186 



THE IRRIGATION AGL. 



and President Washington, but George 

 Washington is an unknown man," says 

 John Bach McMaster. Why we even cele- 

 brate his birthday on the wrong day, he 

 having been born the llth of February in- 

 stead of the 22nd. This is due to the fact 

 that under the revised system of chrono- 

 logy the date was advanced eleven days. 

 It is the "Unfamiliar George Washing- 

 ton" the man, whom Perriton Maxwell 

 introduces to us in his admirable article. 

 The man who, "masterful politician that 

 he was, could boast of only ordinary quali- 

 fications as a man of peaceful pursuit?- 

 he was, after all, a personage of excellent 

 character upon whom fortune smiled, 

 and who was wise enough to make the 

 most of men and circumstances." He did 

 what few of us do grasped the oppor- 

 tunities that came his way. 



"The Unfamiliar Washington" was 

 somewhat of a sport; the sums he won at 

 cards would excite the envy of gamblers, 

 and he also indulged in lottery invest- 

 ments; dancing, riding, hunting were 

 favorite amusements, all of which, how- 

 ever, he considered tame in comparison 

 with a cock fight. He was fond of liquors 

 though not a drunkard; was also very 

 fond of dress, being in his youth quite a 



leader of fashion: his hands were so large 

 that his gloves had to be made to order, 

 and his boots were No. 13. Being forced 

 to leave school at an early age, he had but 

 little education and though fond of reading 

 and possessing a wonderful memory, he 

 never became either a correct speller or 

 good grammarian. 



Such, according to Mr. Maxwell, was 

 George Washington, the man. Not a god; 

 not a genius: simply a brave, honest man, 

 who did his duty conscientiously and who, 

 in leading his feeble forces to victory 

 against overwhelming odds, laid the 

 foundation of this glorious republic. A 

 man whose sterling worth and great 

 achievement make him worthy of our 

 honor and praise. 



Send Those who are desirous of be- 



Vour coming members of the Farm- 



Names, ers' Homeseekers' League are 



requested to send in their names to J. 

 Hammond, member, 225 Dearborn street, 

 or to the IRRIGATION AGE. The names 

 will be registered and as soon as a sufficient 

 number of members have been obtained, 

 locations for settlements will be secured 

 and colonies formed. For fuller informa- 

 tion regarding this organization see Feb- 

 ruarv number of the AGE. * 



