The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-22

zen of "the greatest country on earth It is one thing to believe and loudly voice this belief. but 1t Is nobIer cid zenship to have a knowledge of it based on facts. When you have read or used exrensIveIy TOT rererence the "Mes- sages and Papers of the Presidents" a record that shows Uncle Sam at work. you will wonder af the great progress made and at the wonderful opportuni ty the government itself affords to its citizens. and you will realize why the greatest individual blessings come to those who live under the protection of the stars and stripes. The Messages and Papers of the Presidents" is a big. vital work. brimming over with infor- nation of vast importance and intense interest to every American citizen It is made more interesting by its picto- rial embeHishment. It Is fairly abIaze with Illuminating historical pictures.
 The language employed Is at the same time simple and exalted. Each president has called to his service his own best ability. together with that of his cabinet members and hls scholarly 1SlOuWDS kxAE8o4kW terpiseS of ItS time. knowing that it would be transIated into every known lsnguaes and read in every civilized court of tho world. an unction which has never been vouchaafed to any oth- CT set Of authors on earth.
 In opening volume we find. as in each volume. the end sheet and lining
 ~A birdseys view of q map or plan of Washington and a splash of ali the principal public buildings in Washing ton pictoriaIIy displayed. The frontis- piece is a splendid portrait of the Hon. James D. Richardson. who. under au- thority of an act of the Fifty-second congress while chairman of the com naittee of printing of the house. com piled and edited the work Then comes a picture of the capitol. followed by picture of the White House. both in color. In the preliminary note the cd flor says:
 The messages of the several presidents of the United States-annual. veto and Bpecial-are among the most interesting. instructive and valuable contributions to the public literature of our republic They discuss from the loftiest standpoint near ly all the great questions of national poll icy and many subjects of minor interest which have engaged the attention of the public from the beginning of our history
 Then comes a faithful color repro duct1on of Trumbulrs famous painting '-The Declaration. of Independence followed by reprint of the Declara- ton of Independence. the articles of confederation and the constitution. these being given as the preliminary documentS in the founda tion work of building the nation. The various other illustrations need not be alluded to in detail
 But. in general. lt 1s to be noted that faithful reproduction of the official steel portrait of each president Is in- serted at the beginning of the respec- tive administrations. fronted with tissue upon which is a suitable charac- teristic iliustratien-as. for instance. "Home. on Potomac. of the parents of George Washington"
 Preceding each administration is a concise. interesting biography of the president
 Among the interesting papers )of George Washington is the first Thanks giving proclamation issued in this country. dated Oct. 8. 17S9. the au- tograph copy Of which is reproduced in fac-simile by photo-engraving. In Washington's first annual address he emphasizes the importance of the oc- casion and particularly of knowledge of governmental affairs. saying in part. Knowledge is in every country the gurest basis of public happiness!'
 In the third annual address reference is made to faith and confidence in the government. as illustrated py the fact that the subscriptions to the stock of the Bank of the United States were completed in single day. This mes- sage Is important as bringing out the fact that the central banking idea talk cd of today is not new.
 So much has been said In praise of Washington's farewell address. in which he declines a third term. that we, need say no more here than to call attention to the valuable fact that here it ls in permanent. accessible form. A leading metropolitan newspaper in making an exhaustive review of this publication says. ''washington's fare well address should be a household word"
 It is we'll nigh impossible to conceive a good foundation fer United States History. including the colonial period. without making the intimate acquaint- ance of all of Washington's state pa pers. They are the history of his time. for 1t has been said that 'the govern ment was established by Washington. organized by Hamilton and then made democratic by Jenerson.p
 When Washington was inaugurated. Sept 30, 1789. on the balcony of the EadaroI hall In Wall aEroo4 A.oru zo-Iz