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FEBRUARY 20, 1925
THE LEXHIPEP
PAGE SHVEN
t
GEORGE WASHINGTON
On February 22. 1732, in a simple
Virginia home in Westmoreland
county, Virginia, a baby boy was born
who was to alter the whole history
of a nation. The name of that boy
was George Washington. His father
died when he was still a boy and he
spent most of his time with his
brother, Lawrence, who willed him
Mount Vernon when he died. Good
schools were few in that time and
George did not attend any at all
Until he was fifteen.
The real work of Washington’s life
began when he was sixteen. He
gained favor from Lord Fairfax be
cause of his ability as a surveyor. The
next few years of his life was spent
in the forests, where he gained self-
reliance and a knowledge of the
country, that was to prove very help
ful in the days to come.
Soon an opportunity came to Wash
ington to prove his pluck. There
had been a dispute between the
French and English as to their rights
to occupy the Ohio Valley. R was
decided to send a trusty messenger
from Governor Dinwiddle, of Vir
ginia, to the French commander to
t'arn him against building forts upon
English land. Washington eagerly
accepted the task. It was a journey
of one thousand miles through a
travelless forest in the dead of win
ter, but Washington and a few fol
lowers boldly set out. The moun
tains were snowbound and the rivers
swollen, but finally the end of the
journey was reached.
After the messenger had delivered
'varning to the French the party
turned homeward. The horses be
came so weak they had to leave them
behind and Washington and only one
Companion were able to go on. When
they reached the Alleghany River
they had expected to cross on ice but
the ice was broken and the river was
filled with whirling cakes. A rough
fatt was built, but when the middle
Of the stream was reached the raft
Save way and Washington was hurl-
0‘1 into the icy waters. By catching
^ log he managed to reach a 'near-
Island where he spent the rest of
fhe night tramping back and forth
tyith the wind blowing and his
olothes freezing. When morning
oame he hurried to Willlamsbury to
deliver the letter to Dinwiddle.
In the French and Indian War that
followed he served bravely and well
until 1758 when the war in the South
and West was over and his resigna
tion was accepted.
In 1759 he married an attractive
young widow, Martha Custis, to whom
be had lost his heart upon first sight.
Years of married happiness were
passed on his broad lands of Mount
Vernon before the country again call
ed Washington*
In America’s fight for independ
ence, after the Battle of Lexington
had been fought. Congress decided
that a leader was necessary to de
fend the rights of the colonists. All
the people turned naturally to the
man who had never failed his coun
try .or his friends in time of need.
So on June 5, 1775 Washington was
made commander-in-chief, and on
July 5 took command of the men
who gathered around Boston.
These men were without uniforms
or camp equipment and used crude
firearms. It was Washington’s task
to lead these men in the battles that
were to come. It can never be realized
what Washington bore in those ter
rible years of privation. Although
the soldiers were brave and patriotic,
they were not disciplined. During
that dreadful winter at Valley Forge
many of the soldiers went about their
duties barefoot, leaving blood tracks
behind them in the snow.
It was such uncomplaining courage
and endurance as this that caused the
surrender of Cornwallis and the
whole British army and left America
free.
* Washington then resigned on De
cember 28, 1783 and retired once more
to Alount Vernon, but he was not al
lowed to live in seclusion long. A
president was needed for the United
States, and there was but one man
who could fill this place. On April
30,1789, Washington was inaugurated.
After serving two terms he refused
the third and retired for rest to
Mount Vernon.
On December 14, 1799 he lay dying.
The best doctors were gathered
around him but he said, “I feel I am
going. I thank you for your atten
tions, but I pray you take no more
trouble about me.” W'ashington
was not only the greatest of gener
als. He was more than a great gen
eral, he was a great man. He was
a good soldier, a wise ruler, a true
friend, and an honest, unselfish man,
who was willing to make any sacrifice
for his country.
THE OPEN FORUM
SCHOOL SPIRIT
I. for one, am tired of this inces
sant howling about school spirit in
Lexington High. Just when the stu
dents and townspeople are giving
their best support, the basket-ball
girls go all over town begging money
for an extended trip. And, in order
to make this trip, they sacrifice their
chance in the Championship contests
—contests the supporters of the team
would like to see. Furthermore, if
there is any democracy in our girls
team, I would like to see jt. It looks
to me like a deliberate clique (If you
Juniors don’t know what this means,
look it up.) Some of the girls on
the trip would barely be able to make
the third team, while somrj left be
hind are better than they.
Is that a square deal?
—An Irate Student.
New name for the Lexhipep—"Mud
slinger.”
Archie—^"When I get grown I’m
gonna be a mounted policeman.”
Russell—“Why a mounted one?” .
Archie—“Because if there’s any
trouble I can get away quicker.”
Hege & Stroud
Sanitary Barber
Shop
Hot and Cold Shower
Baths. Hair Cutting
a Specialty
drink
IN BOTTLES