The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-11
AS THE DAYS PASS.
By FRANCES JAY.


Looking at the Washington Monument
from that finest point OF vantage. the
deck Of a river boat. one Of the party
said 1t was so characteristic OF what his
tory told OF the man It memorialized,
Upright, square. but cold" one little
enthusiast declared this a horrid speech,
for it was our fault in drawing the mans
character from what was written Of him.
instead OF from What he himself wrote
his letters and his many diaries.
She went on to say she liked to think
OF the first President not as Grand
George" or "GenFal George" but as
Genial George" and while we called
him the Father Of his Country we gave
him the sort OF affection we would be-
stow on stepfather
When asked to show cause why WASH
ingtOn should be caiied genial. catching
her breath, which she had lost in his
defense. she replied: "For lots OF things.
but specially because he was once morti-
fed at the looks OF his Shoes Isn't that
human enough 70 prove the case?"
1t was this way. Washington an
swered a hurry call when he Joined the
Braddock expedition, and. being an ex-
perienced scout, he Travelled light through
the wild mountain country But when he
got 20 Fort Cumberland he found. as far
as the dandy cf the Kings own regi-
ment-the God Stream Guards-Gen.
Braddock, could transform a camp into a
court. the mountain stronghold had been
TrnnGfnrrea1 ~ Iafw -
tune was the rule OF those OF his rank.
SO as fast as a runner could be sent back
10 Brother John Washington. one went.
bearing this mt ssage:
AS wearing boots Is quite the mode, I
must beg the favor OF you 20 procure
me a pair that Is good and neat Send
them 10 Maj. Carlyle who win. I hope,
contrive TO forward them as quickly as
my necessities require.
Now isn't that honest? Washington
wanted them because they were the
mode. and all sorts OF expense. and peril
even. must have attended the getting Of
them, when the times and the country
are considered.
Brother John must also have been a
nice person, for Washington sent him
love letters to deliver. also some he had
received 10 read. No wonder George had
so little luck with the ladies' II he showed
their illusions around the family.
"A little later. after the fearful dis
aster 10 the army called THE Defeat
in history. being one Of the few defeats
the Americans have 70 record. George
wrote again 70 Brother John: I had four
bullets in my coat and lost two horses,
which were shot under me; we have been
most scandaloUsly beaten by a small body
OF men. have heard a circum-
stantial account OF my death and dying
speech take this early opportunity 10
contradict the first and 20 assure you 7
have not. as yet. composed the latter.
Now, don't you think that is human? 1
do.
Might not our city profit by the forum
idea in the public parks. which Is gain
ing ground. literally as well as hgura-
lively, in other metropolitan places where
diverse creeds interest diverse minds and
find open-air expression?
Wise old England long ago found that
views ventilated freely were more OF g
safety valve than menace: that steam
Jet of from surcharged hearts. or minds
that held real or fsncied grievances
might IL suppressed. blow up the shlI
NJ state
FreQuenters OF London parks often are
interested 10 see eager groups around
an imprisoned speaker who Is express
ing some bold utterance. while the bob
bies" give close but unalarmed atten-
ton, and the breeze that brings 10 tho
ear the strains OF God Save the King
stirred 70 languid life the red flag over
the speakers head.
There is no desire 10 connect the cause
Of suffrage for women with the red-fap
advocacy. but the interest in free speech
was exempllfed at the debate OF the very
clever Mrs. Hooker IN Baltimore. a da,
or two ago. When this advocate for the
cause, with its slogan. Vote for Wo.
men, had said her eloquent say, and
was about to go home, a clear voice from
the edge OF the crowd took up the theme
from the negative side. and while askinr
information as 10 the practical good
promised by a radical change in the SUI
frage, courteously and oleverly combated
point by point. all that had been said.
It was a most unexpected and enter.
tanning debate, and while the result (.
probably negative. both sides had a chanc,
20 speak Both Parties were pleased
with their advocates and went home
happy.
We, OF Washington. are not likely tC
bother with the question Of to vote OF
not 70 vote, for we are content with IN,
equal treatment with our brothers We
meet in our once duties. As long agc
as M, when the great event Of thu
opening Of a mile OF good paving or
PENNSYLVANIA avenue was the occasion