New Britain herald., 1928-02-22
than 70 editions.

I , did not appear in the first edition. It was not until the fifth edition was headed toward the presses in 1906. that Parson Weems decided to bol- ster up his story of Washinston's boyhood with an account of the exemplary illustration of super veracity.
 According to Author kellock, Par son Weelns declared the story of the cherry tree was given him by an ''old lady" who was connected with the household of the elder Washing 1 ton. The author does posterity the service of quoting the yarn as it ! originally appeared in the fifth edition of the Weems bio2~>phy Of Washington. When George said she, was about six years old he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet, of ! which, like most little boys, he was immoderately fond. and was con- stantly going about chopping every thing that came in his way. One day, in the garden, where he often amused himself hacking his moth- CTS pea sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on the body Of beautiful young English cherry tree. which he parked so terribly that I don't believe the tree ever got the better of it. The next morn ing the old gentleman. finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the way. was great favorite, came into the house, and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author. declaring at the same time that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. Nobody could tell him anything about it. Presently George and his hatchet made their appearance. George said his father, do you know who killedFthat beau
 
 garden?' That was tough question and George staggered under it for a moment; but quickly recovered himself; and looking at his father with the sweet face of youth bright ened with the inexpressible charm of all conquering truth, he bravely cried out: I can't tell a lie, Pa: you know I can't tell lie. did vt 1t with my hatchet.'-'Run to my arms, you dearest boy cried his father in transports, run to my arms; glad am l, George that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for 1t thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son is worth more than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver and their fruits of purest gold""
 A beautiful story indeed, but then, this is a free country!
 The aged lady" of Weems' fancy did not confine herself to talking about the cherry tree. She capped it with a second highly moral incident. Washington's father, it seems, want cd to instill a realization of the AL mighty into little Georges mind, so he secretly traced his name in his garden patch and planted it with cabbage seed. In two weeks little George saw his name sprouting from the earth'and waxed highly ex- cited. Running to his father for an explanation. the elder seized the opportunity to sermonize upon the workings of Omniscience.
 The anecdote, however, was not original with Weems. Not Washing tons father, but an old English squire perpetrated it, and the au- thor deems it very unlikely that l Georges simple parent ever heard of it.
 How Pastor Weems manufactured his biographies is told of in some de- tair by MT. kellock. For instance, there was the biography of General Francis Marion, which was begun by | one Peter Horny, but who found | out that his ability as writer was not equal to his task. Horny stipu- lated, in turning over his uncom- pleted manuscript to Weems, that the book be a truthful and digni- fled biography based upon the l facts in the manuscript" In due time Horny received the printed book as Weems had rewritten it, and was thrown into a panic by the | scandalous liberties which Parson Weems had taken with the unem- bellished facts as Horny had them. 1 According to Mr. kellock, Weems replied with urbane astonishment that he could not see how anyone could object to a book which placed I national hero in so exalted a light"
 Well. that's one way 10 write his tory; and it hasn't yet gone out of style.
 PUBLICITY, GOOD OR BAD
 4 young lawyer in Mcridcn re cciVel q little lesson in nuh1ini+y