The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-21
HONOR TO MEMORY
OF WASHINGTON
Public Schools Hold Fitting
Celebrations.
LESSONS IN PATRIOTISM
Inspiring Addresses by Well-KnOwn
Speakers Emphasize Virtues of
First President.

Every public school in the District
of Columbia today united in honoring
the memory of George Washington.
Flags were flying from the buildings
at $50 o'clock and viii fly until 4:3O
p. m. Throughout the entire District
the smallest act recorded of the
Father of his Country was woven
into a series Of addresses and patriotic
songs, and in this way the children
of Washington did honor to the name
Prominent officials found time 20
leave their desks to unite with the
children in praistng the first President,
and nearly every school room held
large audiences specially invited. Elk
ercises were held in the high schools
at l p. m, and in the graded schools
haif-hOur later.
Patriotic Addresses Made.
The Hon H. B. F Macfarland. presf-
dent Of the Board of Commissioners of
the District, made the principal adj
dress in the Normal School and West
ern High School, and Commissioner
West was the speaker at the new Bush
ness High School The Hon. William
Z. Andrews, auditor Of the United
States Treasury, delivered the grafton
at the Eastern.
Many Of the Rotations given in the
schools today were in chorus They de-
itneated the heroic deeds Of Washington.
the qualities which made him the noted
leader of a great people, and his achieve
ments of the battlefield. THE Star
Spangled Banner" Columbia, the Gem
of the Ocean" The Battle Hymn of the
Republic" and a dozen other patriotic
songs gave a spirit to the occasion that
was materially frightened by the en-
thusiasm among the children themselves.
Each one entered heartily into the pro-
gram and sang their songs with a vim
Decorations Were Profuse.
Every school room was profuseiy dec
GRATED with flags and bunting and the
national cOlors were reported every
where the opportunity afforded. Flow
ers lined window recesses and were
stood on stands about the rooms and
the whole atmosphere of the school
buildings was one OF patriotism.
At the Normal School
The Normal School exercises were held
at 1920 o'clock this morning To the
students VINO are soon to go out into
the world as teachers Mr.. MacfaTland
spoke Of the extraordinary genius of
Washington as Illustrated by the great
breadth and extent OF his vision.
He stands out from the other great
men of his time in this as in all other
respects" said Mr.. Macfarland. He
saw that the nation would last and grow
10 be rhA greatest, while others were
wondering whether 1t would live a dec
ade. His plan of the Federal City is
his unique prediction of the great Repub-
lie, which would need such a great Capt.
tai Even his reputation for unCom-
mon common sense did not save that
plan from being ridiculed for mag
nificent distances"
His attitude toward slavery was
characteristic Of his great qualities. He
never bought or sold a slave, he took
the best of care OF those whom he in
herited, and freed them in his will. He
believed in stopping slsve-impOrtatiOn
and gradual emancipation and in ma
tional education Of the freed slaves
Address at the Western.
Later MI Macfarland spoke of Wash
ington to the pupils OF the Western. In
the course of his remarks the Commits
sioner said:
1T ought TO be easy to visualize
George Washington here and so make
him real, as he ought TO be, and not
myth. Fer Georgetown was his head
quarters in the District. From George
town Heights he picked out the site of
the Federal District and planned the
Federal City. Here he was entertained
and here he did much of the work OF
preparing the National Capital for the
National Government. He walked or
rode all over the ancient city of George
town. and appears TO our imagination in
the ruiz strength of his great body, and
that was giant strength, and in the full
strength OF his great mind, and that was
genius strength. Study him. We of the
National Capital ought to know him bet
ter than people elsewhere. because this
was his last great work and his personal
Impress Is everywhere upon it. The more
you study him the more you will admire
him
Commissioner Vests Address.
While the president of the board
was telling the students all about the
duties of American men and women,
and the example set them by George
Washington, Commissioner West was
making the address of the day to the
pupils OF the new Business High
School
Mr.. West emphasized Washington's
large, round and legibIe handwriting,
exhibiting pages OF his account books
in order to show their neatuess and ac-
Curacy. Especial reference was made
to the accounts kept by Washington of
his personal expenses between the
years 1875 and 1888, during which time
he served without compensation
The thriftiness Of Washington's
character was illustrated by the fact
that he charged every item of expense,
even to his laundrying and tips to SER
wants, while in his hnal settlement he
included the expenses OF Mrs. Washing
tons trips from Mount Vernon to the
various winter camps where Washing
ton was located. WashingtOnS eXpla-
nation OF these charges was read by
Commissioner West, and was referred
TO as an episode which threw consider
able light upon Washington's business
character, the explanation being given
that Washington would not have in
cluded this charge had 1t not been that
even with this reimbursement he was
considerably out OF pocket.
Washingtons knowledge of details
was also presented TO the students as
worthy Of their emulation, the fact be-
ing presented that Washington, even in
the midst of his campaign, received
weekly reports of the management Of
his estate and personally knew how
much labor was being performed by
I'll of his slaves and other workman.