Evening star., 1938-12-11
BY John Clageft Proctor.

Ov OOHH N&USCIL IOCIUI .
OF all the patriotic shines in
America, Mount Vernon stands, un-
doubtedly, first, and yet of all the
people who annually visit there but
very small percentage who go
through the mansion where WASH
ington lived and died, and who look
into the tomb at the sarcophagi
where rest the mortal remains OF
the illustriouS Father of His Country
and his beloved wife, can tell today
when the first President, and its
greatest citizen, passed away.
Indeed, as lamentable as this is
true, and as much as it is to be
deplored, yet it is not surprising
when we realize how poorly in
formed are the masses of our people
on the outstanding events in Amer
ican history. AS an illustration,
quite recently, lady in a New
York radio broadcast was asked to
name the living eX-Presidents, and
although there is but one, yet she
failed to answer the question,
though Mr.. Hoover left the White
House less than six years ago.
However, along this line the radio
IS to be congratulated for the con-
structive work it is doing in its quiz
contests, since it brings out our
shortcomings and develops keener
interest in historic subjects and
events, and may, perchance, next
Wednesday, even call attention to
the fact that it is the anniversary
of the death of the revered Wash
ington, which occurred on December
IA, 1899. 139 years ago.
Lincoln, easily our second greatest
man, had habit of saying much
in a few words, and so he did when
he summed up the character of the
first President in these words:
washington is the mightiest name
on earth-long since mightiest in
the cause of civil liberty; still
mightiest in moral reformation. On
> that name no eulogy is expected. 1t
cannot be. To add brightness to
the sun or glory to the name OF
Washington is impossible. Let none
attempt it. In solemn awe pro-
nounce the name and in its naked
deathless splendor leave it shining
on"
There really should be more at
tention paid to the anniversary of
the death of Washington. His
birthday anniversary is we'll known
because all the States have made
it a public holiday, and the Federal
Government has acted for the Dis
trict of Columbia, the Territories
and for all national activities and
agencies under its control, though
1t did not see fit to do So until
January 81, 1879, and maybe his
death will some day also receive
annual recognition in the same way.
Gen. Washington was not an old
man when he died, as he generally
seems to have been considered,
being less than 68 years old, for he
was born in 1892, but the hardships
of war had undoubtedly left effects
upon what would otherwise have
been a robust constitution, which
did not prove to be very strong
when attacked with his last illness.
The first President was always
active and industrious and, like all
successful men, left little to the
imagination, but saw for himself
what was going on about him. For
years it had been his habit fire.
quently to inspect his farms, his
rides taking him over a stretch
of 8 to IA miles. His adopted son,
George Washington Parke Gusts,
says:
HE usually moved at a moderate
pace, passing through his fields and
inspecting everything, but when
behind time the most punctual of
men would display the horseman-
ship Of his better days and a hard
gallop bring him up to time, so
that the sound of his horses hoofs
and the first dinner bell should be
heard together at a quarter to 3
o'clock"
This author also added that upon
these occasions he presented the pic
ture OF "a fine; noble looking old
cavalier, well mounted, sitting firm
and erect in his saddle, the per-
sonification of power, mellowed yet
not impaired by time, the equip
ments OF his steed all proper and in
perfect order, his clothes plain and
those of agentleman, a broad
brimmed white hat with a small
gold buckle in front, a riding switch
~cut from the forest" and entirely
unattended"
So it was that during one of these
inspection visits over the farm on
Thursday, December II, 1899, WASH
ington contracted the cold that re-
suited in his death two days later.
Upon this occasion, as was his prac-
tice, he took to his horse about 10
O'Clock that morning and did not
return until five hours later, al
though the weather was cold and a
slight snow was falling when he left
home which later turned to hail
and rain, with the addition of a
cold wind that even aggravated
Conditions. When he returned home
At was observed that he was wet, and
snow was hanging from his hair