The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-07-04

/ get q purpose made good And they
could not deem him cold, though they
found hin. self-possessed, keeping his
own counsels for was not the country
full Of talk how passiorately he was
like to act at a moment OF crisis and
In the field?
A Fearless Leader.
They only feared 10 lose leader
80 reckless OF himself when danger
was sharpest Our army love their
general very much, one OF his officers
had said. but they have one thing
against him. which Is the little care
he takes OF himself In any action
for he had seen how Washington
pressed at Trenton and at Princeton to
the points that were most exposed.
thinking OF his troops, not OF him
self
The spirit OF fight had run high In
Washington the whole war through.
Even during those dismal weeks OF
| 1776, when affairs looked darkest, and
he had but handful OF men about
him as he all but fled before Howe
through New Jersey, he had spoken,
as II In the very pleasantly of daring,
OF what he would do should things
come to the worst with him. His
thought turned TO those western fast
nesses he knew so well, where the
highlands OF his own state lay. and he
spoke calmly OF desperate venture
thither. Reed" he exclaimed, to one
OF his aides, my neck does not feel
as though II was made for a halter
! We must retire to Augusta county, In
Virginia. and II overpowered, must
pass the Allegheny mountains"
Faith In His Army.
And when the last movement of the
war came. 1t was still with the same
feeling that he drew his lines about
Corvallis I'VE may be beaten by
the English" he said; 1T is the
chance of war; but there Is the army
they will never conquer"
The privates are all generals, but
not soldiers" the gallant Montgomery
had cried. In his hot impotence with
the heady milltiamen he was hidden
command; but II was not so in the
presence Of Washington, when once
these men had taken his measure.
| They were then rivals In praising
him." the Able Robin declared, fear
Ing him even when he was silent. and
retaining their full confidence in him
after defeats and disgrace.
French Officers Puzzled.
The singular majesty and poise of
this revolutionary hero struck the
French officers as, Infinitely more re.
markable than his mastery In the
field and his ascendency in council.
They had looked to find him great in
j action, but they had not thought to
see in him a great gentleman. man
after their own kind In grace and
courtesy and tact. and yet so lifted
above the manner OF courts and draw
ing-rooms by an incommunicable quail
ity of grave sincerity which they were
at loss how to describe.
No one could tell whether 1t we're
q gift of the mind or OF the heart. 1t
was certainly only that II constituted
the atmosphere and apotheosis Of the
man. The Marquis de Chastellux not
ed, with sort OF reverent awe for
this hero not yet turned of fifty, how
perfect union relgned between his
physical and moral qualities. "0ne
Alone he declared. "will enable you
to Judge OF all the rest" 1T Is not
my intention to exaggerate," he said;
II wish only to express my impress
sion of a perfect whole. which cannot
be the product OF enthusiasm. since
the effect OF proportion is rather to
diminish the idea OF greatness"
Change In Washlnaton's Looks.
Strangers who had noted his APP
pearance in the earlier years of the
war had remarked the spirit and life
that sat in Washington's eyes; but
when the war was over, and its strain
relaxed. they found those eyes grown
pensive. more attentive than spark
! ling; steady still. and noble in their
frankness and good feeling. but
touched little with care, dimmed with
watching.
The Prince de Broglie found him
iestiil as fresh and active as young
man" In 1882. but thought "he must
have been much handsomer three
years ago" for "the gentlemen who
had remained with him during all that
time said that he seemed to have
grown much older
'Twould have been no marvel had
he broken under the burden he had
| carried. athletic soldier and hardened
campaigner though he was. This is
the seventh year that he has COM
handed the army and that he has
obeyed the congress; more need not
be said" the Marquis de Chastellux
declared, unconsciously uttering a
very bitter gibe against the govern,
ment. when he meant only to praise
its general
Letters for All.
Such service told the more heavily
upon Washington because he had rem
dered II In silence.
No man among all the Revolution
airy leaders. It is true. had been more
at the desk than he. Letters of COM
mand and persuasion. reports that
carried every detail OF the army's life