, 1921-11-14

an institution to disseminate learn
ing. culture and n proper understand
ing of right principles of govern
ment."
The presidents address was given
largely to an nniysis Of tho less we'll
known attributes OF the FIRST prosi-
dent which. he said. mado Washing
ton ION his private and personal side
a very model Of good citizenship"
TT is an impressive fact" Mr..
Harding said. worthy of our especial
thought. hat in tho century and a
a 4 since washington became the
leader, the hear and soul. of Its strug-
gle for Independence and unity this
nation has SO many times found occa-
sions to record devotion to tho pre-
cepts which no laid down for its guild
ance. So today, after more than a
century's delay. we arc come to pay
tribute to the foresight which first
encouraged and endowed the institu-
ton here established-an institution
which Is to be alike a monument to
those who sacrificed In n noble cause.
and a beacon to shed. afar the light
of useful Knowledge and grateful un'
Outstanding among men.
1T has seemed to me that sWr stud.
les of Washington have been too
much from those public hides from
which we view him. I think It may
be said that II on the one side Wash
ington was the great personal force
that wrenchcd apart tho two chief
OF tho Engiish-speaking
he was on the other the greatest
personal factor in saving this conti-
to Ang1o-Saxon domination; Ind
In doing that he contributed very
greatly to making possible the wide
flung family of English-speaking ma
tons. II as leader OF tho revolving
colonies in rs. 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.
but among the documents which
attest his wisdom there is one to
which little study has been given. I
mean his La VIII and testament.
washington was not only a great
soldier md a great statesman; he
also a man Of great business af-
fairs. and an eminent Humanitarian.
Provident and always methodical he
amassed a fortune which has been
rated by many as the greatest of his
time in all the country. But plainly
It was not his 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. inter devising minor
and largely sentimental requests to
many relatives and friends. directed
that tho rcsiduary estate should be
divided into IS equal shares to be dis
tributed among the heirs whom he
named.
washington as a model citizen
shines forth with a peculiar radiance
from his last testament. The first
provision is hat his debts shall be
paid promptly. All the world needs
the example of kept obligations. The
second item makes generous provi-
sion for. his wife: and then comes
the direction at her death that all his
slaves shall be given freedom.
Next follow devices Of, funds to
aid education of poor. or orphaned
children. and for h endowment of a
university in a central part of United
States Another specific bequest
to Liberty Hall academy. now
Warrington and Lee university. at
Virginia. A list of debt
ors are forgiven their debts. To each
of five nephews he gave one of his
swords with AN injunction lot to un-
sheath them for the purpose of shed.
ding blood except 1t be for self-de-
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