The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-10-12

HE issuance by the post office de-
partment OF a special f1ve-cent
stamp which will be placed on sale
] In Chicago. Detroit and Boston on
- October IS and at other post Of
fF~mE7l fees on October 10 serves to re-
Ill NM II call the name OF distinguished
ISMF} foreigner who In the words of
III TN Postmaster General Farley will
| -A.s-J be forever peFpetuated In the
hearts OF the American people"
For this stamp commentaries the 150th anniver-
6ary or the admission to American citizenship
or Gen Thaddeus koseiuszke the Polish soldier
who Is known as 1.-THE great champion of liberty"
and this stamp is another tribute to his memory
by the nation whose liberty he helped to estab-
lsh. Monuments have been erected to him In
Chicago, Boston and Washington. and at the
2 United States Military academy at West Point
N T.; county In Indiana and streets In sew
eral OF our cities bear bis name; but the every
day use Of the commemorative stamp during Oc-
tober by thousands OF Americans will recall his
name and fame to more of our citizens than
any OF these other memorials have ever DONE
October Is a month which Is peculiarly asso-
cated with the history OF Kosciuszko 1t was on
October H. 1776 that he came to Washington's
camp near New York, bearing letter OF intro
duction from Benjamin Franklin to the COM
mander-in-chief. 1t was during October of that
year that he made a colonel of engineers
In the Continental army, became member OF
Washingtons military family and began the as
ISOLATION with the great American which enabled
Kosciuszko In later years to call himself proudly
"a friend OF Washington; and 1t was on October
15, 1917, that the Polish champion met his death
by fall from his horse. an event which the
Poet Campbell has made historic with his
Hope for season babe the world farewell
And Freedom shrIek'd as Koscuszko fell
Also significant In the relationship OF Washing
ton and kosciuszko Is the fact that they were
born In the same month. Washington on Feb
rnary ii (old style) 1882, and Kosciuszko on
February IL, 1746. He grew up on his fathers
estate, remote spot In Lithuanla Though OF
noble birth. the elder Koscuszko was a man of
property, and his children lived like other chill
dren OF their class. Thaddeus seems to have been
diligent, conscientious boy with keen sense
OF responsibility. He attended the Jesuit college
In his home town, and In 1864 entered the corps
of cadets In the Royal School OF Warsaw
Later he went to France, where he studied
military engineering, especially French fortih-
cations. Sketches made by Koscluszko while he
was studying architecture In Brest and Paris
are to be seen In Polands national museums. At
the age Of twenty-eight he returned home, to
find the family fortunes sadly depleted
Just why at this time Kosciuszko made IN his
mind to 30 to America Is not entirely clear
Some attribute 1t to an unhappy love affair:
others assert he was stirred by the story OF a
young country fighting for its independence At
all events, he sailed for the New world and
landed at Philadelphia In the summer OF 177e.
having mortgaged his patrlmony and borrowed
$50 ducats to get there.
He seems to have made the acquaintance of
Franklin either In France or In PHILADELPHIA. for
we next hear OF him presenting the letter OF in
PRODUCTION from Franklin, previously referred to,
to Washington In October 17T6 "What can
yon do7" asked Washington, according to the
familiar story. TRY me and we shall see !" was
the Poles modest reply. So Washington made
him colonel Of engineers and be soon proved
what he could do.
From October, 1776 to April TIT. he was
busy terrifying Philadelphia, continuing the
work which he had undertaken upon his arrival
there before his services had been accepted bv
Washington. Then he Joined Gates army I'm the
North and 1t Koscuszko who selected and
planned the fertilization OF BemIs Heights near
Saratoga. and his contribution was material
one to the success OF the operations which led
- the surrender OF Burgoyne at Saratoga
Shortly afterwards, Kosciuszko planned the
Notifications on the Hudson at West Point gen
orally rated as his greatest achievement In the
War for American independence. KoscIuszko ar