Meade County news., 1917-02-15

other infringement Of the interests
welfare and principles of the inhabitants, he re
ceives today the homage of the millions who enjo.
the heritage of the free America for which HI
fought and which he helped establish. This, accord
ing to an article in the New York Herald, which
goes on to say:
In this he was at one with other great men bred
in the new free spirit and atmosphere Of the
colonies. He did not seek to set himself over them,
but to work with them, contributing as his part in
the struggle his military genius and experience
and his carefully trained executive ability. His
ideal the common good For that he gave his
time and strength unstintedly, risked his all and
withdrew only when government was so well es-
tablished that it would not suffer from his retire
ment.
Throughout his career the reward he sought
was that he might partake, "in the midst of my
fellow citizens the benign influence of good laws
under free government, the ever favorite object
of my heart"
Washington although possessing wealth and po-
sltion although observant of forms and ceremonies,
was in the best sense democrat, a man who
sought the same privileges and opportunities for
everyone of his fellow citizens which he enjoyed
and who devoted his gifts and energies to that end.
That they might have them he not only expended
freely his energies of mind and body, but he con-
stantly exhorted his fellow countrymen to prepare
themselves for the high destiny that he foresaw for
this country, first, by raising and equipping an ade-
quate army, a task that frequently hung leaden on
his hands, and second, by properly safeguarding
their rights after they had been won.
George Washington received less education-in
school-than most lads of poor parentage do today.
He left school before he was sixteen years old and
except In mathematics, in which he had advanced
through geometry and trigonometry, his education
did not extend beyond that which boys usually get
in the grammar grades of the public schools. what
he studied he knew, however, as his carefully kept
notebooks attest. He manifested special aptitude
for surveying and for military affairs. This taste
led to his having royal middy's warrant, OBJ
tained for him when he was fourteen years old,
and only because of his mothers reluctance to
have him go to England he spared to fight for
the colonies instead Of becoming officer in his
majesty's service.
He had been out of school only few months
when he got his first job-as a surveyor 1t was
good one too for Lord Fairfax, having noted the
lads mental equipment and his ntrepidity, gave
him commission to survey his wild acres In the
Shenandoah valley. SO well did Washington ac
complish the arduous task that he was made pub
lie surveyor. Almost coincdent with his entrance
upon a private career young Washington identified
himself with public interests Fond of athletics
and sports as well as of military affairs, he Joined
the local militia and when nineteen years old was
made major.
When he was still in his twenties he won his first
coonelcy in his gallant but disastrous first cam
paign nganst the French. 1t was there that he
first tasted the bitter fruits of unpreparedness.
When Washington went to Philadelphia as
member of the Second Continental congress he
wore his provincial uniform an instructive express
sion of his feeling in regard to the crisis that was
to come-in its way fulfllment of prophecy
for during the session he was put at the head OF
the irregular army near Boston. He found that
| army not only without discipline and equipment
but without powder. Men who had enlisted only
| for few months ran away. Washington ardently
appealed to the Continental and Provincial con-
crosses to provide for longer enlistments and an
adequate system of recruitment.
Conservative and aristOcrat as he was classeu'
Washington now favored the radicals, who sought
to break with the home government and set up
! their own II have never entertained the IDEA OF
an accommodation" he said, "since heard of the
measures which were adopted IN consequence vi
the Bunker Hill fight"
| His stonch attitude was maintained In the midst
of disheartening experiences, not only with the
enemy in the field but with troublemakers In MS
| own camp II know the unhappy predicament IL
which stand" he wrote; II know that much Is eX
! nected of me; know that, without men, without
arms, without ammunition, without anything ht foi
the accommodation of a soldier, little Is to D'
done: and, what is mortifying know that can
NOT stand justified to the world without exposing
nv, own weakness and injuring the cause by de
claring nv wants. My situation has been such tina
I have had to use art to conceal 1t even from m!
officers
Jealousies hampered him so sorely that he stern
ly proclaimed "The general most earnestly en-
treats the officers and soldiers to consider conse
ouences; that we can way assist our enemie
more than by making divisions among ourselves
that the honor and success of the army and tn
safety of our bleeding country depend upon haE
mony and good agreement with each other; tina
the provinces are all united to oppose the CON
mon enemy and all distinctions in the name