The labor world., 1913-03-15

very keen and natural relish while it
promised his brother health. The ra-
diant air of those summer isles had
touched him with a new pleasure, and
the cordial hospitality of the home:
sick colonists had added the satisfac.
ton of a good welcome.
Braves the Smallpox.
He had braved the smallpox in one
household with true Virginian pune.
t1lio rather than refuse an invitation
to dinner, had taken the infection,
and had come home at last bearing
some permanent marks Of a three
weeks sharp illness upon him. But
he had had entertainment enough to
strike the balance handsomely against
such inconveniences, had borne what
ever came in his way very cheerily,
with that wholeome strength of mind
which made older men like him, and
would have come off remembering
nothing but the pleasure of the trip
had his noble brother only found his
health again.
AS it was, Lawrence's death put a
final term to his youth. Five other
executors were named in the will:
but George, as 1t turned out, was to
be looked to to carry the burden of
administration, and gave full proof Of
the qualities that had made his broth.
er trust him with SO generous a con.
fdence.
Becomes a Major Of Militia.
His brothers death, In truth,
changed everything for him. He
seemed Of a sudden to stand as Law
rence's representative. Before they
set out for the Bahamas Lawrence:
had transferred to him his place in
the militia, obtaining for him, though
he was but nineteen, commission as
major and district adjutant in his
stead; *Snd &aftet: his return In 1764.
Lieutenant; Governor Dinwiddie, 3 the
crowns new representative III Vir-
ginia, added still further to his re-
sponsibilities as a soldier by reducing
the military district of the colony to
four, and assigning him one Of the
four; under a renewed commission as
major and Acknowledgment. His
. brothers. will not only named him an
executor, but also made him residuary
legatee Of the estate Of Mount Yer.
non: in case his child should die. He
had to look to the discipline and ac-
coutrement of the militia. of eleven
counties, aid his mother in~ her bust.
{n3o CT ,{n 80
. and assume on all hands the, duties
and responsibilities Of a man of af-
fairs when he was but just turned OF
twenty.
The action OF the colonial govern.
ment In. compacting. the organization
and discipline of the militia by rreduc-
Ing the number Of military dis
tricts was significant Of sinis.
ter change in the posture of af-
fairs beyond the borders. The
movements Of the French in the west
had OF late become more ominous
than ever; twas possible the Virgin
Ia militia might any day see an end
Of that Everlasting peace which
good Mr.. Beverley had smiled to see
them complacently enjoy, and that
the young major, who was now ad1u-
tant-general of the northern division.
might find duties abroad even more
serious and responsible than his du.
ties at home.
War Was Inevitable.
Whoever should be commissioned
TO meet and deal with the French up.
on the western: rivers would have to
handle truly critical affairs, decisive
OF the fate of the continent, and it
looked @as If Virginia must undertake
the fateful business. The northern
borders, indeed, we're sadly .harried
by the savage allies of the French;
the brunt Of the fighting hitherto had
fallen upon the hardy militiamen of
Massachusetts and Connecticut In the
slow contest for English mastery up.
On the continent. But there was real
ly nothing to be decided in that quar-.
ter.
The French were not likely to at
tempt the mad task of driving out
the thickly set English population, al.
ready established, hundreds Of thou
sands strong, upon the eastern coasts
Their true lines of conquest ran with.
In. Their strength lay in their com.
mand Of the great watercourses which
banked the English colonies both
north and west. Twas a long from.
tier. to hold. that May line of lake
and river that ran all the waay from
the Cult Of st. Lawrence to the wide
mouths of the sluggish Mississippi.
French Well Armed and Ready.
Throughout all the posts and set.
dement's that lay upon it from end
TO end there were scarcely eighty
thousand FrencAmen, while the Eng.
lfshts teemed upon the coasts more
Than million strong. But the forces
of New france could be handled like
an army while the English svar1m,eed swarm ,ed
slowly westward. without discipline
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