The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-02-15

m nation was to be held by ther
4 nm free of all oppression, whether Il
INV the form of unjust taxation an
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 h
fought and which he helped establish This accord
ing article in the New York Herald which
goes 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 was the cornnon good For that he gave his
time and strength unstintedly, risked his all and
withdrew only when government was so well es-
ablished that it would not suffer from his retire
ment.
Throughout his career the one 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 favorte object
of my heart"
Washington, although possessing wealth and po-
s!t!o although obseTvant of forms and ceremonies,
in the best democrat, 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 equippng an ade-
u
his hands, and, second, by properly safeguarding
their rights after they had been
George Washington received less educaton-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 trgonometry, his education
did 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 n special aptitude
for surveying and for military affairs. This taste
led his having royal mddy's warrant OBJ
tanned for him when he fourteen years old.
and only because of his mothers reluctance to
have him go to England he was spared to fight for
the colonies instead of becoming an officer in his
majestys 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 intrepidity, 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 coincident with his entrance
upon a private career young Washington identified
himself with public interests. Fond of athletics
and sports well rs 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
colonelcy in his gallant but disastrous first cam
paign against 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
his provincial UNIFORM, an Instructive express
sion of his feeling in regard to the crisis that was
to come-in its way n fulhllment 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 n few months ran away Washington arNently
appealed to the Continental and Provincial con-
crosses to provide for longer enstments and an
adequate system of recruitment.
Conservative and aristocrat as he was classed,
washington now favored the radicals, who sought
to break with the home government and set up
their own. 81 have never entertained the ldea OF
an accommodation he said, "since heard OF the
measures which adopted in consequence or
the Bunker Hill fight"
His stanch attitude maintained In the midst
of dIsheartenng experiences, not only with the
enemy in the field, but with troublemakers In his
own camp. 81 know the unhappy predicament in
which stand" he wrote II know that much is ex-
pected of me: know that without men, without
arms. without ammunition without anything fit for
the accommodation of soldier, little is to be
done: and, what is mortifyng, I know that can
NOT stand justified to the world without exposing
nv own weakness and injuring the cause by de-
clartnp nv wants My situation has been such that
7 have had TO use art to conceal 1t even from my
officers"
Jealouses hampered him so sorely that he stern
lv nrocloimed: 1.-THE general most earnestly en-
treats the officers and soldiers to consider conse
quences that way assist our enemies
more than by makine9 divisions among ourselves;
that the honor and success of the army ana 'he
safety of our bleeding country depend upon mar
mony and good agreement with each other; that
the provinces are all united to oppose the COM
mon enemy and all distinctions In the name u