The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-02-22
"A SMILES, THE THING"

south, the name and fame of
Washington becomes a house.
hold word. o.
600
Washington had a depression.
1t started with the Revolution
AIRY war and continued for
years. Aid when It seemed
that his cause was lost, tnat
the colonies would labor anu
bring forth naught but defeat,
the great heart Of a great
leader falLered but once. That
was the time when he wrote
out his resignation Az COM
mandcr-in-chief OF the con-
tinental army. An aide talked
with the general, told MIN he
had bene given commission
and the commission had not
been completed. Washington
went into council with himself
and then destroyed the letter
OF resignation.
o--O-o.
Lot of times we feel like
resigning, turning IN our COM
AhiDoANis LUZ WIFI Vi
conscience, like Washington
aide, tells US the. commission
has not been executed. And
we go on. ,
600 ,
Washington had a life that
ran the entire ga1nut of hu-
man emotions. He knew de-
feat, the sweet taste OF victory.
In affairs Of the heart he was
unsuccessful during the early
years Of his life. lie loved
several times but failed to find
his early love returned. In
the field OF battle there were
days, months, when Washing
ton wondered If his cause
would triumph. He was beset
with traitors from within and
without. The elements COM
bined to thwart his purpose.
Money and guns and ANN uni-
zion were lacking. The morale
of his troops had dropped to
the vanishing point.
O-O--O
But he went on. Always be-
fore him doomed the oppor-
tunity to see new nation rear
its head amid the concert Of
nations. He hcwed to the line,
permitting the chips to fall
where they may. There was no
turning back, he had set a.
course. named his objective
and marched on. Even when
1t was bruitcd about that one
Of his most trusted officers
was.a traitor. washington held
his peace until the actual facts
became known. And when the
news became public, though
the blow was terrific. he fought
through. 4" '"4,., -
"'Ar 600 }.'~& 80.
The ultimate triumph OF,
Washington is a lesson, in per-;
sonal hygiene. From his boy
hood days he took care of the
, body God gave him. By
spending much time among
nature, out In the clean. fine
things of life, he built blood
and bone and sinew. Indeed,
Washington's physique was a
temple of strength. He held
the American broad jump rec
ord until a few years ago. He
had enough strength In his
fingers to climb along a can
yon wall. The muscles of his
legs could crunch the sides of
a horse. He could ride a
mount all day without firing.
tha,, la In
night. He loved ancing.
600
Destiny prepared him for the
tasks ahead. He had long
period of preparation, both
physically, mentally and NOR
ally. Long before he was
aware of he fact, history had
selected him to play a great
part. And when the test came
he met 1t unflinchingly. His
body was able to Withstand the
shocks of battle, his morals
fortified against evil, his mind
imbued with the vision to see
beyond and into tomorrow.
Every century has It's great
leader. And Washington was
one OF them.
To-day he lives In new
light, his painting bears new
and finer pigments. We have
tossed overheard the goody
story of the cherry tree and
few other myths brought out
by Parson Weems. We see
Washington. not a human gla-
cier, but a man. Of flesh and
blood. man who could dance
and laugh, a man who could
kneel and pray, man who
could shed bitter tears. His
was no plastic figure, no
'.holier than thou" but a man
Of the times, one who could
live and move and have his be-
ing among his fellow men.
600 w..
He had been touched with
suffering and knew how to suf-
fer, how to sympathize. From
his we'll springs came the
touch OF father as we'll as COM
panion. He played ball with
his. officers, mingled with his
men. During the terrible win
ter at Valley Forge, when 1t
seemed that the colonists would
lose that which they desired
most, Washington gave q pair
Of his boots to q shoeless con-
tinental, He endured their
sufferings and by HIS example
kept aflame the fires Of pa
triotism.
And when peace crowned
his colors with victory, he gave
credit to his men and his Of
ficers, asking nothing for him
self. But q thankful people
demanded the one who had
led them through q great war.
lead them through o new found
peace and form of govern
ment. They called him from
Mount Vernon and made him
president. And though enemies
stormed In Boston and New.
York and Philadelphia. though
scurrilous letters again found
their way into circulation,
Washington fought for the
state az he had In the
field. And sometimes the CAM
paign was even harder than
ut Valley Forge. For poison
pens can cut deeper than
bullets or sabres. ~
49, 600 ~
Washington's life was a great
x.....~s-. .-.nct n...n vxog - f.x.<