The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-23


whom the establishment of his birth
day as public anniversary is due.
The gallant soldier had always weak
ness for the fair sex.
The woman to whom we owe the
celebration of Washington's birthday
as a legal holiday and the preserva-
ton of Washington's home at Mount
Vernon from Dissertation was Mrs.
Harrison Gray Otis Of Boston She
was allied by marriage with the ia
nous Otis family, which had given to
the country such distinguished exam
ples of patriotism as James Otis and
Mercy Warren. She was born in 1896,
Just three years before the death Of
Washington. A great -heiress for her
day, she was the daughter Of William
Bordman. wealthy Boston merchant
and importer.
When the brilliant belle and beauty
was twenty one years old she married
the namesake and second son Of Har-
rison Gray Otis. the statesman, who
was second mayor Of Boston When
only thirty years of age Mrs. Otis was
left widow
Her beauty, wealth and family had
made ner from the very first leader
in the most exclusive circles Of Bos-
ton. When she went abroad with her
husband her social trinmphs had been
repeated there.
Beauty was one Of the least Of her
/ attractions, however She was highly
educated and unusually gifted. For
| many years she contributed to period
| icals under an assumed name, and her
novel 1.-The Barclays Of Boston bad a
| reputation In its day.
It was. however. a. q social leader
that she was best known, Her house
on Mount Vernon street was ooe Of
the hands0mest IN the slty. and she
weighed there q social queen
| My0. Otis hail an imm0nse admira.
tion for Washington. Many OF Wash
ingtsn's contemporaries still lived and
could tsn Der Of the great man. The
moro she heard Of him the mora she
admired him. She thought the public
should set aside special day to honor
the Father Of his County. His birth
day bad been celebrated in various
places and intermittentiy, but It was
her ambition to have It a public holi.
day.
So she announced to her Boston
friends that she had made up her mind
that the birthday Of Washington ought
to be generally observed and that she
would inaugurate the custom by CIV
ing large reception on the following
anniversary. which was Feb. %. 1912.
She told inQuirers that she thought
this day should be legally set apart in
honor of his memory.
The great mansion was decorated
with flags and bunting. Inside were
fags and flowers. Any one who WISH
ed might call upon her on that day,
and It Is said that 1000 persons awaited
themselves Of her hOspN atty Mag
ni6cently gowned in royal purple vel
vet and blazing with jewels. she gave
a gracious welcome to all and said q
few words to each about the desirable
ity Of doing what each one could to
make the day public holiday. Her
WashingtOn's birthday celebration was
great success. Mrs. Otis personal
popularity was so great that the may
or OF Boston. following her example
and suggestion. did all in his power to
make the day popular holiday. The
governor followed suit and through
her influence the legislature finally de-
creed that in Massachusetts Washing
tons birthday should be a legal holi-
day. Other states soon followed the
example Of the Bay State, and now,
thanks to her. it Is a national holiday.
Many were the public spirited and
benevolent enterprises in which this
remarkable woman was interested.
She organized the Woman's Mount
Vernon association and by her energy
and enthusiasm raised money enough
to purchase the home Of Washington
and preserve 1t as a historic landmark
When the organization, still $4,000
short of the purchase money, was
ready to give up In encouragement
Mrs. Otis planned a great public ball
and raised this amount
She was sixty years old when the
civil war broke out Her activities on
behalf of the Union soldiers won for
her the complimentary title Of queen
Of the army and navy" She gave $50.
600 out Of her own fortune to help the
soldiers. and she distributed over ST.
100000. which she had collected in
their behalf She was one Of the best
loved women in the north. The honor
tn which she was held abroad was
shown by the fact that when the
Swedish squadron was anchored in
Boston harbor she was given the 50
lutte which 10 reserved for royal in
eesses when she visited the sh =
Beautiful and brilliant 70 the la. this
patriotic lady died, as perhaps she
would have wished. IN the year -
marked the one huDdreflth anniv =
Of American independence. Her a..,D
occurred In the historic mansion where
she had lived for 80 many years. and
the nnht3s al iv n,a,,rpo,3 h.,r