Show BIRTHDAY on the eve of the birthday of the nat nation ionAs first president a few words regarding him as an individual seem not only in order but to some extent called for it may he said that the subject is so familiar that it Is to such an extent a part apart of ones early education and constant reading in all stage life that little that Is not known can be paid this only goes to show that we know really less son of a matter with which we are constantly associated than of one that has recently been presented to us mi we once heard a noted comedian apologize for breaking down in the midst of a song nay lug ing that he had sung it a thousand times and relied so much upon his ability to go through it without effort that it had given him the slip this illustrates the point tolerably well we can all or nearly all toll tell who the first brat president was but how bow many can toll tell in what year he was born or where he was born bom without consulting an authority not very many and of these we venture to assert that a majority have had the subject brought to their attention by some means quite recently george washington was born at popes pape s creek westmoreland county virginia on the day of february 1782 his ancestry was english but despite the most rigid investigation and penetrating research beyond this country it is largely a matter of conjecture he was the first brat son of law rence and mary ball washington she being a second wife his father died when he be was eleven years old and thus was upon mother who possessed the proper qualifications and temperament to instill in the youthful mind those pre depta cents and principles which in later life made him conspicuous above all denof men of his time his education was altogether rudimentary the advanced schools of that day being very few and widely apart he be acquired reading rea writing arithmetic a little geometry and from this something of practical surveying of which occupation he was very fond the number of great names which adorn the pages of owners were meagerly educated at the beginning of their career would of itself make a great volume but considering si the structure which was erected upon the foundation there were few if any more poorly prepared in a scholastic way for the struggle with life than was george washington how like cincinnatus he was called from peaceful fields to head an army consecrated to the liberation of bis bin country and the independence of his bis countrymen how poorly clad provisioned and armed with superior forces fully equipped ever confronting them he and his hie spartan bands banda fought on and on through the changing chancing sea till the lost surrender at yorktown eight long cruel bitter bloody years how he be was wan then called to the head of the nation which his hia arduous work had bad called into existence all these have been read of ard are familiar in every nook and corner of the land not only in our land but in many places beyond washington as shown did not arise ailse among his countrymen as a great man or an one especially prominent the colonists in fact did not measure consequences or know upon whom they were to rely among the people of the earth they felt the fire of patriotism burning in their breasts and with it was born the determination to forever throw off the tyrannical encroach ments of great britain to die if need be but leave to their children to us the boon of freedom unalloyed forever resistance to tyrants was truly obedience to god for he made all things work to their eventual welfare he raised up washington neton from amidst the common people just as many a time before and since he has raised up leaders where they were least ex peeled and provided the means of effectual work and ultimate success when all seemed dark and forbid dinar to washington aud ami the patriot band then aided and directed by the lord of hosts boats we primarily owe our nor free institutions our majestic attitude in the presence of the nations our greatness as a government and the peace and prosperity which attend our individual lives we cannot honor his name too much albeit as a human he had his weaknesses and his faults because in honoring it and him we honor our country and ourselves the children in our schools are today engaged in no manner could they spend their time more acceptably thus thua with the strengthening of mind regarding the libi tory of the nation cornea comes the bud of patriotic purpose which later to in life blooms blooma and becomes goldau fruit on the tree of liberty |