The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-02-22

them Of the colonial capital before going 10
Mount Vernon 10 take up his career as master
OF that plantation and a prosperous Virginia
gentleman.
The entries in his diary for February - in
both the years 1869 and 1770 curiously alike.
Both record the fact that he went to Court Cat
Alexandria) and returnd Home Mount Vernon)
ar Night" For February %, IT'S, the entry reads
went with Mrs Washington TO Mr.. Digges' and
Dind" but If this was birthday dinner" in
honor Of the man who was so soon TO 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 10 be the most event
ful in Washington's life He would repeatedly
taste the bitterness Of heartbreaking defeat and
utter encouragement, Hghtened only by occa-
sional moments Of well-deseryed success and VIC
tory before Yorktown should bring the ultimate
triumph TO his efforts in behalf Of his country.
No doubt some Of those moments of bright hope
and black despair came TO him on his birthday,
but if so, there is no record Of his commenting
upon them in connection with the anniversary.
What was perhaps the first "Washingtons
Birthday celebration" in our history-a meager
one albeit-took place during that time. John
c. Fitzpatrick in his George Washington Him.
self-A Common-Sense Biography Written From
His Manuscripts" published in 1888 by the
Bobbs- Merrill company tells Of it as follows:
knowledge carried Procters artillery band lit
was nothing but drum and fife corps) tramping
through the ice and snow Of that dreary winter
in 1T7S in Valley Forge, TO serenade their Cen
eral on his birthday. 1t was gesture Of affec-
ton which brought the ragged musicians some
of the very few silver coins left In the purse OF
the Commander-in-Chief."
Three years later there was another celebra-
ton by his comrades in arms, only this time it
Nv ROchambpau
the Frenchman. He was in the habit Of honoring
the birthday of his king, and, as graceful ges-
ture toward his allied commander, ordered
parade of the French troops and the firing OF
salute on February % How deeply Washington,
harassed by the difficulties and dscnnragements
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 hattering distinction paid to the ami
versary of my birthday is an honor for which
/ dare not attempt 10 express my gratitude.
confde in your Excellency's sensibility TO inter-
pret nv feelings for this, and for the obhg1ng
manner in which you are pleased to announce II
His great task ended ar the close Of the Revolu-
tion Washington resigned his commission and
retired TO Mount Vernon, hoping TO spend the
rest of his days Virginia planter. Charac-
teristc OF his simplicity and love for the soil is
this entry in his diary during 1IS5: Tuesday,
full grown Lilacs 10 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 the No. side Of the grass
plot" Thus the hero Of the Revolution cele-
brated his birthday-planting ueesl
But even more prosaic was his celebration OF
his first birthday as President Of the United
States Says his diary for Monday, February
22d. Q7e0) Set seriously about removing my
furniture TO my new home Two Of the gentle
men of the family had their beds taken there
and would sleep there tonight" This new HOME
was the first Executive Mansion, the McCombs
house on Broadway. Just below Trinity church.
In New York city. and the mind Of the first Presi-
ident of the United States that historic BIRTH
day was occupied. not with the affairs Of state,
but with the homely details Of placing and ar
ranging furniture. However. there was evidently