“The weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we’ve no place to go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...” Parts of Tennessee are getting some snow. The Panhandle of Nebraska has plenty of it and my it’s cold out there – well below zero. The Ohio River area of southern Illinois and northern Kentucky got some white stuff also. And, last week, New York got lots more than they wanted – more than a couple of feet. And, it is cold everywhere between.

Cheer up – tomorrow is President’s Day holiday.

Originally the holiday was in commemoration of George Washington's birthday in 1796, the last full year of his presidency. Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732. According to the old style calendar in use at that time he was born on February 11. By 1796, most Americans who celebrated his birthday did so on the 22nd and some others marked the occasion on the 11th.

Also, when I was but a “tad of a lad”, schools at least celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. And, at least we boys looked forward to the month of February. [smiling] Lincoln was born on the 12th of February. The first formal observance of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several of the states.

In 1968, by House Bill HR15951, legislation was enacted that affected several federal holidays. The observation of Washington’s birthday was set on the third Monday in February each year whether or not it fell on the 22nd. This act took effect in 1971 and give kids and federal employees a three-day weekend in the process.

Thus, what began as two holidays in February to honor two Presidents has become a generic holiday to honor all Presidents.

George Washington, whose birthday is included in tomorrow’s celebration was this Nation’s first President. And, those of us who grew up with the story of him chopping down the cherry tree, now know that the story is pure fiction. He was though, honest and contemptuous of dishonesty in others. As an example he stood upon his rights and took action through the courts on any who attempted to defraud him. The President had a good “publicist” in the imagination of Parson Weems, who seemed to make a habit of making virtures of Washington’s actions.

Truth be known George Washington was human much like the rest of us – we have our faults as well as virtues. However, he was certainly a man’s man, standing six feet and three and one half inches tall. Someone illustrated this by writing that he was “ ... tall and as straight as an Indian”.

Mr President was an excellent horseman who “rode to the hounds” and illustrations of this made him appear as an English squire. He had his horse saddled and at his door at dawn ready for the daily inspection trips around his properties. He was amorous and was fascinated by young ladies though seemed to recover quickly when each did not become Mrs Washington. This included rejection by Miss Betsy Fauntleroy. It is reported that he fell in love at the first sight of a wealthy widow, Martha Curtis, and married her shortly thereafter.

A female chronicler of the President said he had very lively blue eyes. However, his lower facial features were distorted by poorly fitted wooden teeth that gave him a square jaw appearance captured in portraits of him. In addition, artists gave his skin that “air-brush” look because his face was marked by smallpox. Also, he was sensitive to sunlight and burned quickly when exposed – his face would become florid.

George Washington was, when I was young, portrayed as a model for captaincy of industry. He was efficient, industrious, punctual, hard-headed, close-fisted, practical and cautious. As a farmer he practiced crop rotation and crop diversification. In animal husbandry he experimented in the breeding of horses and cattle.

As a Virginia Planter, George Washington was a frequent host. House parties were frequent at Mt Vernon. He was recorded as dancing at the age of sixty four. His accounts mention many expenditures for arrack wine and punch. He was fond of picnics, barbecues, and clambakes. Often tea was served out on the veranda, weather permitting. The view is very beautiful there overlooking the Patomic River.

The business’ of the “Father of his County” included real estate. In Alexandria, Virginia, where he did his business, he was known as a “hail fellow, well met”. He participated in civil affairs by membership in Alexandria’s first volunteer fire company – Friendship Hose.

He apparently gambled. He went regularly to the Williamsburg races and frequently lost money at cards. Though “play houses” or theatres were few in those days he attended stage plays.

Due to a very busy life, George Washington was not as literate as one might expect and his diaries exhibit difficulty in grammar and spelling. [Gee, just like me.] He was conscious of this defect in his education and thus, never wrote his memoirs.

The Plantation owner’s dislike of slavery was based on economic and social reasons rather than moral ones. He lived in the an era that accepted slavery; however, he did so with dignity, furnishing “fitting” clothing and subsistence. He also employed a doctor for his employees.

President Washington was known to show his temper; laying verbally into General Charles Lee for cowardice at the Battle of Monmouth. Though it is not recorded what his reaction was to two young ladies taking his clothes, money and watch while he was bathing in the Rappahannock River. One’s imagination can guess that he didn’t think the “joke” very humorous. At court the girls were sentenced to six months in jail. He felt one should do his duty, so he reluctantly accepted military leadership in the Revolutionary War though he was skeptical of his abilities to do so.

Yes, newspaper reading can furnish many gems. And, Mr President I shall, two days short of your natal day enjoy remembering you as being as human as myself. Weren’t you also, Ulster-Irish??

e-la-Di-e-das-Di ha-WI nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da.
(May you walk in peace and harmony)

Wado,

Bill

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