The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-02-21
Tribute of Nation
Laid at the Feet
of Washington

No President, no American il
fact, has ever during his lifetime
captured the popular fancy of 6
whole nation as did George Wash
ington in 1889, Evelyn Thorpe
writes, in the Boston Herald. He
alone stands as the idol of an ador
ing populace.
When Washington, as President
elect of the American people, be-
gan the long trip from Mount Yer
non to New York in April, 1889, for
the first inaugural ceremonies of
the nation, he modestly expressed
his wish and intention to avoid no
tice and display as he journeyed
through the states. But the peo-
pie too delighted at his cleo
ton, too grateful for his splendid
services in their behalf, too proud
of his victories, too conscious of
his greatness, to permit him to
pass unnoticed. A fig for his mod
esty! He was their hero; they
would adore him. True to the spir-
it of democracy, the people had
IlIClI way Liz was ~
Toasted, feted and acclaimed from
the moment he left the shelter of
Mount Vernon until he entered the
door of the Presidents house in
New York city.
Hardly had he left his own door
yard when his friends from neigh
boring Alexandria captured him and
escorted him to their little village
for a neighborly farewell. Here,
he was at home; these were his
friends. They had prepared for
him a great dinner to which the
cOmmunity's finest were invited.
There was cordial good fellowship,
eulogistic farewells and hearty well
wishing for this great man who was
peculiarly their friend and neigh
Dor. Washington was more than
grateful for their confidence and
love and this frank expression of
1t touched him deeply.
Welcomed at Philadelphia.
He before daylight to con
tinue his journey from Baltimore,
but it was not too early for the
Baltimoreans to do full honor to
their departing guest. At $50 in
the morning they started him off
on his journey amid the cheers of
The people and the boom of cannon.
Philadelphia was the largest city
which he was to pass and
hey had made extensive prepara-
ions there. The city was gayly
decorated, impressive triumphal
lrches spanned the highways;
;treamers, flags and evergreens
made the old city a festive scene.
There was banqueting, speeches,
music and fireworks. The honored
uest was greeted with great en-
husiasm and frequent shouts Of
Long Life to George Washington,
he father of the people!" It was
busy and happy day for them all.
The next morning found the gay
ity disheveled by the %torrential
aims which were relentlessly de-
cending, making sorry havoc of
he previous days splendor and de-
aging Washington's start for
'renton until nearly noon. He
tuC III lllO OMn 1lOSCu 1dllldSC az '
Ompanied by Lieut.. Col. David I,
humphreys, an aide-de-camp ON his !
aft during the war, and Charles 8
homson, secretary of the Cont 5
entail congress, who had journeyed {
Mount Vernon to notify Wash 3
Igton of his election to the Presi- q
ency, and who was now ~escorting !
m to New York. Q
Again Crossed Delaware. e
They arrived at the old stone a
rry house at Colvin's ferry on the t
elaware early in the afternoon. r
ltrick Colvin, himself, owner of r
e ferry, was on hand TO PERSONAL e
conduct the Presidential party o
fely across the Delaware! What fl
emories must it not have stirred p
that earlier crossing of this river le
tn his tattered troops in those t.
eadful winter months of the wari W
wv well we know this historic in NJ