People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1897 — Page 6

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY

Washington.

BHjgn pi HE fame of I Washington is so ' B L\ immense and the iff popular coneeption of his characV. ' ter so exalted, that some skeptical and fault-finding critics are disposed to question the universal estimate, and especially in the matter of his

ability as a soldier and military commander. However much we may iwish it otherwise, there is in human nature a mean spirit of envy and detraction which instinctively feels the honors bestowed upon a great man to be an indirect reflection and rebuke to its own littleness and baseness. This spirit cropped out conspicuously in the case of Columbus, in the efforts to belittle his great exploit and to blacken his character. I do not say that crieisms upon Washington’s generalship all proceed from base motives, but they doubtless do mostly come from the spirit and innate tendency which I have indicated. This unworthy spirit is as old as history, as old as humanity. It showed itself in a memorable fashion when the old Athenians wrote their sentence of banishment against Aristides because they were tired of hearing him called “the just.”

Washington and Napoleon,

Great soldiers are to be judged not alone by success, by battles fought and victories won—though this, of course, is the great popular test—but by all the circumstances and difficulties in which they are placed. There are great commanders in history who have won fame by avoiding battles, like the Roman Fabius, and even by great retreats like Xenophon with his ten thousand Greeks. If Washington is to be compared, to his disadvantage, with Napoleon, then the popular question is, would Napoleon, under the same circumstances, have done any better? It is enough for any commander that he fills the great measure of his requirement. This, of course, is not saying that Washington would have filled the place of Napoleon in the vastly different field and circumstances in which that great soldier won his fame. Nor should it be forgotten, all the while, that ultimately Washington succeeded and founded a nation, while Napoleon failed and lost an empire.

Washington’s Difficult Task. The difficulties which encountered Washington when he took up his great trust as commander-in-chief of the continental army were most complicated and immense. The theater of the struggle was a vast one, geographically, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to South Carolina, while the whole population ■was only three millions— not very much greater than that of the state of Michigan, and not so great into a million as that of. Illinois. Out of this small, scattering and peaceful population an army was to be raised, organized and equipped capable of contending with the chief military and maritime power of the globe. And it was aot to be a struggle between government and government, between one nation and another. It was a rebellion, and there was really no central authority, no arms or warlike stores, no navy, bo treasury or financial system or responsibility. It was only a brave and patriotic people, small in numbers, without discipline or military experience, without arms and without money, rushing thus bare-handed*'into a conflict with the mother-country, their own government; a powerful nation, which had recently been raised by the genius of the elder Pitt to the front rank among the great warlike nations sf the world—a nation whose military posts and possessions already dotted

the globe, whose victorious navies covered every ocean and sea, whose morning drum beat, as Webster said, was heard round the world. It was against such a power as this that this handful of patriots had thrown down the gage of rebellion and defiance. When England Closed In. When England saw that the contest was fairly opened her great navy closed in upon our ports and landed upon our shores different armies of her veteran soldiers, who had fought in the continental wars, and these were soon supplemented by trained Hessian soldiers, hired and paid by her gold. These armies were greater in numbers than the colonies had to oppose to them. And still, as they had to be transported so far, and to cover so wide a field, they were never very large, and the battles of the revolution were never on a great scale as to numbers. The country was new, there was next to no cavalry and not much artillery, and the engagements were thus mainly with infantry and at close range. There was little chance for tactics or maneuvers. All depended upon pluck, hard fighting and endurance. A Providential Man. Washington is known in history as a providential man; that is, a man raised up by Providence to fill a great place and perform a great mission. However this may be, he certainly had great parts and great and peculiar fitness for the most difficult and trying place which he filled in history. He had had experience in the previous Indian and French wars, and had proven himself a wise, competent and heroic officer. He had great personal advantages for command. He was of fine physique and imposing presence, a splendid horseman, carrying with him ever the port and air of authority and native majesty—an ideal commander. Know It Meant Freedom. So when this noble Virginian appeared before that northern army and drew his sword as their commander under those Cambridge elms his fame had preceded him and he was received with shouts of welcome and of confidence. Then all men knew it was to be a struggle to the death. I have no room

WASHINGTON THE SOLDIER.

here, of course, to recount the particulars of that seven years’ conflict. Patiently and steadily organizing and disciplining the raw patriot militia and volunteers into an army, Washington at the same time closely invested the British in Boston and finally drove them to their ships in the harbor, from which they sailed away/while:the’patriot army marched into the New England capital, which was never again to be trodden by the footsteps of an enemy. Thus was scored a great success at the opening. Then followed the march to New York to meet the enemy, landing in great force on Long Island; the brave but disastrous battle, followed by that masterly retreat which alone would stamp Washington as a great general; the gallant stand at White Plains; the reluctant hut stern and heroie winter retreat through the Jerseys ended by the master counter strokes of Trenton and Princeton, by which the great leader saved the cause of the revolution at its lowest ebb. Then the next year the struggle to save Philadelphia, the defeat at the Brandywine, where Lafayette first shed his blood in our cause; the loss of the continental capital and the well planned but accidentally lost battle of

Germantown. Then the gloomy winter quarters at Valley Forge, which tried the souls of patriot men and proved the great soul of George Washington. Who but he could have held that defeated, freezing, starving army together in that terrible winter? And at the same time the country was filled with the praise of Gates, who had conquered Burgoyne at Saratoga. In the Darkest Honrs. In this dark hour, too, Washington was beset with cabals and conspiracies, in congress and in the army, to depose him from the command which was to be given to the successful Gates. When in the early summer of 1778 the British commander evacuated Philadelphia, and Washington followed him with his little army to give him battle, on the field of Monmouth he met one of these detractors and conspirators, Gen. Lee, his second in command, disobeying his orders and in shameful and unnecessary retreat. It was here .that Washington is said to have lost his temper. It is pretty well demonstrated that he did, and if Gen. Lee received upon his miserable head that day an explosion of titanic wrath it was surely no more than he deserved. Despite this untoward disarrangement of his plans Washington here won a partial success. The battle of Monmouth was his last engagement until the crowning victory of Yorktown, three years later. In the meantime the war was going on in other parts of the great field of operations, battles and skirmishes were being fought and subordinate commanders, like Greene and Wayne and Morgan, were winning some laurels. But the central army was not immediately engaged. It was holding the ground and perfecting its alliance with the French forces, on land and water, which had now come to our assistance. When all was ready came that sudden and rapid march from the Hudson to Virginia and the great final victory at Yorktown. Had No Personal Ambition.

Even from this briefest outline of Washington’s career in the revolution, it will be seen that he had little opportunity for personal distinction as a commander. He was an unlucky general; fortune did not seem to smile upon him and he had more defeats than victories. Long Island, White Plains, Brandywine, Germantown—all these were defeats; some of them disastrous. Monmouth was little more than a drawn battle, while to offset these, Trenton and Princeton, while brilliant in conception and execution and great in effect, were 30 small in the.numbers engaged that they amounted to little more than successful skirmishes. And besides they were with Hessians and not with British regulars. Yorktown was, indeed, a great and crowning success, but it was won with superior numbers and the honors had to be divided with the French. Greatest Figure in History. Hardly a better instance does history afford of patience under provocation, of >dogged determination under difficulties, of unconquerable will and courage, holding on bo long and coming out triumphant at last over such mighty opposition. These great qualities, as we have already seen, belonged to the man more than to the Soldier. It was indeed the great man behind the soldier, the man with the great patriotic heart, with the wise head, and the lofty, unshaken sbul. that brought us through that long and tremendous struggle and gave us our gloi-ious place and opportunity among the nations. No other man on this continent but he could have done it. Greene among the generals of the revolution*, would have come nearest to it, but he would have failed. But in looking over the whole field and record, in the light of all the facts and history, it will be seen that Washington made no military mistakes, that he improved all his opportunities, that his generalship will stand the test of criticism. He struck whenever he had the chance, his plans were good, and when compelled, his retreats were masterly.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

LESSON IX. FEB. 28— ACTS 8: 117 —DISCIPLES DISPERSED. Golden Text: “They That Were Scattered Abroad Went Everywhere Preaching the World’’—From Acta, Chapter 8, Verse 4 —The Good Samaritans.

(frmj N the summer of 37 Jril A" t * le events yyjm I here related took S./M1 place. Places, Jeru*/M\ salem and Samaria. \ The text of the les ' J -J son follows: 1. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jeru-

salem; and they were &U scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2. -And devout men carried Stephen to hl3 burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women, committed them to prison. 4. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching 4 the word. 5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6. And the people with one accord gave heed Unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8. And there was great joy in that city. 9. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying. This man is the great power of God. 11. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13. Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14. Now when the , apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

HINTS TO THE TEACHER.

The lesson opens with the picture of the Persecutor. 1. He was sincere. Saul's fierce and apparently bloodthirsty conduct is set in Its true light by such statements as Acts 23, 1; Acts 2fi, 9, 10; 1 Tim. 1, 12, 13. Such bigots have been seen In every age, honest, but mistaken. Such was the spirit of Dominic, of Calvin against Servetus, of the Puritans in New England. 2. He was intense, because it was his nature to be earnest in everything. Saul, like Paul, could do nothing by halves. What aroused the persecution was the doctrine, launched by Stephen, that Jews and Gentiles were to become one in the Gospel. 3. He was, nevertheless, fighting against conviction. What were “the pricks" against which he was kicking (Acts 9,5) but a feeling which he could not overcome, that Stephen was right, that Jesus was the Christ, and that the salvation was for all men? The next picture is that of the Church. The time to estimate a church or a character is not when it is prosperous, but when it is in the midst of trial. Notice here the traits of a true Christianity. 1. It has growth—germinative power; it propa-'. gates itself. It is a seed which springs up wherever it is dropped, whether in Judea. Samaria, or Antioch; in America or in Japan. 2. It has breadth. Verses 5, 6. It overcomes the prejudices of race and nation, breaks the bonds of sect, and brings Jews and Samaritans into one fellowship. 3. It has powei'. Verse 7. The physical miracles of the apostolic qg« were pictures of its spiritual working In all ages. Even now the Gospel drives out unclean spirits and gives power to the impotent. 4. It brings Joy. Verse 8. Every truly converted soul tastes the Joy of salvation, and has within a fountain of happiness. 5. It has discipline. Verses 14-16. The Church was a unit, whether in Judea or Samaria. It recognized the central authority of the apostles, and submitted to it. The last picture is that of Simon the Sorcerer, showing the traits' of a false Christianity. We need not waste much time in the profitless inquiry about Simon’s powers, which were not unlike those of so-called “mediums" nowadays. 1. Even in the true Church, and in its purest days, there was a false disciple, Simon, among the disciples; and, bplieving after a fashion, he was not altogether a hypocrite. 2. He was a Christian in form, a baptized member, but not in heart and life. He carried worldly aims and methods into the Church. 3. He supposed that other disciples were on his own plane, and offered money to the apostles to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. His spirit was that of selfish ambition, seeking power over men, rather than power with God.

Consul Jones and Queen Margherita.

The Washington-Post tells this story of Col. Wallace S. Jones, United States consul general at Rome, Italy, now on a visit to this country.- Col. Jones iff a Floridian, and has been in the consular service in Italy for the last ten years. H« is a gentleman of wit, tact and culture, and his ability to make a happy response at the right time brought him into the good graces of Queen Margherita on his first appearance at court. The queen asked him from which state he hailed, and on being told, said that she had often heard Florida described as a very beautiful country. “Yes,” your majesty,” was the prompt reply, “we call it at home the Italy of America.” The neat compliment Was not lost on royalty, and the colonel was rewarded with a charming smile from one of the loveliest women in Europe.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY HINTS.

Gloves 'worn at night too constantly are apt rather to yellow the hands than whiten them. Vaseline yellows the skin. Glycerin and lemon juice soften and whiten the skin. Mixed in equal proportions it is an excellent remedy for chapped hands. A good lotion to use for perspiring hands is made of cologne water and belladonna, using about seventy-five grammes of cologne to twelve of belladonna.

THE QUEEN AS AN IDOL.

British Protection Held to Be Divine Power In Thibet. In addition to being Queen of England and Empress of India, it appears that Her majesty is a goddess. An Englishman named Stuart Majoribanks has recently returned from a five years’ Bojourn in Thibet and Bengal, and he is the authority for the following remarkable story. When he was Journeying in Thibet in 1893, Mr. Majoribanks says that he heard through the natives of a white goddess worshipped by a sect whose place of habitation was in the most mountainous section of that rugged country. With two guides and a native servant, Mr. Majoribanks started for the mountains that had been described to him, and, on reaching them, found that he was the first white man known to have made his way to this spot. The treatment accorded him by the members of the sect for whom he had been searching was amazing. He had been told that he was going to certain death, and that no man’s hand could save him. To his surprise he was treated as a most welcome visitor. He was received with profound salaams, and with his escort was assigned quarters in a hut for the night. In response to his request for information he wan courteously told that all he wished would be made clear to him in the morning. The villagers kept their word to the letter. After the morning meal the visitor was escorted to the house of the principal official of the town, who is termed the Khan. Two priests appeared by order of the Khan, and conducted Mr. Majoribanks to a building located on the crown of a high hill. Entering, the traveler found himself in a dimly lighted apartment furnished with all the evidences of a barbaric religion. But the most amazing thing of all was that, seated in a delicately carved chair was the figure of a woman, wearing a golden crown, apparently attired in European costume, and looking not unlike a specimen from Mme. Tussaud’s. Closer inspection, necessarily of -a very respectful nature, disclosed the fact that the figure was intended to be a representation of Queen Victoria. Careful scrutiny showed that the imitation, so far as the clothing was concerned, was very crude indeed, but the likeness of the face to the original was startling in its faithfulness. After leaving the temple, Mr. Majoribanks had another interview with the Khan, and from him learned how the Queen of England came to be the goddess of a heathen tribe. It seems that a few years ago the tribe was sorely beset by enemies, and a deputation was sent from the village to Calcutta to appeal to the English government to interfere and cause the Indian marauders to rema'in at home. The mission was entirely successful. When the Thibetans returned from Calcutta, one of the men had secured a photograph of Queen Victoria, and apparently out of gratitude, as good an imitation as it was possible for them to construct of the Great White Queen was fashioned, placed in the temple, and worshipped as the chief of all the tribe’s gods.

WIDOWS IN WASHINGTON.

Gathering Ground Upon Which Rich Relicts Meet and Scheme, Especially is it a great place for rich widows with daughters—that peculiar type of American women who, as soon as pater-familias is comfortably tucked away under the sod, fly to Europe, spend years wandering about like social Bedouins, then are seized with a romantic form of homesickness, says the Illustrated American. But they dan’t stand Porkopolis and Kalamazoo and West Jersey after Paris and London and Vienna, and Washington affords a convenient stop-gap. It is American in location, European in habits and, to a degree, in personnel. So they come here, buy a fine house, get in with the diplomatic corps and the thing is done. And Washington, which professes a lofty scorn for trade and ruthlessly shuts the doors of society in the face of all Washington brokers, insurance agents, real estate people, and, in short, trade in every form, except banking, welcomes with open arms the retired trades people from New York, Chicago and anywhere else on the face of the globe. It reserves the right of laughing at them, though, and after faithfully attending all their luncheons goes home to roar over every slip the ambitious host or hostess has made. This habit is undoubtedly an affront to hospitality, but it has one saving virtue —Washington makes use of rich people, but it is not afraid of them.

Her Recommendation.

“I’m really afraid I can’t engage you. Miss Hyjee,” said the operatic manager. “Your voice is not remarkable and you Will pardon me if I say that I fail to see What you rely upon to draw an audience.” “My dear sir,” replied she. “I have the enviable distinction of never—absolutely never—having sung before Queen Victoria.” “Why didn’t you say so before?” cried the enraptured manager. “You are the very songstress I have been looking for these many years.”—Pittsburg Chroni-cle-Herald.

A Correction.

“This,” said the professor of anatomy, as he exhibited a human jawbone, “is the inferior maxillary.” “I beg your pardon, professor,” said one of the married students, “but didn’t I understand you to say the skeleton you have before us belonged to a female?” “I did.” “In that case, then, there is no inferior maxillary.”—Washington Times. If a man sets out to do it, he can win any woman that wants him. 1

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A Dog Story.

Our annual sheep and cattle show has lately been held here. It is the biggest gathering of the kind in New Zealand, and this year a record was established, there being over 20,000 visitors. In this crowd a friend of mine missed his dog, a Scotch collie, named Mike, with whose help some prize sheep from the “Meadowbank” estate had been brought to the show grounds and penned there. Not being able to find the dog, my friend concluded that he had gone to the house where he had been the night before, but upon inquiry found that Mike had not done so. Upon returning to the show grounds he found the dog watching one of the Meadowbank sheep that had jumped out of the pen; he took no notice whatever of other sheep which were being moved about the grounds, but stuck faithfully to the one truant, which he evidently considered under his care, until relieved of his self-imposed charge by the welcome arrival of his master, who, with Mike’s help, soon had the wanderer back in the fold again. I afterward heard that some one had tried to help Mike recapture the sheep, but the dog resented his interference and drove the sheep away from the pens in order to show that he took no orders from any one but his own master —London Spectator.

TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAT. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. AS Druggists refund the money if It fails to cure. SM A mustard pot which does not require the use of a spoon has been invented in Germany. The mustard la supplied through a little spout by preesure on a spring. Before the great freeze in Florida the annual orange crop was from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 boxes. The estimate for this season is 70,000 boxes, True delicacy, that most beautiful heart-leaf of humanity, exhibits itself most significantly in little things.— Mary Howitt. /Zcs * \_—go to reach I heart of I the modern c* A muL looks for a wife, BjHBY expects a more than he* de- " V serves. He wants good y j * looks, good sense. good nature, good health. They usually go together. An observing man learns that a woman who is physically weak and nervous and incapable, is likely to be ill-natured too. Tha sweetest temper is ruined by continual sickness. A woman whose nerves are constantly racked and dragged by debilitating drains and inflammation, cannot be a genial companion or happy wife; and she is totally unfitted to be a mother. These troubles prevail almost universally among women largely because of carelessness and neglect. There is no real need of them. Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription is a positive specific for the weaknesses and diseases of the feminine organism. It cures them radically and completely. It heals, strengthens and purifies. It is the only scientific remedy devised for this special purpose by an educated, skilled physician. It is the only medicine that makes motherhood easy and absolutely safe. Miss Lauretta McNees, of Reno (P. O. Box 7*3), Washoe'Co., Nev., writes: “I have discontinued taking the ‘ Prescription ’ and will not take any more (at present). Last month I had ne pain at all and worked every day without any Inconvenience whatever. It was the first time I never had pain during that period. I cannot say too much for medicines, especially ■ the ‘ Favorite Prescription ’ and • Pleasant Pellets.’ I know of a lady who took one bottle of your • Favorite Prescription ’ and she says she was not sick like she was with her first baby. This was her second baby. She thinks it U grand medicine. So do I.” Dr. Pierce has had a life-time of experience in this particular field: His 1000- page illustrated book, “The People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser” contains several chapters devoted to woman's special physiology. A paper-bound copy will be sent nee on receipt of 21 one-cent stamps to pay tha cost of mailing only. Address, World’s Dispensary Medical Association, Buffalo, N. Y. For a doth-bound copy send 31. stamps.

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