Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-22
Tribute of the Poet Lowell.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Tribute Of the Poet Lowell.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
~.. -- Born February %. 1882.
Soldier and statesman, rarest unison;
Hight poised example Of great duties done
simply as breathing, worlds honors worn
s. ne. ndiisIsnt gifts to all men born corn
But for his barefoot soldiers eloquent.
Trampisg the snow to coral where they trod,
Held by his awe in hollow-eyed content:
Modest yet firm as Natures self; unbalanced
save By the men his nobler temper shamed:
BY other than unsetting lights to steer
New-trimmed in heaven, nor than his steadfast
More steadfast. far from rashness from fear;
Rigid. but with himself first, grssping still -,
In swerveless poise the ware-beat helm OF Will;
Not honored then now because he woOed
The popular voice. but that he still withstood;
Broad minded. higher soued. there is but one
Who was all this and ours, and all mens-Wash-
James Russell Lowell.
Born February %, 1919.
Some carping critics, like Aaron
Burr. during the war complained that
Washington was not more aggressive
| in the campaigns, and 1 quote from an
unknown contributor to Philadelphia
newspaper long time ago:
Those who are led to- make SUCH
conclusions have not made allowance
| for the adverse circumstances which
surrounded him. He always led
smaller army. never properly armed
and equipped, and was continually be-
ing filled with. recruits and militia
who were in no way fit to meet the vet
Grams the British were. able to send to
America State jealousies and the in
ability of the Continental Congress to
sustain their chief with
men and money interfered with the
work he had to do; and yet with these
manifold and grave difficulties he was
able to use the force and the means he
had as to end the long contest with
success. The capacity to discover the
purpose of an enemy and to thwart his
plan by timely movement. to get foe
COMMUNICATING him where he, could s,ner, not
ity. the ability while acting on the de-
fensive to keep his opponents from
making effective campaigns and to
cities on the coast are evidences Of mil
itary talent of the highest order.
During more than three years, with
an inferior army. Washington held his
grip upon the highlands of the Hud-
son and thus kept Clinton within the
limits of the city of New York and
maintained his communications with
New England. During all the years of
retreating he was able by infiicting
some unexpected blow to the enemy to
inspire his own army and the people
with fresh courage. But If Washing
ton had. done nothing else to insure a
place among the first military men of
his time the success of the Yorktown
rank The plan which kept Lafayette
in Virginia in order to hold CORVALLIS
In that state during the season prior to
his surrender. and which. months be-
movement with view to the destruc-
ton of the British army in Virginia,
was too vast and ingenious to be the
work of any but frst-class military
man. The execution of that plan, that
brilliant piece of strategy by which he
efuded Clinton and got his army to
Philadelphia before the British COM
mander at New York was aware of his
lance of four hundred miles. the hem
ming in of CORVALLIS before he was
fully aware of his danger and the de-
signs Of his opponents. and the brief
and skillfully directed siege, all prove
that George Washington was a gen.
eral who. at the head of large and
well equipped army. would have won
high place among the first military
men of modern times"
Praise Of Won Moltke.
The great Won Moltke gave >even
higher praise-himself a great strate-
gist-saying to an American who ask
ed him If he did not consider the civil
war a great war: "a great conflict, but
not great war; not war in a scientific
sense, perhaps, at all. And Gen Nc
Clellan was the one great strategist
in the northern army. but you have
produced in America one of the worlds
greatest strategists-George Washing
tom
Immediately after the organization of
the present government Gen. Washing
ton repaired to Fredericksburg to pay
his humble duty to his mother prepa-
ratory to his departure for New York.
when an affecting scene ensued
He thus addressed her:
''Fhe people, mother, have been pleas
ed, with the most fattering unanimity,
the United States. But before l can
assume the functions of that Office |
have come to bid you an affectionate
farewell. So soon as the public bust
countered in arranging a new govern
ment can be disposed of / shall hasten
to Virginia and
Here the matron Interrupted him:
you will see me no more. my dear
son. Ny great age and this disease
warn me that ]. shall not be long in
this world. trust / am somewhat
prepared for better. But go. George:
fulfill the high destiny heaven appears
TO assign you. Go. my son, and may
that heavens and your mothers bless
ing be with you always"
The President was deeply affected.
His head rested upon the shoulder OF
his parent, whose aged arm feebly yet
on which fame had wreathed the great
est laurel virtue ever gave to created
man. relaxed from its lofty beari ing.
That look, which could have awed a
Roman senate in It's Fabian day, was
bent in filial tenderness upon the time
worn features of this venerated mother.
and the great man wept.
Washington's Mother.
"a good boy generally makes a good
man." said the mother of Washington.
George was always a good boy"
Here we see one great secret of his
greatness George Washington had a
instilled into his heart those principles
| which raised him to the benefactor Of
| his country, and one of the brightest
ornaments of the world.
The mother of Washington is enti-
| tied to nations gratitude. She taught
her boy the principles of obedience
and moral courage, and virtue. She, in
| a great measure. formed the character
| of the hero and the statesman. 1t was
| by her own freside that she taught
| her. boy. to govern himself, and there
| was he prepared for the. brilliant ca
| reer of usefulness which he afterward
pursued. We are indebted to God for
| the gift Of Washington. but we are no
1 less. indebted to Him for the gift of his
| inestimabIe mother. Had she been Il
| weak. and indulgent, and unfaithful
| parent. the unchecked energies of
! Washington might have elevated him
| to the throne of a tyraut or youtbfuI