Evening star., 1926-12-14

Again the anniversary of George
Washington's death.
This night, 127 years ago, the
physician in that chamber at Mount
Vernon turned from the still figure
on the bed. and cut the swaying
pendulum of the quaint old mantel
clock.
The hands stood. and on that clock
they still stand. at 20 minutes after
l0-20 minutes after 10 Of that Wlntry
Saturday night, December IA, 1879.
From that moment to this our
Nation has revered the memory OF
George Washington.
True. that reverence has often been
associated with absurd idealization of
the man, owing to his early biogra-
pliers having depicted him almost as
a god.
But, for the most part, that i'll work
has long since been undone. For
some years past, we have been looking
upon a George Washington pretty
much freed from those demi-god trap
pings hung upon him by Weems ana
Sparks.
Has reverence abated as those trap
pings have fallen away? Rather it
has grown stronger. Not a super
man, but being of faults and failings
like our own rose to those heights
of character and achievement.
X * X *
But wait. Today, on the 127th
anniversary of this mans death, are
we finding that we must lessen that
reverence?
Two recent biographies, now Great
ing quite stir, assure us that we
have not yet got down TO the true
George Washington. From deml-god
to human being is not enough; we
must also write him down much less
worthy human being.
That is painful--but If we really
wish the truth, we must not dodge
criticism. Turn to these books.
oh, Both by fiction writer's? Still
that is not conclusive against them
as biographers. Read.
Evidently books of no small value
as contributions to the life story OF
George Washington. One presents
much unfamiliar matter as to ms
early life. The other shows a very
careful study of the mans colonial
and western background.
But-character interpretation? Can
it be that upon these books we are
asked to revise our estimate of Wash
ington. our reverence for him?
True, both books have much inter-
pretative comment, with much pre-
tense Of fairness. Over and over we
are assured that the writer's only
purpose is to strip away myth and
halo and reveal the true man. If so,
why methods that have nothing to do
with myth or halo? Muckpaking for
incidents; selling upon
them half-proven; twisting them to
unworthy, often salacious, signifi-
canoe; then presenting them as depict
ing the character Of George Washing
ton!
X X *
The great man was always unlucky,
and in nothing more so than in his
Just as the first two
wrote in silly adulation, these latest
two write in sensational detraction.
This. from their standpoint, they
no thrill, no book.
Pages and pages devoted to strip
ing George Washington OF Weems and
Sparks finery that he has not lin the
conception of any intelligent Ameri.
cam had on for years. Even the
cherry tree story again.
Scores of disparagins references to
washington,s character and ability,
wholly without historical confirmation.
No, not wholly" but worse. Take
the words of even a friendly reviewer
of one of these books: Evidence can
be found to support every statement.
1t is evidence sometimes Of the flimsi-
est kind, but the author uses 1t as
conclusive. He intensifies whisper
into a scream" That from a friendly
critic!
Worse yet. Scores of statements as
to the man we honor, literally true
and unobjectionable, but cleverly
barbed with innuendo to make them
sensational.
1t Is so evident that these novelist
biographers are, in the words of an
other reviewer. simply out to get
somebody-the more exalted the bet
ter"
There is room here to notice but
one or two examples Of their methods
George Washington as a non-attend
ant at church-there is a sensational