Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15

answer would be prompt and correct, a
contributing reason, no doubt, being the
fact that February % is a general holiday
throughout the United States But ask the
same child the date of the death of this Illus
trious man and the chances equally great
that no answer will be given, or if given, will be
wrong.
However, whatever lack of information there
may be on this subject, we WaShingtonians,
with Mount Vernon SO close to our very door,
should know most about this great man, who
indeed was largely responsible for the selection
Of the site of our beautiful city and who was a
frequent visitor here during his lifetime. So
we, at least, of all others, should be able not
only to answer the first question correctly, but
the second one well.
George Washington, born February %, 1882,
died at Mount Vernon, Va, December IA 1899,
just 100 years ago yesterday. He then was in
the sixty-eighth year of his age. His passing
away was mourned by grateful people, whose
Republic he so ably and materially assisted Ii
founding and establishing and to whose hearts
he had so sincerely and affectionatey endearcd
himself.
December in the District of Columbia is n
very uncertain month"; SO far as the weather
Is concerned. Upon more than one occasion the
writer has been roses blooming here in the
public parks as late as Christmas day and at
other times it has been severely cold through
out. 1t always has been and always will be a
good season for contracting colds, for, in addi-
likely to be treated to some wet and rainy days
as well in the assortment handed us before the
month has passed and gone
December, 1899, was no exception to the rule.
and the day Washington caught the cold that
terminated his earthly existence was such day
as we ourselves have seen upon many occasions
in this vicinity. Washington, too, had expert
enced many such days, had endured the hard
ships of Valley Forge, had crossed the Delaware
when it took the bravest and stoutest hearts
to do so, and why now, perhaps he thought,
should he refrain from going out of doors, even
though the weather was threatening as it I'M
dCubtedly was upon that occasion? Indeed, the
first Presidents diary contains positive state
ment regarding the weather for December IL
1t says: Morning cloudy, wind at northeast
and mercury at 80. large circle around the
moon last night. About 10 o'clock 1t began 10
snow, soon after hail and then settled rain.
Mercury at % at night"
WASHINGTON was always active and indus
IVV trious and, like all successful men, left
little to the imagination, but saw for himself
what was going on about him. For years it had
been his habit frequently TO inspect his farms,
his rides taking him over a stretch of to IA
miles. His adopted son. George Washington
Parke Gusts, says: He usually moved at a
moderate pace, passing through his fields and
inspecting everything but when behind time the
most punctual of men would display the horse
manship of his better days and hard gallop
bring him up to time, so that the sound of his
horses hoofs and the first dinner bell should be
heard together at a quarter to three o'clock"
The writer added that upon these occasions he
presented the picture of "a fine, noble-loOking
old cavalier well mounted, sitting firm and
erect in his saddle the personification of power.
mellowed yet not impaired by time, the equip
ments of his steed all proper and in perfect
order his clothes plain and these of a gentle
man. a broad brimmed white hat with small
h1nnGI 10 in frOn a
the forest" and entirely unattended"
So it was that during one of these inspection
visits over the farm on Thursday, December H.
1899 Washington contracted the cold that re-
suited i'll his death two days later. Upon this
occasion, as was his practice, he took to his
horse about 10 o'clock that morning and did not
return until five hours later, although the