Evening star., 1937-02-22
Birthday of
Washington
Y symbolic
Children Should Real
ize It Stresses I'M
portance of Truth
BY ANGELO PATRI.

GEORGE WASHlNGlON . pl 'ii-
~ day and his country's beginnings
are so woven together that to Amer
icans in these United States they are
the same. There would never nave
been this United States had not
George Washington willed it into be-
ing He willed it, fought for it against
terrific odds, won it, sustained 1t IN
its weak and wavering beginnings un-
til death ended his labors. We would
be a strange people if we did not rev.
erence his name and his deeds.
In the years that have passed since
he created this Nation there have
been great changes in the people ana
their customs. We have passed
through strange phases of growth 10
our present stage of imperfection, but,
In spite of moderniSts, sophiSticates,
progressive agitators, George Wash
ington's spirit still dwells in this land.
His work stands in the character OF
the people We still trust in God, we
still believe in national honor, still like
to speak and to hear the truth with
out fear or favor.
The place and power of the great
mans spirit is to be judged by the
attacks made upon his contribution
to this people. 1t has been recalled
by some that Washington SWore like
a pirate at battle leader who had
done less than his duty; that he was
rich; that he held slaves; that he sold
tobacco; that he drank punch; that
he was a stubborn and hot-tempered
man. I don't know. Maybe he was all
of this and more on the Seamy side,
and if so, what of it? The fact re-
mains that he was the greatest man
of his day, the greatest man in Amer
lea at the time, and that he per-
formed lasting service to the people
of the earth when he led the people
of the American colonies into national
freedom. He is a towering figure OF
Q man and that is enough.
I like to tell children the story OF
Washington and the cherry tree. 1t
Is a good story for them to associate
with the first President. He was too
proud to tell lie. That pride in his
character gave him courage to face his
angry father, no small matter for a
little boy. No matter if historians say
It is not true, it is true to the nature
of the boy and the man, and, there
fore, true for the children's accept
ance of the man that he was. They
can understand about telling lie to
save themselves from punishment, and
admire the spirit that would not bend
to fear and the defensive lie, and that
Is important.
Truth, and the courage to proclaim
It, is becoming rare in our political
life: Hiding the facts, abusing the
other side, twisting the words that are
uttered in supposed defenSeS Of the
people, serving self first and the COM
munity not at all, threaten our life at
its source. 1t would not be amiSs this
day to remind the children of the
Nation that the greatest leader Amer
lea ever saw was valiant for truth.
That on that platform he won emf
nence, respect, reverence and the love
of a people who followed him, and
who still follow him gladly.
Honor great men, we say to the chill
dren. The first of these is George
Washington. How much do they know
about him
Mr.. Patri has prepared leaf1et en-
&itled "Convalescent Children" in
which he tells parents how to help
such children to entertain themselves
without fatigue. Send for it, address,
ing your request to Mr.. Angelo Patri,
Child Psychology Department of this
paper Inclose self-addressed,
stamped (3-cent) envelope.
(Copyright 1877