Evening star., 1915-02-14

%, which in this year falls on
Monday. and for more than a century
the memorable event has been OBJ
served on that date, though the date
on which the great American was born
was February IL. 1892 Until he was
twenty years old George Washington
always observed February IL as his
natalday. and even after Washington
had become the greatest and most
famous American. February II was OBJ
served as his birthday, which sometimes
was celebrated in different places both on
the 11th and I'D Of February.
washington's diary for 1889 contains
this note:
February L. went with the family
to ball in Alexandria given by the
citizens of it and its vicinity in com
memoration of my birthday
That birthday ball in Alexandria was
held February II, which was Monday,
because the 11th of February fell on
Sunday.
washington's diary for 1893. the year
Of his death. contains this birthday
reference:
February IL went up to Alexandria
to the celebration of my birthday.
Many maneuvers We're performed by
uniform corps, and an elegant ball and
supper at night. February IL returned
home
Washington early birthday ami
yersaries were spent on the farm
where he was born. on the Potomac
river close to the mouth of Popes
creek in Westmoreland county. later
at the new home of his mother and
father in Stafford county. on the Rap
pahannock river across from Freder-
isl.sburs. also at the Popes creek farm
when, after his fathers death. ii came
into possession of his (George's) half
brother Augustine, and still later at
his half brothers home. Mount Vernon.
Washington's twentieth birthday was
spent in the island of Barbados. where
he contracted smallpox. which pock-
marked him for life, and on his birth
day he was just recovering from the
disease He had gone to Barbardos
with his half brother, Lawrence. who
was then dying from consumption The
climate did not work any change for
the better in the condition of Law
renee. and. returning to Mount Yer
non, he died there and bequeathed the
property to George
There is record of Georges birthday
in 1850. and in his Journal under the
date of February II in that year you
may read this:
my people till o'clock. in which time
we got the house about $50 yards. Was
Informed then that Mr.. Diggs was al
my house. upon which l returned. find
Ing him and DR. Laurie there. The
ground being soft and deep. we found
ii to be no easy matter with twenty
ha nds. eight horses and six oxen to get
this house along"
The business which Washington haC
then in hand and to which he makes
reference in his journal was the work
of moving one of the tenant houses tc
another site on the farm.
L cf1ir ytfr, oh hat hi
birthday in 1868 was spent by him II
overseeing the work of the farm ano
IN fox hunting. Under the head of Feb
ruary II. 1853. you will f1nd this note:
Went duck hunting till dinner. Mr.
Piper dined here and Betsey cambridge
came IN the evening"
II would appear that there was nc
observance OF Washington's birthday in
The Continental army until 1851, and II
is likely that that was the first observ-
ance OF the day by any other persons
than Washington and his family. Or
that occasion Rochambeau and a num-
Der of French and American officers
celebrated the day with dinner
though Washington was not present
being absent from the headquarters OF
the army. On February 1? Rocham-
beau sent to W ashington the following
letter:
yesterday tsunday) was the ami
versary of your excellency's birthday
We have put Off celebrating that holi-
day until today by reason of the Lords
day. and we will celebrate II with the
sole regret that your excellency be moi
q witness of the effusion and gladnes.
of our hearts"
To that letter Washington sent the
following reply:
The fattering distinction paid to the
anniversary of my birthday is an honor
for which 7 dare not attempt to ex.
press my gratitude. / confide in YOU
excellencys sensibility to interpret my
feelings for this. and for the obligins
manner in which you are pleased t.
announce it,
The first popular observance of Feb
rusry % as Washington's birthday
was at Newport, r. l., in 1854
The chronicles Of that event say that
the bells Of the town were rung, thai