The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-23
Won THE Prize.
Mss Myrtle PostoH, Formerly Of This
County, Successful In School Com.
petition.

peIu0h.
We take pleasure in reproducing be-
low a prizeessay on"George Washing
toa,r read by Miss Myrtle poston
before Santuck High School Union
county,. Miss Poston is daughter
! Of Mrs r B Owen, formerly of this
county, and a and-daughter OF our
esteemed friend, Mr. Simon Poston
Of Jay. The paper referred to was
read in honor of Washington's birth
. day, and was printed in 'Progress, !"
newspaper published in Union.
SANTUck, February 22.--Hslf
holiday was given in Santuck High
School today, and appropriate papers
we're read by members of the school
commemorative of the birth Of George
Washington. Of the eight contest
ants the judges were unanimous in
ayapding the prize to Myrtle Poston;
Aflen Friday and Frank Jeter beng
given second and third places respect
ively. At the conclusion of these
exercises refreshments were served
the entire school by the teachers,
Below is gwen the winning paper
the merit of which argue for itself:
Today, l73 years ago, there en-
tered this world ore, destined to be
oneJof her greatest mea.-
Born in an humble Virginian
home; bereft of a fathers loving
care when quite young, his home
training devolved entirely upon his
mother, Mary Ball Washington.
His literary education was only
such Us could be obtained at u neigh
borhood school. The evidence of
his future greatness was manifested
in his youth by the important com.
missions entrusted to him when quite
young,
AT the early age of II he was en-
pIoyed by Lord Fairfax to survey
the immense tract of land in the
Valley of Virginia. To accomplish
TINS required suffering and pnvation
on his part, many night his only
shelter being that of friendly for
est tree.
But this was the very training for
the man of future years. Had
Washington been left TO carve out
his own future; he would have been
q sailor, but his mother was so bitter
~ opposed to the idea, that for her
sake be gave up his cherished hope.
As a youth he was possessed with
great force of mind and character,
and this seems to have made an i'm
preston on others; for at 81 he was
appointed commander of the north
ern military district of Virginis. He
served in Braddock's campaign and
{ when the latter disregsrded his ad-
vice be showed, probably for the first
time in his life, that fiery energy,
which always lay hidden beneath his
calm, unrufied exterior.
The war in Virginia being at an
end (175s), he resigned his post, mar
ried Mrs Custus and settled at Mt.
Vernon. For the next twenty Years
his life was that of a typical Vir-
ginia planter.
During his services in Congress
he feresaw the outcome of the taxa
ton struggle and that war was lnev-
liable. His ability was recognized
and he at once urged the equipment
and training of men for service in
1case Of need.
When the time was ripe he was
appointed commander.in-chief Of
the armed forces Of the United
States, and with that true modesty,
whichever marks the gentleman, he
declared himself not competent for
fhe task, but only accepted it from
q sense of duty, made imperative
by the call,
Bat those who are acquainted with
his subsequent career know how en-
inently he was qualified for this i'm.
portant task.
The manner in which he struck
!: his enemies at Trenton md at Prince
-