever freshly remembered by
American hearts. He was the first
man of the time in which he grew
wrote Rufus Choate. His memory is
first and most sacred in our love; and
ever. hereafter, till the last drop of
blood shall freeze in The last American
heart his name shall be a spell of power
and might. There is one personal, one
vast, felicity which no man can share
with him. 1t was the daily beauty and
towering and matchless glory of his life
| which enabled him to create his coun-
| try. and at the same time secure an un-
dying love and regard from the whole
| American people. Undoubtedly there
| were brave and wise and good men be-
| fore his day in every colony. But the
| American nation. as a nation, | do not
reckon to have begun before i714, and
| the first love of that young Anferica
was Washington. The first word she
lisped was his name. Her earliest
breath spoke it. 1t is still her proud
| ejaculation It will be the last gasp
of her expiring life. About and around
him we call up no dissentient. discord-
| ant and dissatisfied elements. no sec
tlonal prejudice or bias, no party. no
| creed, no dogma of politics. None of
these shall assail him. Yes, when the
storm of battle grows DARKEST and RACES
highest. the memory of Washington
shall nerve every American arm and
cheer every American heart. 1t shall
roillume that Promethean fire. that sub
lime fame Of patriotism, that devoted
love of country which his words have
commended. which his example has
| consecrated-
The story of George Washington 8
life is an old one. but the salient facts
will bear repeating. He was born at
Wakefield. WestmOrelaud county. Va.
February %. 1892. lived from 1875 to
1899 at what is now Mount Vernon, and
when he was seven years old he was
taken to an estate on the Rappahanrock
| almost opposite Fredericksburg. The
father was one of the prosperous plant
ers Of Virginia, able 10 give his children
what education the times could afford.
The first teacher of George is reputed to
have been a convict. whom his father
bought for the purpose. All of Washing
tons schooling ended before he was 16
! 1~-,. 1,r;I1 -f,1-
dier and statesman has given to history
some of its most interesting pages.
1t was strange wrote Thackeray
that in a savage forest of Pennsylvania
a young Virginia officer should fire
shot. and waken up a war that was tc
last for Go years, which was to cover
his own country. and pass into Europe
to cost France her American colonies, 'o
sever ours from us and create the great
western republic; to rage over the Ole
world when extineuished in the new;
and, of all the nyriads engaged in the
vast contest to leave the prize of the
. greatest fame with him who struck The
, first blow"
AS to the esteem and affection ir
I which the name and character Of Wash
ington were held one cannot do better
than quote Lafayette, VINO wrote from
France as follows:
Were yon but such a man as Julius
Caesar, or the king of Prussia. shoult
! almost be sorry for you al the end O
the great tragedy where you are sctins
such part. But. with my dear gen
= eral rejoice at the blessings of 4 peace
= when our noble ends have heen secured
: Remember our Valley Forge times; and
t from recollection Of past dangers arr
s lahors. We shall he still more pleased a
b our present comfortable situation
q cannot but envy the happiness of n!
Y grandchildren. when they will be abNu
q celebrating and worshiping your name
f To have one of their ancestors anon,
, your soldiers. to know he had the soot
= fortune to be the friend of your heart
:, will be the eternal honor in which the.
o shall glory"
The poet Shelley, aboard an AmeIi
: can ship. drinking to the health o
: Washington and the prosperity of III
q American commonwealth. remarked
: AS a warrior and statesman he wa
q righteous in ell he did, unlike all VIII
= lived before Or since; he never used hi
:. power but for the benefit of his fellow
creatures"
Four New Brothers.
my affections are already engaged,
. he said
a She turned pale.
n Il am very sorry" he added.
r, Then he arose and took his hat.
n Coed mig MT he said
e She looked after his retfeating form.
IS That's my fourth fsiiar@." she hsi
IT but the year if dung s.t. - C!eveiSn
Plain Dealer.