Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10


frequently referred to as "frst
- In peace" 1t Is quite probable
that not one of the many who
thus eulogized the Father of His Coun-
try knew that little black girl--an
African but few years removed from
the land Of her birti--was the first per-
son TO confer this title upon him. It
was Phyllis Wheatley, young African
poetess, who wrote poem in his honor
and in one of the lines addressed him
as FIRST in peace and honors" several
years before the Declaration Of indie
pendence was signed.
In this poetical tribute to George
Washington the young African girl dis
played a knowledge of history and
mythology such as few women living In
this country at that time possessed. In
expressing her admiration for the man
who was fighting to wrest the Colonies
from British oppression, she sings:
Famed for thy valor. for thy virtues
more,
Hear every tongue thy guardian aid
inplore.
And she concludes her panegyric in
the following lines:
Proceed, great chief, with virtue on
thy side
Thy every action let the goddess
A crown, mansion and a throne
that shine
With gold unfading, Washington, be
thine.
With the poem went letter to Gen.
Washington sent from Providence, r. l.,
and dated October 26, 1775: Sir, Phyllis
wrote, Il have taken the freedom to ad-
dress your excellency in the inclosed
poem and entreat your acceptance,
though / am not insensible to its mac
curacies. Your being appointed by the
Grand Continental Congress, together
with the fame of your virtue, excite
sensations not easy to suppress. Your
generosity, therefore, presume will
pardon the attempt. Wishing your ex-
cellency all possible success In the great
cause you are so generously engaged in,
! am; your excellency, your most obedi-
ent, humble servant"
THE young Africans letter to the
- commander chief Of the armies
remained unanswered till February %,
because he was in the midst of the most
active preparation for attacking the
enemy. Then, accidentally coming
across the poem one day, George Wash
ington made the following comment
upon 1t In a letter written to his friend
Col. Reed: I'm searching over parcel
OF papers the other day In order to de-
stroy such as were useless, brought 1t
view to doing justice to her poetical
genius, had good mind to publish
the poem, but not knowing whether it
might not be considered mark of my
own vanity than a compliment to her,
laid 1t aside till came across 1t again
In the manner just mentioned"
Then, feeling that 1t was his duty to
acknowledge receipt of the black girls
poetical effusion in his honor, the fu-
ture President addressed her as Miss
Phillis" and declared in the letter he
wrote her: II thank you most sincerely
for your polite notice of me in the ele-
CANT lines you inclosed, and however UNI
deserving I may be of such panegyric,
the style and manner exhibit striking
proof OF your poetical talents, in honor
OF which and as tribute justly due
you ! would have published the poem
had not been apprehensive that, while
only meant to give the world this new
instance Of your genius, I might have
incurred the imputation of vanity. This
and nothing else determined me not to
give 1t place in public prints.
IF you ever come to Cambridge or
near headquarters, shall be happy to
see person so favored by the muses.
and to whom nature has been so lib
eral and beneficent In her dispensa-
tions. I am, with great respect, your
obedient, humble servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Those who admire the character Of
the first President of the United States
never tire Of talking about his courtesy,
kindness of heart, his susceptibility to
the influence of true genius and his
friendly ministrations of every kind.
But nothing he ever did proved more
conclusiyely that he was really great
and good man than this letter which
he wrote to a young black girl, who
was still slave.
And she was remarkable specimen
Of the human family, indeed.
If you had been walking down the
streets Of Boston, Mass, one day in
1851 you might have seen a poor little
black girl, wrapped only in a piece Of