Evening star., 1932-02-25

dent in them by merely looking at
Drought him evidences Of himself
~
The best portraits and busts OF
George Washington bring to- beholders
something Of the same spirit. 1t Is
impossible TO look at them and not
Feahze that here was an exceptional
man but very much like other men.
>. AND do you know our idea OF what
II was, above all, which made this man
exceptional? 1t was his idea of SEEM
IlneSS. 1t Is the lack of this idea Whlch
makes human beings restless, hysterl-
CAL even rickety Cfor the first two re-
act mlmlcally upon the physical being .
washington looked like President;
ne acted like a President. Historical
research has shown that while he was
not saint, on the other hand he was not
merely common man. He had some
tnlng which the common fellow never
secures and that was an appreciation
OF the seemliness Of character.
Ills conduct and attitude were de-
cent, oecorouS, becoming in his rela-
tlons With his public. He knew that
man must live up to what he knows
ana Is. This is an attitude which
many human beings Of today seem to
lack. They feel that the comparative
freedom OF this era, at least in Amer
lea, gives them right to act as they
please without comment from others.
ThuS, man may act the reprobate,
but expects his friends to greet him
with a smile. He takes advantage OF
the spirit of the age, which smugly
smiles and says, Yes, I know did
so and so, but you must not let on that
you know about 1t. II you do, you are
poor sport"
George Washington probably had as
many fall1ngs as most men, but when
he got up to address his fellow citizens
he looked the part and he acted the
part. He did not find it necessary to
simper or to pretend that he liked
something or other Just because all
Of his friends liked it. One can feel
sure that II he lived today he would
not listen to crooners over his radio
but would turn on his set only for
good music and the best addresses.
The solemnity of this wonderful
man is impressive still in all his
portraits and statues. There Is
serenity there. Here is one man, one
feels, who exemplified the lines Of
Longfellow about life being real. earnest.
The face has the strength of the
mountains. 1t calls to the dissatisfied
spirit in man, and seems to say: This
man knew your problems. He was
great success in everything he under
took, but that did not prevent him
from understanding the state of mind
Of men who might not be as successful
as he was or as they wished to be
themselves"
Just as there Is no trace Of frivolity
in his pictured face which has come
down to us, SO there is not one bit of
contempt for the common man. Wash
ington was an aristocrat, as such things
60, but II he were alive today and
could come riding down our great
avenues in his big automobile (Which,
he would be among the first to give
fellow a lift. One may feel quite sure
Of that
His democracy was not Of the sort
which yowled about the common pee
pul," but precisely the sort which made
the common people feel safe with him.
One can imagine that courtesy, for
instance, was not something to be
called into being for his so-called
equals only, but for all occasions in
volving his meetings with his fellows
of all ranks and degrees.
1t was because his face had some
of the noble immobility of the animals
that he appealed to all classes of his
countrymen.
He was q man who could be trusted.
And he can be trusted yet.