The Coolidge examiner., 1935-02-15

theml of the colonial capital before going 10
Mount Vernon To take up his career as master
% that plantation and as prosperous Virginia
gentleman.
The entries in his diary for February - In
both the years lst1 and 1870 are curlousiy alike
Both record the fact that be Went 20 Court tat
Alcxandral and returnd Home Mount vernon)
at Night For February - 1915. the entry reads
~went with Mrs Washington to Mr.. Digges' and
Dlnd.- but II this was a birthday dinner" In
honor of the man who was soon % be elected
commander in chief Of the Continental army. the
brief entry In the diary gives hint OF the fact
The next six years were TO be the most event.
ful In washingtons life. He would repeatedly
taste the bitterness OF heart-breaklng defeat and
utter disbursement. llghtened only by oeca-
sional moments % well-deserved success and vic.
tory before Yorktown should bring the ultimate
triumph 20 his efforts IN behalf OF his country.
No doubt. some OF those moments OF bright hope
and black despair came 20 him on his birthday.
but II SO. there Is no record OF his commenting
upon them In connection with the anniversary.
What was perhaps the first Washington S
Birthday celebration" In our history meager
one. albeit-took place during that time John
G Fitzpatrick in his George Washington Him.
self-A Common-Sense Biography Written From
His Manuscripts published In 1893 by the
{.
The army knew that he liked music and this
knowledge carried Procter's artillery hand Cit
was nothing but drum and fife corps) tramping
through the Ice and snow OF that dreary winter
In IT'S. In Valley Forge. 10 serenade their Gen
eral on his birthday. IL was n gesture OF affec-
ton which brought the ragged musicians some
OF the very few silver coins left IN the purse OF
the Commander-ln-C Chief"
Three years later there was another. celebra-
tion by his comrades In arms only this time II
was inspired by a foreigner Count Rochambeau.
the Frenchman- He was In the habit OF honoring
the birthday OF his king. and, as a graceful ges-
ture toward his allied commander ordered a
parade OF the French troops and the firing OF n
salute on February 90 How deeply Washington.
harassed by the difficulties and discoura gements
which Immediately preceded the victory at York
town. appreciated this courtesy may be seen from
the letter he wrote Rochambeau from New Wind
sor The fattering distinction paid to the ami
versary Of my birthday Is honor for which
! dare not attempt to express my gratitude.
coufide In your Excellencys sensihility 10 inter
pret my feelings for this. and for the obligng
manner In which you are pleased to announce H.
His great task ended at the close Of the Revolu-
lion. Washington resigned his commission and
retired TO Mount Vernon. hoping to spend the
-est OF his days Virginia planter. Charac-
reristic OF his simplicity and love for the soil Is
this entry In his diary during 1885: Tuesday
February 22d- Removed two pretty large and
full grown LIlacs to the No. Garden gate one
on each side. taking up as much dirt with the
roots as could well be obtained. also re
moved from the Woods and old fields several
young Trees OF the Sassafras, Dogwood and Red.
bud to the shrubbery on the No. side Of the grass