The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-22
WASHINGTON.

smoreland county, Virginia, a child
e who was destined by an allwise Provi-
, dence to reach the highest pinnacle Of
fame both as q soldier and ruler and
: to set an example for his countrymen
= for all time. One hundred and fifteon
years have passed since all that was
!; mortal Of George Washington was laid
tiin the tomb, yet the people of the
United States have not forgotten, nor
=. will they ever forget, the services Of
a. The first, the last, the best,
The Clncinnatus OF the west.
Every schoolboy knows the history
). os the mau of whom 1t was said that
Ne"Providcnce left him childlcss that his
country might call him father" That
he was OF fine physique, athletically in
cined and made a notable figure on
horseback; that while his education was
{ limited he was thoughtful and studious
shy nature; that he acquired knowl-
edge of mathematics by self-study and
became public surveyor at the age Of
Z l6: that he wanted TO enter the British
|nayy but relinquished the idea when
his widowed mother asked him to re-
main by her side. The mother, Mary
Washington, by the way, had much to
do with moldipg the character Of the
first president,
At the age Of 10 Washington en-
tered upon a military career, being ap-
pointed adjutant general Of one of the
military districts of Virginia. While
il Was evident even at this time that
he possessed the elements Of great
commander, his first important ventures
were not successful, for Ia 1754 he was
compelled TO surrender Fort Necessity
TO a superior force Of French and In
dians and the very next year he was
with Braddoek when that British of
ticer, who had great contempt for the
colonials as soldiers, set out upon his
illtatcd expedition against Fort Du-
quesne, where the great manufacturing
city of Pittsburg now stands
That the combined forces of British
and Virginians were not annihilated
WAS due to the presence of mind of
4 Washington and his knowledge OF In
Z dian warfare. After Braddock had
paid the penalty Of disregarding the
young Virginian S advice with his life,
( Washington and his men fought the
enemy in their own style and succeeded
in making their way back to civiliza-
bon. IN l15S Washington had the, sat
sisfaction Of playing an important part
! in another expedition against Fort Du-
quesne and was present when that
stronghold of the French fell into the
hands OF the British.
All this was but preliminary to the
great part the Virginian was to play
in the long struggle for independence
fIu 1883 he married Martha Custis.
rich young widow. sat in the Virginia
assembly for some years and passed a
grea. deal of his time in the manage
mcut of his estate, which had been
doubled by reason Of his marriage.
When the first rumblings of the rev.
olutionary war were heard Washington,
although an aristocrat by birth, sym
pathzed with the patriots but coun-
sclcd war rs a last resort.
When the crash finally came and the
continental congress assembled to take
measures TO separate from the mother
country, Washington made a notable
appearance in that galaxy OF men who
in point Of intellect, courage and pa
triotisrn have never been eqnaled in the
e A l.
apparent that the dispute must be set.
tied By the sword all eyes turned TO
the Virginisn and be was chosen com.
mander-in- chief. In the long years that
followed before the treaty of peace was
signed Washington never faltered or
lost faith His belief in the mercy and
goodness of God, his lofty courage and
iudomitable will safely carried him
through the dark days of Valley Forge
10 the surrender OF Corvallis, and at
the end of the war be was known ali
over the world as one Of the great cap
tains, ranking with Alexander of
Mscedon and the other couquerors who
achieved undying fame on the field of
battle.
But Washington was more than 9
soldier. Called to the presidency Of the
new republic, he soon exhibited those
traits Of character which endeared him
to mankind and shed imperishable lus-
ter upon his name. He was not mean
ly ambitious; ne had no desire to rule
and reign over his fellow men; he had
already refused TO seize the reins OF
power and become king at the end OF
the war, and he had no thought of per
petuating himself in the presidency. AL
he wanted was TO start the infant re-