The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1921-02-17

d GORGE WASHINGTON
!. ]. !: ! !. !. !.
~ was much-quoted
statesman In the long
VA debates In the senate
- - of the last congress On
OWNi11 the League of Nations.
NNS ~ The influence of his life,
& "a acts and utterances Is
increasing with our
N% better understanding of
the character Of the Father Of His
Country"
And II is better understanding.
For the earlier literature and history
relative to him tSrew about our MILL
tary hero of the Revolution and our
first President such an atmosphere OF
salntliness and perfection that he
hardly seemed a human being. There
was a gasp Of establishment when
glimpses Of the real George Washing
ton began to appear. Nobody's feel
ings were hurt. The American likes
his national heroes red-blooded. The
public was soon asking for more OF
| tho same, thank you. 1t got more.
| And when at last II became evident
that George Washington had the max
lngs Of "a regular fellow" If all the
truth were known, the American peo-
pie were simply tickled to death and
the hero of the cherry-tree fable forth
with took his rightful place In the
great American heart.
Now we know lot about the real
George Washington, and every now
| and then something new sees daylight.
There is now no danger that the awe
some mantle of superhuman perfec-
ton will ever again be thrown over
him. The Americans of the future
can know the real man.
And this Is the added Joy Of revela-
ton. The disclosure of the mans
real nature but adds to his greatness.
With each disclosure the marvel Of
the greatness Of the man grows. That
he could be so human and so great
adds to his country's pride In him.
There is an old saying that no man
Is a hero to his valet. 1t Is one OF
those self-eyident truths that we ac-
cept instinctiyely. Yet 1t is safe
wager that the written words Of To
bias Lear are true. After Washing
TONS service as President and his re-
turn TO Mount Vernon. his CORE
spondence became so burdensome that
he employed Tobias Lear. native of
New Hampshire and q graduate of
Harvard, as his secretary.
George Washington is, believe"
Lear wrote after two years at Mount
Vernon, almost the only man of ex-
allied character who does not lose some
Of his respectability by an intimate
acquaintance. l have never found q
single thing that could lessen my re.
spect for him. A complete knowledge
of his honesty, uprlghtness and can
! dor In all his private transactions has
sometimes led me to think him more
than q man."
Uncounted Americans have Rugged
themselves for sheer Joy upon reading
that General Washington got so ex
cited over the disgraceful retreat Of
Gen. Charles Lee at the beginning Of
the battle OF Monmouth (177S) tina
, he cursed Lee TO his face till 'tht
| leaves curled upon the trees" and ther
rode his beloved white horse TO dealt
In averting disaster. George was tn,
original Sheridan at Winchester tina
day. That George Washington coulC
see red and swear so completely tina
: the~army was satisfied is pretty gooC
stun IN most parts Of the U. s. A.
] The truth Is that George was con
!, Siderable Of a fighter. a1d It's a goo,
: guess that he wasn't exactly unhapp,
: during the scrap. he got his prellm
: mary education nghting Indlans--an,
. thls old world never saw better nat