Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-03
wAsHINGToN's BIRTHDAY

OBSERVANCE
The plan of local patriotic societies to
especially mark the anniversary OF |
George washington's birthday this year
Ia to be commended and we hope the |
celebration may be In every way worthy |
of the Father OF his Country and OF our
people Perhaps we need at this tirno
the lessons and precepts of Washing
toms life strongly emphasized In order
that we may avail ourselves OF them.
and that we may come to Il higher sense
of our responsibilities as citizens OF
this great republic. There is very
much in washington's private and Of
flcial life that we today have need to
emulate. and If we could again have
his inspiring patriotism and his high
ideals for public service stressed II
could not fail to benefit the community
especially those who find expediency
preferable to principle I'm the discharge
of the duties of Office.
The feature of the proposed celebra-
ton that would recall Washingtons
visits to Wilmington would be of es-
pecial interest, and it would be most
interesting to have the Great Aineri-
| cans intercourse with this city ana
| our people recalled by those to whom
| the incidents may have been handed
down from ancestors. There couid DE
no filter time for such an undertaking
while there are yet with us men ana
women who have heard the details OF
| washington's visits here from eye wit
I Ill. 9,nfk-
| Washington has been dead only l22
years and there are many alive today
who have interesting information re-
garding him that came TO them only
Mt second hand. and doubtless Is still
we'll remembered.
We know that Washington even be-
fore the Revolution visited wilmington
on the way TO New York or Phiiadel-
pnia. and we also know that he stayed
here for a day or two at a time on two
or three occasions during the ReVo-
luton, especially preceding the Battle
Of Brandywine. There are two houses
here which are pointed out as his head
quarters while here during the war
one of these stu stands on old quaker
, Hin" on West street near Fourth. and
another is at French street and the
Rrandvwine. where he lived few days
while some OF his staff were quartcrec
across the stream in the old Tatna'
mansion. Washington Is supposed e
have srent the night before the Batti,
of Brandywine in Wilmington and Z
have returned here subsequently. an6
, later, after he became President. q
I have stopped hero when driving IN ~
, chariot 70 and from Mt. Vernon an'
: tho north. 1t is also claimed that h
, attended social functions here and IL
!. New Castle and that he ahad been
guest at the old house below Claymon
: ct Naamans--now used as te'
house.
RI would DO interesting and valu
I able contribution TO local history II "
could get al the Washingtonia %
gether on the occasion Of the celebra
ton. and 10 gather all the data relatin
to washington in connection with thi
state. And we can. There could b
: no moro appropriate time than the pres
ert as we have said. for the compilauo
:. Of ali such historical material. and
winnow the cllaG from the grain 50 this
we may have 10 keep and preserve th
story that Will interest every Della
a warean.
There arc many mon and women her
who could successfully undertake sue
!. an historical work n collaboration. an
;. the task need not be a tedious nor dii
ncult one II every person who has an
= data on the subject Will Join IN Il
. work. BY au means lot Us have an aI
. propriate observance of the lS9th hirtf
: day anniversary Of the Greatest Amer
:. can: lot us make 81 really worth Will