Evening star., 1925-02-23
OVATION ACCORDED
BRITISH ENVOY AT
PATRIOTIC MEETING
Audience Cheers to Echo His
Assertion Days of 1776
! Are Mutually Admired.


once severed such friendship and
led in breaking the colonies from
their mother country.
The demonstration occurred at
Washington Auditorium during of
fetal ceremonies arranged by the
Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia and 70 organiZa tibns, when
the British Ambassador. Sir Esme
Howard, was presenting gold
medal to Miss Katherine Parsons of
Gunston Hall School for her prize
winning essay on The Surrender
of Yorktown. October 10, 1881; It's
Influence for the Welfare of the
awarded on behalf of the Sons of the
Revolution.
Howard Speaks Briefly.
The Ambassador, in brief speech
to Miss Parsons, who stood before
him, was discussing the American
Revolution. 'for the promotion of lib
erty and free government. not only
here, but throughout the world"
The bitterness is fortunately
gone" the Ambassador was saying,
and if any proof of that were need
ed it is that 1 have been chosen on
this occasion to present this
medal" But he was not allowed
to finish his sentence. A burst of ap-
plause broke forth, which echoed and
re-echoed through the great vault of
the huge auditorium 1t was much
more than the perfunctory tribute of
friendly audience to the Ambassa-
dor of a friendly power.
According to the Ambassadors pre-
pared remarks, he went on to say
but the good they did remains"
Few beyond the immediate vicinity
heard these words.
Patriots Are Praised.
Opening his remarks with con-
gratulations to Miss Parsons, the Am
bassador said the men who led. the
American, Revolution were but fol-
lowing in the steps of the barons of
Runnymede, of Pym, Hampden and
Cromwell, and they were as you have
properly noted, supported by. the
best intellects of the time in Eng
land; Chatham. and Pitt Fox and
Burke. and every statesman whom we
now account as a great statesman of
that period.
What they stood for is what on
the whole, Englishmen have always
stood for said the Ambassador They
were just carrying on the old tradi-
tions, keeping the old flame burning
We on the other side of the water
might indeed wish that the breach
between US had been effected without
bitterness and bloodshed. as it might
have been but for the blindness of the
ruler and the advisers he chose, but
we fully recognize the. value of
achievements of the leaders of the
Revolution for the promotion of lib
erty and free government, not only
here, but throughout the world"
In his next sentence the Ambassador
was interrupted by the ovation, and
then continued: l.
Il venture to say that if Washington
hlrfh FlN 1I1I,.
could return to life and visit England
he would be accorded such welcome
welcome so sincere, hearty and fun
OF genuine admiration and affection that
1t could hardly be exceeded and sur
passed even in this Capital which bears
his name"
In addition to the British Ambas-
sador those participating included
Commissioner Rudolph. George w
Wickersham, former Attorney General
of the United States; Emilio de
Gogorza, noted baritone; John Barton
Payne, presiding officer, and others.
Preceding the presentation Miss Par
sons read her essay. Comdr. Jay Hale
Sypher, L. S. N, chairman Of the con-
test committee for the Sons of the
Revolution, announced the prize winner
Stirring Musical Program
Musical numbers were presented by
De Gogorza and Charles Trowbridge
Ttttman. while the Army, Navy and
Marine Bands furnished stirring pa
triotic numbers.
The program opened at $50 with
concert by the Army and Navy Bands,
while Commissioner Rudolph called
the meeting TO. order for the formal
exercises at 1890
Bishop William F. Mcdowell of the
Methodist Episcopal Church pro-
nounced the invocation. Hampson
Gary of this city read from the sta tie
papers of George Washington. The
benediction was by the Rev DIR. Ed
ward l.. Buckley, rector fo st. Mat
thews' Church.
Manly without Pretensc.
Judge John Barton Payne. presid-
ing officer, characterized Washington
as "a manly man, a man with pride
and dignity of character, but withal
plain man without pretense"
Tracing briefly the brilliant career
of the young American as surveyor
at Is years of age and as military
genius, Judge Payne declared that
from the day he was chosen unani-
mously to be commander-in-c chief of
the continental forces Washington
to the end of that great struggle
represented in himself the hope and
faith of the patriotic people of the
colonies"
Praised by Wickersham.
George w. Wickersham, former
United States Attorney General, who
delivered the principal address of the
celebration, reviewed the life of
Washington, not only from the stand
point of the soldier and statesman,
but of the man. Mr.. Wickersham
quoted literally from Washington's
letters and from his state papers,
painting a historical and personal
picture of the Father of His Country
How splendid national heritage
is the record of his life" declared
Mr.. Wickersham. 1T stands aloft
and apart as the perfect incarnation
Of the ideal citizen. No other Amer
lean holds in the popular esteem
place comparable to Washington,
save Lincoln, whose privilege it was
ington established and to eradicate
the institution of human slavery,
which Washington deplored, but was
unable to abolish.
ut is doubtless true that his char
acter has been presented to posterity
in too austere, too perfect lines
Measured against the best of modern
statesmen, Washington appears so
perfect as to seem almost an artificial
product of literary magination--im-
personal and legendary. One should
study his letters for revelation of
the actual human Washington. In
those letters is revealed great
human personality; strong, steadfast
self-controlled, IT is true but also
passionate, fiercely attached to great
causes, an intense lover of country.
a hater Of shams and protense; a
man of warm human loves and
l-lNs oh nAa al t.