Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
BY THOMAS X. HENRY.

"EE progressive little city OF
Fredericksburg. Fs.-once
serious rival of New York for
i commercial supremacy along
the Atlantic e2board-is Ell
gaged in digging up the story OF one
OF the hometown boys who went OUT
into the world and made good.
Since this youth quit the farm
Across the river and went soldering
fox the King. almost zoo years ago. a
great many things have happened 10
fredericksburg - arsgag them the
bioodiest battle in New World his
tory. The barest details Of the old
city's story constitute an American
epic. There is hardly a cobblestone in
town that isn't associated with some
name familiar to every schoolboy. IL
the townspeopie kept track Of all their
historical relics they couldn't find time
to attend TO any other business.
Bu. standing out Of all this glory
and tragedy IL one figure whom Fred
ericksburg first knew az an ordinary
schooiboy, later as an Immediately
uniformed British officer. still later az
an occasional dancer and a bad card
player. still later as the leader of a
ragged little army which humbled a
great empire. later still az President
Of the United States. and finally AZ
one of the greatest figures in all the
history of the human race. All the
time he has remained, 10 the people
Of the little Virginia city. one OF the
local boys"
His name was George Washington.
Five years hence. in 1892. the Nation
and the world will join in the OBJ
seryance Of the 2e9th anniversary OF
his birth. Then once more the at
&~~E&~~ - <xxdtt1HH mon will he
drawn TO Fredericksburg.
so the lawyers, the bankers. the
editors, the gtorekeepers, the doctors,
the clergy and all other citizens Of
the little Virginia city are devoting
their spare time 10 gathering every
bit Of information concerning the
mans life when he lived among them
and to locating every scene in any
way associated with his activities.
Fredericksburg was home" 10
George Washington. Almost TO the
day Of i1is death he was associated
closely with the life Of the town.
There dwei, those who were nearest
and dearest 70 him--his mother, his
brothers. his sister and his beloved
pIeces and nephews. Whenever he
came tack-<yen IL IL war only down
from Mount Vernon for family
eathering--he threw off much ~ the
cold dignity which characterized him
elsewhere.
The first President Of the United
Etstes. IL IL likely. never was desni
god to those god ci'3Zens who had
known him ~ schooiboy, TheS
called him ''George" or George
when they me. hin--<ven when ht
wore his ana ppiest uniforms and may
have tried 20 strut q bit, Ike sn3
other young ofNcer.
The very rubb;sb heaps OF Freezer
kksbvrgh DsDducf objects sst1'clatef
c,;,h George Washington. There II
hardly an old building "hlch ne n'as
not have entered - some time ~
s,,h@y. There is hardly an DID family
vy,,ich cannot tFafe some distant b!oot
relationship ~ him.
sS4
EgEDERfcKEBERG is trying q
ind the man " feconsiFuct Ia
actual Warrington out ~ all thFs'
,ln stones and tastered TssofdE, Tn
Fyedsris,ks huFg tttizeDs Cbi!6 aif@Dj,
las established " points ~ washing
ton ssso<.isti ton wiich csn he proved
ly old legal pspeTE bnd "'hef"3s*
some III them have not been ppblsheo
fnv the gufld In aware that many o
.he owners who know nothing ~ IN
history " their property might faIs'
the price out Ut reason ar SOON ~
they found ga, about u
1she,. are 10 definite restoration
DroJec,s which II is hoped I" "pnDiep
t,~fDFs 1872. 4 half a"Ien "tkhH'~h
tions some local and s"hns nailot,al
.,s interested in this wofk Ffedef
t.Esburg IL the capital Of the Wssi'
sgu,n Country, where every one mus
sDnls eventually for research Won
concerning the early life "f America
Gret President. -. <..,e,
only one Of the restoration p"1e,,
kss been accom- pjished fuzzy ~ aatt
others have not been stareea ss yf'
while two o. three are wen h'l7st ""s
a great desi Of the necessary sh''n ",
~ money has been raised IN NE "''
ttssR A.. U..A.,3,L.
h,,,g Tor which definite stma'b
.Tot4cis either ere under wsy ~ '"i
TIE Masonic Templs Of Tbs 1908