The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-21

At'"ftN' +" 'f'- r'f-' ~ p -
and 50 Oh ,udeanllely
u isp meIt privilege for ap Anaerlss
III citizen 20 possess this work be-
s;,iiss It Bihe reservoir Of historical
ikno&ielge, and ii VII inspire patriot
ism 70 i gteater degree IN nny one who
reads Il or occasionally refers ,oit.
Itisa matter Of pride to Americans
to know that Uncle sam sits at the
head Of the diplomatic table Of the
world.
Part Of the creed Of an American Is
and should be 10 believe that he Is cit-
zen Of the greatest country on earth"
1t is one Thing 70 believe and loudly
voice this belief. but Il Is nobIer cii-
Eenship to have d knowtedge Of # based
on facts. When yon have read or used
extensively for reference the Mes
sages aud Papers of the Presidents" a
record that shows Uncle Sam at work.
you will wonder at the great progress
made and at the wonderful opportunl.
~ the government itself affords to its
citizens. and you viii realize why the
greatest individual blessings come to
those who I've under the protection Of
the stars and stripes. The Messages
and Papers Of the Presidents" is.a big.
vital work, bripming over With infor-
nation Of vast Importance and intense
interest to every American citizen. It
/, is made more Interesting by its picto-
rial embeIllshment. 1t is fairly ablaze
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 his scholarly
friends, to make each message q mas.
terpIece Of It's time. knowing that 1t
would be translated into every known
language and read in every civilized
court of the world. an JUNCTION which
has never been youchsafed to any 9th.
err set Of authors on earth.
In opening volume ] we find, as in
each volume. the end sheet and lining
paper OF a special design. giving a
blrdseye view of a map or plan Of
washington and a splash Of all the
principal public buildings in Washing
ton pictorially displayed. The frontist
piece is a splendid portrait Of the Hon,
James D. Richardson, who. under au.
thorlty Of an act OF the Flfty.secopd1
congress while chairman Of the com com
mlttee Of printing of the house. COM
piled and edited the work, Then comes
pIcture Of the capitol. followed by q
picture, Of the White House. both IN
color. In tle preliminary note the ed
Horisays: NJ y
I The MESSAGES of the several presidents
Of the Cnlted States-annual. veto and
shecial-are among the most interesting.
Instructive and valuable contributions 10
the public literature OF our republic. They
discuss from the lbfuest. standpoint near:
IL ali the great questions OF national pol
fey and many subjects of minor interest
which have engaged the attention ot'the
public fromthe beginning of our history
Then comes faithful color repro
duction OF Trumbull's famous painting
"The Declaration of Independence
followed by.a reprint Of the Declare.
ton Of Independence, the articles of
confederation aud the constitution,
these being given as the preliminary
documents in the foundation work Of
building the nation. The various other
illustrations need not be alluded to In
detail.
But, in general. 1t IS to be noted that
a faithful reproduction Of the official
steel portrait Of each president Is in.
serted at the beginning of the respec'
tive administrations. fronted with a
tissue upon which is a suitable charac-
terlstic illustration-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 frst Thanks.
giving proclamation Issued in this
country, dated oct. 8, 1889. the au.
tograph copy Of which Is reproduced
in fac-simile by photo.engrASing. In
Washington's first annual address be
emphasizes the importance of the &C.
casion and particularly of knowledge
Of governmental affairs, saying in part,
Knowledge is in every country the
surest basis of public happiness"
In the third annual address reference
is made to faith and confidence in the
government as illustrated by the fact
that the subscriptions 10 the stock Of
the Bank Of the United States we're
completed in a single day. This mes
sage is important as bringing out the