Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-11
Valley Forge

Vdhcy roT9e
A CURIOUS magic moves in the air OF
"A Valley Forge. There is the same subtle
pluckiug at heart and nerves that one 1celS
when coming home from abroad passing up
some salty harbor on ship to see ones own
flag rippling from home staf. II Is
sudden inner vision of the meaning OF Amer
ica. II is IA realization of the continuity OF
history, a sense of the imperishable qualltF
of human virtue. And today, when TINS ma =
. ton stands on the sill of a new era. ready TO
surrender for the sake of humanity some OF
the proud traditions ingraned by years ol
bitter struggle, what place could be more
fitting haunt of dreams and nursery OF I'M
agination? Here on these wind swept slopes
where now the summer air carries the sweet
moss of fresh cut hay. here in this vale OF
bumiIiatiou mon met the arrows OF despair.
There is an old belief that it is the second
summer that is the danger time IN oapS
lifc II WAS the second winter that was the
cradle crisis of the young republlc-the WIN
ter of 1T7I-1S. 1t was then that began inc
long road that carries us from \ai'eF forgc
to Versailles.
L,Ew of us realize, I think what vast
national shrine Valley Forge has become
under the careful hands of few devoted
peonc There is little of winter and dearth
July afternoon In the great valley ot the
SchuvIkiIl green acres of young corn ripple
in the breeze Sunlight and shadow drltt
across the hillSides as great ratts OF cloud
swim down unseen channels OF the wihd'
There is no country in America loVeher than
those quiet hills and wales OF Montgomery
and Chester counties, with their shauoWed
| creeks, their plump orchards anu o'u s'otr
farmbouscs My idea of iovial destiny would
| be to he turned loose (about the beginning
nf tho scramble season)s somewhere IN the
| noighborhood of the King of Prussia-no one
but an idiot will ever call him by his new
name of Ye Old King with Il knapsack OF
tobacco. knobby stick and volume OF
II. l.. 5.
| COMING; down the road from Devon, the
" first thing one sees is the great equestrian
statue of Anthony Wayne on Its PINK ped
! estal 1t stands on a naked ridge, Whlcn was
formerly groved with fine oaks Inc oailph
| who had me in charge told me with blood IN
| his eve that the trees had been slaughtered
| in order to give wider view OF the statue.
II seems a serious pity. Beyond this. one
| comes to the National Arch, designed by
| paul Cret, of the University of Pennsyl-
yania. who has since so CALAMITY served his
| native France on fields OF battle iar more
terrible than Valley Forge. From TINS arch,
| with its fine inscription d! heni! niihiI'
Brown there is Il serene view across yellow
| felds Of stubble where big hay wagon was
piled high with its fragrant load
DUT the chief glory of Valley Forge is the
d Washington Memorial Chapel, place so
startling in its beauty that it takes the
breath away. Through humble arched door
as lowly as the doorway of suffering
through which the nation came to birth-one
enters shrine of color where the history OF
the renublic is carved in stone. The tall
windows blaze with blue and scarlet. 4 silk
stars and Stripes, hanging by the stone
nulpit, wavers gently in the cool wind that
draws up from the valley and through the
open door. The archway into the cloister
frames a glimpse of green. In every detail
this marvellous little Westminster Abbey OF
America shows the devoted thought of DIR.
Herbert Burk, the man who has lavished
his heart upon this noble symbo: Of ogs,pau