Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19
Capital Sidelights

! AS propaganda Tor a natlondl anu
world celebration in Washington IN
! 1892 Of the 2O0th anniversary of the
birth of George Washington. Charles
Moore, chairman of the Commission
| of Fine Arts, who has devoted nearly
twoscore years to day-by-day labor
| for development and establishment
! Of the National Capital as the most
beautiful city in the world. carrying
| forward the plans of Washington
and Maj. LEnfant, has compiled
new book on the family life of
! George Washington.
Mr.. Moore was secretary OF the
famous Mcmillan Commission. Whlcn,
after a careful study of all the great
capitals of the world in 1901. made
a comprehensive report with recon-
mendations for the guidance of flu
ture Capital builders. which is con-
sdered 1.-THE bible for the city of
Washington. He is head of the
| manuscript division of the Library
| of Congress and is rated as the fore
most authority aon the life of Wash
| ington.
| This new hook is based on eX-
tensive personal investigation and re-
search of the hist ground be-
tween Washington and Mount Yer
|
| familiar than Mr.. Moore: on the price
less manuscripts of the Library of
| Congress, which are his especial
| charge, and on unprecedented &C
recess to the private family records of
| the old valiants of Virginia. SO that
Mr.. Moore has brought thgether in
! this volume much new, authoritative
and picturesque information of inter
! est both to the general reader and to
| the student of history. The interest
| in the book is heightened by an in
| PRODUCTION by Mrs. Theodore Roose-
welt.
| Much material hitherto unused has
been uncovered. assayed and expertly
assembled to tell the intimate story
Of George Washington's personal life.
| 1t Is a study of Washington as
man, living in the intimacy of his own
| home and enjoying the warm friend
ship of neighbors, whose names are
written large in history.
| Mr. Moore's book describes the land
of the WashingtOns, lying close to our
! Capital City, the various family mi
grations. Washington's education, his
early romances and his marriage to
| the widow Gusts. The family life at
| Mount Vernon, now the great national
shrine. which is to be the mecca of
| pilgrims from all over the world in
! 1882. is wildly portrayed by Mr..
! Moore as one of the most delightful
and illumina ting examples Of the man.
nerS. customs and mode OF life of the
early American aristocracy.
| In concluding his preface Mr.. Moore
says: Readers will readily discover
that in the opinion of the writer a
very great deal remains for the Ameri-
| ~ CT ia, do in to y.
ize the visions of Washington for the
Capital City. Much also should he
done to put his birthplace in order
and to give proper sepulcher to the
| bones of his ancestors. These pious
duties should be made an integral
part of the approa ching Washington
bicentennial provided for on large
| scale by Congress: Only so can George
Washington be made a vital force for
the generations to come. They will
be our judges"
Breathing the very atmosphere and
sentiment Of Mount Vernon and
acknowledging the lifetime influence
of Washington upon her. Edith
Kermit Roosevelt in her introduction
! wrote: Washington portrait hung
beside his wife's on our nursery wall
He was a beloved and familiar friend
and | was taught to throw kisses to
George and Martha. The same
| Autographs in their round frames
hang in the schoolroom of my
children in this house (Sagamore
Hill. oyster Bay); and partly on
their account. perhaps. the childhood
! feeling of intimate friendship per
sists
"Once. while we were in the White
| House, we went on horseback to
Mount Vernon and came upon the
house away from the river. undo
! trees and up a quiet road. as Wash
ington would have come Almost
his presence met us. not the leader
who nursed the country 'thro' shifts
and wants and pains but the man
who loved his horse. his fields and
i the same countless trivial pleasures
! and cares that fill our lives-the dear
friend of my childhood days.
II don't know why some places
have curiously penetrating atmos-
phere of sentiment-but in fact that
seems true, and Wakefield. where
| Washington was born is such a place
I have felt it in the Spring, when the
blue cloud of grape hyacinths almost
hid the grass. and again in the late
! Fall afternoon when took my chill
dren on a pious pilgrimage. Even
| writing about 1t brings back some
happy days Of a happy life"
Thus, the spirit of George Wash
ington 90 youth and man, soldier and
general. Father Of His Country. Capt.
tai builder and National exempla,
goes marching on.