The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-27

dition Is such that retirement from the
service IS desirable.
This comment has been made and
printed upon this subject:
1T is regarded by army medical ottl-
GERS as highly probable that full In
yestigati0n Of this subject may bring
to light a positive scientific explana-
ton Of some part Of the restlessness
that has been evident among the for
mer soldiers since the war. 1t may
we'll be, 1t is said, that the struggle
left its lasting mark upon thousands
of men who underwent severe nervous
strain"
Surgeon General NJ. W. Ireland has
said concerning this matter that an
analysis Of the records 'probably will
show that physical deterioration was
more marked in the commanding per-
sonnet of the regular army than in
the emergency forces, because a rela-
lively larger percentage of the for
mer was charged with greater respon'
sibllities entailing excessive strains
both mental and physical"
Mount Vernon in Springtime.
Bands Of pilgrims to Mount Yer
non daily are increasing In num-
bers. The writer does not know
how many thousands Of Americans 60
yearly to the place where George
Washington lived, and died, but the
number is something enormous. AT
this season Of the year with the
spring getting into its full beauty the
visitors to Washington have the best
Of all seasons in which to make the
Journey to the home of the Father of
His Country.
If George Washington never mad
lived at Mount Vernon, had not died
there, and had been buried in the
Antipodes, there would be excuse
enough for the visit to the place OF
seventy times seven the number OF
pilgrims who 60 yearly down the Po-
tomac to stand on the towering hill
and to look off down the reaching
river valley.
Not long ego on journey down the
Potomac a foreigner who had married
an American wife was on the boat
He was much more interested in the
beauty of the Potomacs banks and in
the history of the country beyond It's
banks, and in the life history CT
George Washington than was his
| American helpmate.
Misinformation for Foreigners.
The foreigner asked his American
born wife If George Washington was
born at Mount Vernon. She answered
that he was; which he was not by
many miles. The foreigner asked his
American wife many other questions
to each Of which with almost invari-
able inaccuracy she made answer.
This was q travelled American girl.
There Is a fairly we'll grounded belief
that she had met and captivated her
husband while she was doing Europe
in an automobile or was rhapsodizing
on the beauties of the Rhine, the 20,
or the Danube.
Perhaps some day this American
woman will go back to her husbands
land and will listen to his stories OF
his American trip, and In the enthusi-
asm Of the nature which he made man.
ifest on the Potomac he will tell the
untruths concerning George Washing
ton which he learned from his Ameri-
can wife.
Mount Vernon has been written
about by almost everybody who has
seen the place. It has not fallen to
the lot of everybody to see It In
springtime. It is noble place. flt'
ting resting ground for the First
American. It seldom falls to ones
lot to see such heroic trees. There is
giant oak which stands sentinel over
the first burial place Of Washington.
The body was removed from the base
of the oak about ninety years ago. 1t
never should have been removed.
It is said that Washington selected
the place where his body now lies and
left instructions that one day change
| of sepulcher should be made. The
oak which guarded the first grave
must have been standing for two cen
turtles. The view from the place is In
spring enough to kindle the eyes Of
| the dead. The view from the new
tomb is fine. but 1t Is nothing to the
grand sweep Of river, hilltops and
forest which appear before the eye
from the place where Washington
slept for thirty years after his death
G. VS. Trees and Library.
The visitors who 60 to Mount Yer
non peer into the tomb and ther
straightway 60 to the house. There |!
an interest, Of course, which attaches
to any Of the belongings Of Washing
ton, but it seems to be matter o.
regret that of the thousands who g
to Mount Vernon the interest In thu
mirror which Washington stood be
fore when he shaved himself, and II
the spoon with which he ate his por
ridge, If he ate porridge, Is greater
than in the forest trees under which
he walked in the garden whose hedges
OF formal cut were planted by hi
hand.
There IS, however, a real living in
terest in the library Of the old home
In the main the books are copies 0
those which were on the shelves II
Washlngton's time. The originals, /
Is said, are in several libraries Of tn
country, but mainly In the Bostol