The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17

was a member Of the Federal commission
to investigate the disaster to the General
Slocum I'm October, 1904, and in the same
year was appointed president Of the
board Of visitors 10 West Point Military
Academy. He was chairman of the in
augUraI committee from December 1904
10 March, 1915. He was president Of the
Federal commission in connection with
the sale Of CEoctaw and Chickasaw coal
and asphalt lands. and is member Of the
board Of directors Of the National Geo
graphic Society. Among other honors in
civil life that have come 20 him are:
Commander Loyal Legion, District Of Co
lumbia, 1N9-1ejJ: president Columbia Hos
pital fOv Women, president Training
School fer Nurses. member board OF di-
rectOrs OF Reform School for Girls, Dis
trlct Of Columbia from 1900 10 $780, mem
Der and pres dent Board Of Trade CT
Washington City T. c.; member OF board
of directors of National Episcopal Foun-
dalton OF the District of Columbia; MEM
Der of the board Of directors of the Cor
cOTau Art Gallery member of the cNecu-
tive committee Of the Citizens Relief As
ISOLATION Of the District OF Columbia;
member of the Anthracite Coal Strike
Commission, October, 1902. until March.
1902; vice president for the District Of
Columbia Of the Thomas jefferson Memo
rial Association; member Of the Washing
ton Monument Association.
one of the treasures that Gen. Wilson
guards with great satisfaction is an auto
graph letter written 20 him in 1888 10y Gen.
Sherman. It follows:
Headquarters Army Of the United States,
Washington D. c.. Oct. 81. 1553 IA 30 at night.
Col John NJ. Wilson L. S Engineers, Washington
Dear Colonel, fear J must leave the city without
doing what ought-that Is calling on you and your
good wife in your home on CONNECTICUT avenue, but
am going % ask you to accept the win for the decd.
along with the assurance Of the high respect IN
which , hold you personally and professionally.
believe that general officer has ever held the
engineers in higher esteem than I have, especially
when their usual knowledge is supplemented. as IN
your case, with Che practical experience with men IN
the camp. in the field. and in barracks u requires
great knowledge 20 take mde blocks o. marble and
make OF them nOined arch but still greater 70
take mass Of rude men and work them into a
skilled army. and when the engineer can do both
well. then be is a master. believe you 10 be one
Of these. and that y0u appreciate my efforts TO
bring the corps into perfect harmony with the
whole army. and that y0u do not understand me
as thereby se!fshly attempting to enlarge my own
authority.
The fact that YOU have seen service in the aTtil-
lcry and with an army in the field makes You a
better engineer and qualities Won for the command OF
men One who sits down and exclaims. What's the
usc?" has net learned the lesson taught by history
tCT honor and fame win come to him who is best
prepared the more certain by reason Of the necessity
being sudden and unexpected. Though with the NOR
row J wal case TO be in authority yet viii none
the less be Gen sherman and. IN that capacity.
win watch the career of those who have attracted
ms notice, men with brains and muscles and hearts
and ] beg you 20 feel that ! regard you as one Of
The greatest promise that viii rejoice in your sue
cess and viii cheer on to deserve and reach tho
highest round Of the ladder Of fame.
Sincerely, your friend.
W. 7. SHERMAN.
Gen. Wilson has always been a Demo-
crat in politics. but takes no part in
national campaigns. lie is a member OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church. and has
held the position OF vestryman OF St
Thomas parish and has been registrar of
the parish He was the original incor-
porator and director of the National Epis-
cOpal Cathedral foundation.
lie was married. November >. 1861 to
Augusta Bertha Waller. who died June
II, 1902. Their only child died In infancy.
More than any living man, perhaps, Gen.
Wilson's work has counted toward the
identifying of Washington. From the
years of labor well done and experiences
learned and taken advantage of honor
ably and well, he says to-day TO young
men who are striving for success. that
they should love God and their country:
practice honesty. sobTiety, industry. do
their best in every duty that devolvas
upon them; be invariably punctuaI both
I'm private and public life; live strictly
within their incomes; have absolute con-
troll over their tempers under all circum-
stances; be courteous TO all. and generous