Williams news., 1909-02-27
WASHlNGTON'S ANNIVERSARY

dlSt1nSulSned college president de- clared that the people of New York City could not produce another Lincoln. He might have added. New York could not produce an- other Washington.
 He grew up without much of any sch ooling, he never could spell correctly. He took some elemen- tary lessons in surveying. From the first he was an athlete and horse tanner, from the first the sound of fife and drum were music to him. So when the militia was formed, by natural selection he was the captain. He was, moreover, woodsman; he knew all the habits of the wild game, and further back, the habits of the wild savage.
 So when a French-Indian war came on, and Great Britain sent an accomplished officer with a command to down the trouble, Washington went along with his militia and, when approaching a dangerous point, near where Pitts burg now is, he ventured to say to the English general that the ap- pearances of things ahead were bad, that he should not venture further without first sending out some scouts to reconnoiter, and that edu- cated fool, disdaining to receive advice from the backwoodsman, threw his men into what proved to be an ambuscade and he and many of his soldiers were killed.
 In that moment the spirit of George Washington shone out. He was everywhere in the fight, he had five horses shot from under him, he saved the remnants of the con- mand. So that when the time was ripe for this nation to be born. in- stinctively congress turned to him for leader and for seven years, against all hardships and against all dangers, he guided the shabby army and wrought out deliverance to the land.
 Then he was made president when he might have been made king. He served eight years as president, served until the constitution was formed and free government fully esta blished, and when he was called the whole earth was thrilled with sorrow, and the great Napo- leon, who was then in the height of his power in France, ordered a state mourning and that all his officers should wear crape for thirty days.
 The secret of it all was the char. acter of Washington. He was man among men. He looked out sharp ly for his own interests, but above all other men around him, what was good for his native land was what he determined to have, and so profound were his convictions on this subject that fine scholars acknowledged his power; men in every walk of life conceded his greatness. He was the strongest character of his day, and the infu- ence he left behind his country still remains and the flag which was baptized in blood over him has become the symbol of liberty the world round.
 When Washington began his work the settlements of our coun- try consisted of little fringe along the shore of the Atlantic; today 9O,OOO,OO0 of Americans over the  whole country hail his name in remembrance, and it will be so to the end of time with every return of his birthday. From nothing, by his character he won immortality, distinct place Tn the list of great hen, and one of the chief secrets of all hls life was that he loved his country better than himself, and from boyhood up he held his for tune, his honor, his life itself, as but belonging to his country and subject every moment to his cOun- try's commands.