South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-04
That One Touch
OF Nature
BY CLARA NORRIS.

vainglorious frame of mind today.
And the reason for this self-satis-
faction?
First, let me say. l have always
been fond OF boys Just the COM
mon garden variety that gathers
freckles and stone bruises all sum
mer and chilblains all winter, ana
splits kindllng and says. Yes.
ma am" the week !Sfore Christmas
or his birthday.
Now. through the years. 1 have
told stories TO relays of boys Some
who listened to me are today telling
stories TO their own boys. And be-
cause of this experience / wish 10
ask two questions of other boy low
ers and tellers of tales-parents, rel
atives or just friends. Tell me this:
What's the Reason?
In the story of the The Round
Table, with all its fascinating
knights. armors, weapons. pomp and
general splendor. heroism, loyalty,
treachery and courage - courage
physical and moral-have you ever
once known a boy-little or big boy
who failed 10 give instant and
hearty preference to Launcelot over
King Arthur, the good, the gallant,
the chivalrous?
Why is Launcelot always the fav-
orite? Perhaps his faults make him
more human in the boys eyes.
IL may be Arthur's very perfec-
ton repels them. At all events
there's generally a quarrel as to who
shall play Sir Launcelot, within two
minutes after the closing of the tale.
Again-have you ever in your
life known a boy wanting to play
George Washington?
A boys attitude Of mind toward
the Father of His Country is one of
profound respect, deep generation, a
sort of reasoned out admiration for
a greatness which never seems quite
human 10 him. What has deprived
Washington of the enthusiastic love,
the hero worship of our boys? No
doubt the old fashioned biographer
is to blame, in part.
But Washington heaviest handi-
cap is that cherry tree story. The
most unlikely, unnatural, unbOylike
story that was ever related as fact.
That story has turned the fur the
wrong way for thousands of boyish
readers-and only to think papers
are extant proving this incident
never took place. That a Tuning old
pedagogue. wishing to secure the
good word of the Washingtons, in
his hoped for advancement, wrote
a flattering letter anent the virtues
and gifts Of small George, and draw
ing on fancy said he had no doubt
that. should a cherry tree be de-
stroyed in childish mischief by him
and the discovery of ruin made.
George would instantly come for
ward and say" etc.
Hurrah. Now the boys may
know little George Washington was
climbing. jumping, wrestling boy
like themselves.
Yesterday 1 was telling small
lad about Gen. Washington's last
visit TO his notoricusly difficult
mother, whose tongue was said TO
be sharp on both edges" Mary
Ball Washington had. nevertheless,
been a brave, clever, desperately
hard working if severe mother. and
her great son was truly devoted to
her. And here he was in handsome
uniform, white-wiggeG his cooked
hat held in hand while he supported
on the other arm the little, shrunk-
en-, ben figure in, linsey- woolsey
gown and garden sum bonnet, show
ing his great strides to suit her tot
tering steps. So they paced up and
down the garden and through the
orchard-a charming and pathetic
picture.
Won to Washington.
Then ! added the story Of that
travelling carriage trip from Phila-
delphia, when his old cOlored coach
man, knowing the presidents great
desire to reach a certain ferry in
time to make the last crossing of
the day, had Numbered into a by
road through haste and had then
had a breakdown, at which Wash
ington had broken into one OF his
rare RACES, and had sworn such
thunderOus, military oats as
had turned his coachman ashen
gray with terror and fairly paralyZ-
ed lookers-on.
"Oh-o-o-oh!" gasped my listen
ing boy. WAS he ever just like
other men?"
Today I heard this:
joel Oh, Joe! Tell Martha TO get
mothers specs and shawl and you
get some burnt cork and come over.
I've got cotton batting for a wig,
and sword and everything, and
Mamies going 10 be Martha-nO,
mean Mary Ball Washington, and
you're going to be a coachman, and,
sa-a-y, I'm going 20 be Gen. Wash
ington visiting his mother-come on,
it'll be great"
That's why I am uplifted and
vaingloriOus. I've won a boys heart
to George Washington