The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-14
Dedicates New Institu-
ton At National Capt.
tai AS "a Gathering
Place Where American
Minds Can Meet In
Fruitful. Exchange"

Washington, Nov 14.-Speaking
today at the exercises attending the
laying of the cornerstone for the new
Victory memorial, President Harding
dedicated the structure as "a gather
ing place for Americans where Amer
lean minds can meet in fruitful eX
change"
The fulfillment of one of the strik
ing provisions of the will of George
Washington, who set aside sum fol
the founding of an institute to dissim-
mate learning, culture and proper
understanding of right principles in
government"
The Presidents address was given
largely to an analysis of the less we'll
known attributes of the first presi-
dent, which, lie said, made Washing
ton on his private and personal side
OF a very model of good citizenship
His Precepts Stand
"It is an impressive fact" Mr..
Harding said, worthy of our espec.
ial thought that in the century and
half since Washington became the
leader, the heart and soul of it's strug-
gle for independence. and unity, this
nation has so many times found occa-
,sions to record devotion to the pre-
icepts which he laid down for its
guidance.
$50, today, after more than cen
$ury's delay, we are come to pay tri-
Cute to the foresight which first en-
4couraged and endowed the institution
S:ere established-an institution
(which is to be alike monument to
Ahose who sacrificed in noble cause
> I'D a beacon to shed afar the light
A,f useful knowledge and grateful un-
Sderstanding among men. 1t
Ihas seemed to me that our studies of
2Washington have been too much from
athose public sides from which we
view him. as a military chief, the in
spired leader of the colonies, the
statesman and guide of constitution
making times, the welding force
which hammered fragments of com
munities into a great nation as the
first president; and as the author OF
that body of domestic and foreign pol
lcies which he bequeathed in his fare
well address.
Our Debt to Washington
Perhaps there mas never been a
nation which has owed so much to
one man as our republic owes TO
Washington | think it may
be said that if on the one side Wash
ington was the great personal force
that wrenched apart the two chief
branches of the English-speaking
race, he was on the other the greatest
personal factor in saving this conti-
nent to Anglo-Saxon domination; and
in doing that he contributed very
greatly to making possible the wide
flung family of English speaking ma
tions. If as leader of the revolving
colonies in '76, this time aided by
France, he tore them from the grasp
of England, it is equally true that two
decades earlier he had saved them
from the possible domination of
France. | am sure that today our
faithful friends and trusted allies of
France and England alike agree that
in both cases, viewed in the light of
subsequent events. he served man
kind well.
But among documents which attest
his wisdom there is one to which lit.
tie study is given mean his last
will and testament. On an occasion
such as brings us here today it is
not inappropriate to direct attention
for a few moments to this remark
able instrument.
A Great Business Man
washington was not only a great
soldier and a great statesman, he was
also a man of great business affairs
and an eminent humanitarian. Provi
dent and always methodical, he
amassed a fortune, which has been
Z rated by many as the greatest of his
time in all the country. But plainly
it was not mis- belief that society is
best served by the transmission from
generation to generation Of such i'm
posing aggregates of wealth There
fore his will, after devising minor and
largely sentimental bequests to many
relatives and friends, directed thai
the residuary estate should be divided
into twenty-three equal shares to be
distributed among the heirs whom he
named. Thus it comes about that al
estate which, if held together ant
wisely administered, might have be
come very large, was deliberately 81
distributed that in few years its en-
tity was gone and its portions ha(
been absorbed into the general bod,
of the country's wealth. II that pro
cess of disintegration and absorption
involved some loss, it is probable thai
in the sum results the nation was
gamer by the policy of Washington
Washington's Will
Washington as model citizeI
shines forth with a particular radi
ance from his last testament. The
first provision is that his debts shall
be paid promptly All the worlt
needs the example of kept obligations
The second item makes generous pro
vision for his wife, And then comes
the direction that at her death all hi
eIaFee shah be; given freedom.
Next follow aevises of funds TO ais