The Denver Jewish news., 1924-03-06


by Mr.. Kaufman before South Denver
Camp No. 3, Woodmen of the World
Editor
Neichbors friends all
The Master of Festivities has just
remarked, and rightly so, that there
is no more fitting topic on the eve
of February 22nd than that of the life
and accomplishments of the Father
of Our Country''-George Washing
ton.
Have you ever been in Washington?
Have you ever visited the Wakefield
Farm, bordering on the beautiful Poto-
mac. seventy miles south of the Capital
City? If so, you have undoubtedly
seen that graceful shaft sprouting up
ward. as ii WERE from out of the
ground. with this inscription: Wash
ington's Birthplace; Erected by the
Government of the United States; A.
ID. 1885,
That shaft is the only remaining
designation of the spot on which stood
the house where Washington was born
and where he spent the days of his in
fancy. The memorable structure had
been destroyed in Washington's early
boyhood and has never been rebuilt.
As you stand there, you are impressed
with the peaceful solitude of the place:
there is an all-prevading stiffness which
is but slightly disturbed by the buzz
and stir of insectal life; and. as you
look thru the closely-knitted trees TO-
wards the river. the quiet ripping Of
the waves on their flow towards the
bay intensifies that peacefulness-th
same peacefulness which oertakes one
when in Arlington. the great silent city
of the patriotic dead.
We have but meagre records of
WashingtOn's early education. We are
told that he attended field school
conducted by an old sexton, tenant
of the Washington plantation. In that
little. old school-house Washington
learned the rudiments of reading. writ
ing N 'rithmetic, and probably the
elementary principles of surveying. A
good deal of the school period was
taken up with military manoeuvres be-
tween two groups of students designat-
ed the American and French groups,
cxcmplifying the animosity existing
between the British and French at that
time.
Later. while yet in his teens, tho
grown to manly proportions, Washing
ton is found penetrating the inncrmost
recesscs and passes of the Allcghanies
and Blue Ridge Mountains of Vir-
ginia in the capacity of surveyor. The
boy, who was bred in ease, comfort
and luxury had given up such ease.
comfort and luxury to brave the storms
of human experience in the pioneer
work. Tho he often found himself in
perlous situations he came out of
them all unscathed. unharmed. The
hand of Providence wns guiding his
steps Alright to preserve him for II
greater, a more-exacting task.
Then a few years more, and we find
Washington the fighter coming to the
fore. There on the blood-stained
banks of the Monongahela, when the
pride of the British military. General
Braddock, and the .invincible" British
suffered such crushing defeat, WASH
ington, the Young Sirginian, with ad-
mirable coolness saved the remnants of
the army from total annihilation by
effecting most strikingly successful
retreat.
At that time, Washington was only
twentq-three years of age. Yet his
character had already become fully
rounded He was dignified, calm seri-
Gus, tho pleasant and courteous.
After the French and Indian War
Washington returned to his home on
the Potomac. For sixteen years he
applied himself To the study of politics
and other subjects that fitted him most
remarkably for he potsition in life he
was nfterward called to fill.
Then came the taxing of the colon
lists patience-the brilliant speeches
of Patrick Henry-the midnight ride of
Paul Revere-the staining of Boston's
green with the blood of patriots-and
the colonies We're astir with the fight
ing spirit. War was inevitable. In
this turmoil and excitement, who
should be called upon by the Cont
mental Congress, voicing the sentiments
of tlle colonists, to lead in this gigantic
struggle, but the proven Washington.
Under the sturdy elm, which stin
stands at the entrance to Cambridge,
Washington took the oath as Comman-
der-in-Chief of the American forces.
Then began the most heart-breaking
years of his life-the struggle for in
depcndence-the uncertain and chang