New Britain herald., 1927-02-23

WILLIAM II. DAY
1T is true that he was constant
to her memory even into his early
twenties but no doubt he was later
able to convince Martha that she
wac really the first one that-but
you all know the rest of that brgu-
ment.
During the campaign around
Boston when the fortunes Of the
Continental army was on the ebb and
Gage was kept penned in, more by
fear than any force that Washington
had under his control, he issued a
general order forbidding all card
playing and other games of chance.
AT this time of public stress, writes
he, men may find enough to do in
the service of God and their country,
without abandoning themselves to
vice and immortality Does this
sound like the admonition Of
drunken gambler?
so far as his penuriousness IS
remind you that when the question
of his salary as communicative chief
was discussed by congress, his only
stipulation was that he should serve
without pay
History records that Washington
swore at General Lee at the Battle
of Monmouth when, by his failure to
obey orders and his inability to form
and control his division, he precipi-
tated 4 disorderly retreat in the face
of a small British patrol. At Lees
court martial, which resulted from
his actions, it was brought out in
the evidence that Washington, see
ing the disorganized soldiers and
finally coming up to their COM
mander, swore at him.
Il used to know an old Vermont
Yankee whose opinion about swear
ing I have always remembered, In
dealing with human being he said,
there VIII come times when they are
so obtuse that III, the only word that
will effectively convey your mean
ing Is good substantial damn de-
livered with proper adjectives and
emphasis. If, however, such lam
guage is part of your every day
speech their sensibilities become
dulled to its force and you are de-
prived Of your last opportunity to
make yourself understood
Put Lee On His Toes.
His homely philosophy seems tc
have a good illustration in the his
torical incident just mentioned. II
the first place, Lee, after his severe
reprimand Cor speaking more mod
erly 'bawling out), gave good &C
count of himself during the rest OF
the day; and in the second, the fact
that Washington was so incensed
that he swore seemed during the
| court martial to offer indisputable
evidence that Lees conduct mus
have been reprehensible to arouse
him to that pitch. In the words Of
my Yankee friend it was not a par
of his every day speech or it would
have aroused no comment.
What. then, is the picture
would leave with you Of this re
markable man? Certainly it would
not be one of a god or saint. Wash
fngton was human. He liked chill
dren, good dog and a good horse
He certainly liked the ladies, there
by exhibiting a wisdom which
strive to emulate. On the other HAND
l will accept as authentic no portrait
OF Washington showing him to be
drunken, swearing penny pinchint
prohigate.
Let me take you in fancy to tbs
banks of Perkiomen Creek outside
Philadelphia, Let me lead you 10 The
outskirts Of the Camp at Valley
Forge where, during a bitter colo
winter with his Commissary disor
ganized through the petty politics o
the Continental Congress, the grea'
commander-in chief faced the pros
pect OF a contest with u foe nov
thoroughly aroused to the fact tina
this was no mere rebellion, but {
war! 1t was the darkest hour II
American history. There let me poin
out to you the picture that Isaac
Potts saw as he made his wa.
through the woods tracked with tn
bloody footprints of the shoeless sol
diers. He had heard voice and eX
ploring beheld Washington. In thu
bitterness of his spirit, as he realized
how forlorn was the hope of human
succor, he was on his knees barring
his soul to his God, imploring ait
that his people might be led out o
bondage.
THAT, then. is the picture I would
leave in your minds. George Wash
Instrumentation god nor devil-bu
q man.