Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-13
Due to a Patriotic Woman's En-
thusiasm That the Day Was
I Adopted as Legal Holiday In
the Various States.
v VI EASHINGTON himself
NM would no doubt be pleas
" " ed could he know that 1t

HISS lOI llG lulI bcAs
The woman to whom we owe the
celebration Of Washington's birthday
as Il legal holiday and the preserva-
tion of Washlngton's home at Mount
Vernon from desecration was Mrs
Harrison Gray Otis of Boston. She
was allied by marriage with the fa-
NOUS Otis family, which had given to
the country such distinguished exam
piles Of patriotism as James Otis and
Mercy Warren. She was born in 1896,
just three years before the death of
Washington. A great helress for her
day, she was the daughter Of William
Bordman, a wealthy Boston merchant
and importer.
When the brilliant belle and beauty
was twenty 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 her from the very first leader
in the most exclusive circles of Bos.
ton. When she went abroad with her
husband her social trlumphs 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.
icas under an assumed name, and her
novel "The Barclays Of Boston" had a
reputation In its day.
1t was, however, MS n social leader
that she was best known. Her house
on Mount Vernon street was one Of
the bandsomest in the city, and she
relgned there n social queen
Mrs. Otis had an immense admlra-
ton for Washington. Many Of Wash
ington's contemporaries still lived and
could tell her Of the great man. The
more she heard Of him the more she
admired him She thought the public
should set aside n special day to honor
the Father of his Country His birth
day had been celebrated in various
places and intermittently, but 1t was
her ambition to have 1t public holl.
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 90 1912
She told inqurers 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
flags and flowers. Any one who wish.
ed might call upon her on that day,
and It is said that 1000 persons avalled
themselves Of her hospitality. Mag.
niAcently gowned In royal purple vel,
vet ana blazing with jewels, she gave
n gracious welcome to all and said a
few words to each about the desirable.
ily Of doing what each one could to
make the day public holiday Her
Nnshlngtons birthday celebration was
a grent success, Mrs OTIS personal
popularity was so great that the may.
or Of Boston, following her example
and suggestion, did an In his power to
make the day II popular holiday The
governor followed suit, and through
her influence the legislature finally dc.
creed that in Massachusetts Washing.
toms birthday should be legal holt.
day Other states soon followed the
example Of the Bay state, ana now,
thinks to her II Is a national holiday.
Many were the public spirited aud
benevolent enterprises In which this
remarkable woman was interested
She organized the Womans Mount
Vernon association and by her energy
aud enthusiasm raised money enough
10 purchase the home Of Washington
and preserve II ns historic landmark.
When the organization, sHll $4,000
short OF the purchase money, was
ready 10 give up In encouragement
Mrs. obs planned great public bail
and raised this amount
She was syty 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 aud navy" She gave $50.
600 ont Of her own fortune to help the
soldiers, aud she distributed over ST..
OOOOOO which she had collected In
their behalf She was one Of the best
loved women In the north The honor
in which she was held abroad was
shown by the fact that when the
Swedish squadron was anchored In
Boston hnrbor she was given the sn.
lutte which IL reserved FOR royal prln.
ccsscs when she visited the ships
Beautiful aud brilliant to the last this
patriotic lady died, Os perhaps she
would hOyc wished in the year that
marked the one hundrcdth anniversary
OF American independence Her death
occurred In the historic mansion whore
she hnd lived for 40 many yc0rs and
the public sincerely mourned her pass.
ME
Ycr portrait painted by Hcaly Is one
OF the treasures In the Bostonan 80.
clety's collection In the old statchouse
-..-S-.--
n clever woman is one whose clever.
ness IL never unplcasantly felt by
those with whom she frequently comes
In contact