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JUk Me Jlnothet A General Quiz The Questions 1. How much does it cost to firs the largest gun in the U. S. army? 2. Who were the oldest and youngest members of the Consti tutional convention? 3. Is Mahatma Gandhi married? 4. What is the lowest hereditary title of British nobility? 5. What was Howard Hughes' time for his round-the-world flight in July? 6. What is the difference be tween an attack plane and a pur suit plane? 7. How does the proportion of city students attending college compare with that of the country students? The Answers 1. The 16-inch gun is the largest and the cost to fire one round is approximately $3,000. 2. Benjamin Franklin of Penn sylvania, then 81, and Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 26 years old. 3. He is married and has four sons and several grandchildren. Married at the age of 13, in 1906 he took a perpetual vow of celi bacy. 4. Baronet. 5. Three days, 19 hours. 6. Attack planes are designed and armed for attacking the en emy's ground forces; pursuit planes are designed and armed especially for fighting enemy air craft. 7. Out of every 1,000 rural fami lies, 53 young men and women are sent to college, while 49 col lege students are sent from every 1,000 urban homes. Uncle 5 Make Sure of This: There is no abundant life that is to come out of ‘'Somebody else’s" efforts. Children with grandpas and grandmas learn that there are two views of what their par ents regard as misbehavior. If one is blue, one should get busy. Never let the blues induce you to sit down idly. Democracy Scores Anybody in America who would swell his chest and strut around as dictators do in Europe would be laughed into oblivion. Some of the unwritten laws are too fantastic to be framed into a statute. Why is all the pottery found by archeologists broken? The men must have wiped the dishes. 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Make the test-then If not delighted, return the box to ua. We will refund the purchase ^^ms alWav carry., ■QUICK REUEF FOR ACID INDIGESTION WNU—7 6-39 LIQUID, TABLETS SALVE. NOSE DROPS relieves COLDS first day. Headaches and Fever dee to Colds la 80 mlaatee. s Wenderfal Ltataaeat McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1939 160 Years Ago They Celebrated Washington’s Birthday — What a Riot That Turned Out to Be! Christopher Wren Hall on the campus of the College of William and Mary. In front is the Lord Botetort statue and a cannon of Revolutionary war days. By ELMO SCOTT WATSON O Western Newspaper Union. f ^vRESENT-DAY visitors -^to Williamsburg, Va., ‘ will find there numerous reminders of the fact that George Washington was a fa- miliar figure on its shady streets in the days when it was the colonial capital of the Old Dominion. But few of them realize, perhaps, that Williamsburg was also the scene of the most riotous cel ebration of his birthday in the history of this country, even though Washington was not there to witness it. Yet, such was the case, and that celebration took place just 160 years ago. The first public celebration of Washington's birthday had been held the previous year—in 1778. Washington was then with his army at Valley Forge and, since Pennsylvania had accepted the new calendar (revised by Pope Gregory in 1581 but not adopted by England until 1752) the cele bration was staged on February 22, the same date which we ob serve. Incidentally, Virginia ig nored the new calendar until aft er Washington’s final birthday, which he celebrated at Alexan dria in 1799 on February 11, his real birthday according to the old calendarr So George Washington, while he was living, was a man with two birthdays a y^arl Our knowledge of the Valley Forge celebration is obtained from Washington’s expense ac counts which were first published by John C. Fitzpatrick, chief of the manuscript division of the Li brary of Congress, in 1917. They show that he distributed a gratu ity of 15 shillings to the band of Procter’s Fourth Continental Ar tillery. Serenade at Valley Forge. ’ “The army knew that he liked music and this knowledge car ried Procter’s artillery band (it was nothing but a drum and fife corps) tramping through the ice and snow of that dreary winter in 1778, in Valley Forge, to sere nade their general on his birth day,’’ writes Mr. Fitzpatrick in his book, “George Washington Himself—A Common Sense Biog raphy Written From His Manu scripts," published in 1933. “It was a gesture of affection which brought the ragged musicians some of the very few silver coins left in the purse of the Command- er-in-Chief." As a matter of fact these “very few silver coins" were later re paid for Washington’s expense accounts show that / he charged this amount to the government as a legitimate expense, just as he charged the tips he always gave to servants in the houses which he used as headquarters during the Revolution for the “ex tra trouble" his presence caused them. He felt justified in doing this since he never received any salary from the government while serving as commander-in- chief of the Continental army. With the precedent of observ ing the birthday of the “Father of His Country" (he was first called that in a German alma nac, published at Lancaster, Pa., late in 1778) thus established at Valley Forge, it was natural that his army should hold another cel ebration the next year. In November, 1778, Washington put his army into winter quarters at various places on either side of the Hudson river to keep an eye on the British commander. Sir Henry Clinton, who had evac uated Philadelphia and occupied New York, For his own head quarters Washington chose Mid- dlebrook, N. J. In December he set out for Philadelphia whence Martha Washington had journeyed from Mount Vernon to meet him. On January 6, 1779, they attended a ball in honor of the seventy-third birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who was then serving as ambas sador to Franco. Concerning this party, Franklin’s daughter, Mrs. Richard Bache, wrote to her fa ther: “I have lately been several times invited abroad with the General and Mrs. Washington. He always inquires after you in the most affectionate manner, and speaks of you highly. We danced at Mrs. Powell’s your birthday, or night I should say, in company together, and he told me it was the anniversary of his marriage; it was just 20 years that night." On January 18 Washington at tended a banquet given by con gress in honor of the French min ister and during the remainder of his stay in Philadelphia he sat twice for portraits. One of them was by Du Simitiere, a French painter, but the other is more fa mous. It was painted by Charles Willson Peale who depicted him at the Battle of Princeton. On February 2 Washington and Martha set out for Middlebrook and there on February 22 his birthday was again the occasion for a public celebration. It was a similar affair to the one in Val ley Forge the previous year and, since Martha was present, it was evidently a very decorous one. Far different, however, was the celebration of the event down at Williamsburg. The students at the College of William and Mary had prepared a subscription pa per to ask contributions for a big birthday party honoring the dis tinguished Virginian, who was commander-in-chief of the forces fighting for American liberty. * Their enthusiasm was somewhat dampened when Gov. Patrick Henry refused permission for the celebration to be held. Even though the cause was a worthy one, he “could not think of any kind of rejoicing at a time when our country was engaged in war, with such gloomy prospects." But the irrepressible collegians went right ahead with their prep arations and a grand ball on the night of February 22 was given in the historic Raleigh tavern, the scene of so many important social events in old Williams burg. Some time during the eve ning a party of hilarious students found unguarded two cannon be longing to the Virginia militia and dragged them to the Raleigh to climax the evening by firing a salute in honor of General Wash ington. Soon afterwards a lieutenant appeared with a platoon of sol diers to claim the cannon. The celebrants made him welcome, carried him into the Raleigh and supplied him with punch to drink. But this hospitality could not dis suade him from his purpose—he had been sent to get the cannon, by force, if necessary. When m certain Colonel Innis, who was one of the sponsors of the cele bration, declined to give them up the lieutenant reported the mat ter to Captain Digges, his su perior, who in turn notified Gov ernor Henry of the situation. The governor told Captain Digges to use his own judgment in handling it. Thereupon, ac cording to the diary of David Meade Randolph, one of the Wil liam and Mary student celebra-- tors: “In the pride of his power, with 60 men, he (Captain Digges) s drew up in form; and demanded the cannon at the point of his bayonet! Innis stept up to Cap tain Digges, and shaking his cane at him, swore that he would cane him, if he did not depart instant ly with his men! “This enraging Digges—he said that if the pieces were not sur rendered he would fire upon the party. Innis repeating his threat, ordered Finnic to charge the can non with brick bats: the mob in the street, and the gentlemen of the ball, re-echoing the order. “The pieces were soon charged with brick bats: Innis all the while firmly standing by the Cap tain at the head of his men, dar ing him to fire! After some delay, the Captain retreated with his men; and the evening closed with great joy." But that wasn’t the end of the affair by any means. The next day Colonel Innis was arrested and arraigned before the Hust ings court for riot. In the court room he was confronted again by Captain Digges. Hot words passed between the two men and again the colonel threatened to “cane" the captain. Colonel In nis’ anger abated, however, when the court released him and he walked triumphantly out of the courtroom with the “friends who had shared the honors of the pre ceding night"—so the Randolph diary assures us. Honored by French. The next Washington’s birthday celebration of which we have any record occurred during the last year of the Revolution. Count Rochambeau, commander of Washington’s French allies, was in the habit of honoring his sov ereign on his birthday and as a gracious gesture he prepared to do the same thing for Washing ton. Accepting February 11, in stead of February 22, as Wash ington’s birthday, Rochambeau wrote from his headquarters at Newport, R. I., on February 12 as follows: “We have put off celebrating that holiday till today, by reason of the Lord’s day and we will cel ebrate it with the sole regret that your excellency be not a wit ness of the effusion and gladness of our hearts." So the celebra tion was held on February 12 and the “effusion and gladness of our hearts” took the form of a holi day for all the French troops, a parade and the firing of a salute in honor of the American com mander. Twelve days later Washington wrote from his winter headquar ters at New Windsor, north of West Point, to the French gen eral as follows: “The flattering distinction paid to the anniversary of my birth day is an honor for which I dare not attempt to express my grati tude. I confide in your Excel lency’s sensibility to interpret my feelings for this, and for the obliging manner in which you ar« pleased to announc* J* a " Interior of the historic Raleigh Tavern, as restored by Colonial Williamsburg, Inc., with funds provided by John D. Rockefeller Jr. In this tavern the students of the College of William and Mary held their “grand ball" in honor of Washington’s birthday in 1779. How did Washington celebrate his birthday after his great task of winning freedom for his coun try was ended? In 1783 he re signed his commission in the army and retired to Mount Ver non, hoping to spend the rest of his days as a Virginia planter. Characteristic of his simplicity and love for the soil is this en try in his diary during 1785: i “Tuesday, February 22. Re moved two pretty large and full grown Lilacs to the No. Garden gate, one on each side, taking up as much dirt with the roots as could well be obtained ... I also removed from the Woods and old fields several young Trees of the Sassafras, Dogwood and Redbud to the shrubbery on the No. side of the grass plot." Thus the hero of the Revolution cele brated his birthday — planting trees! Birthday Was Moving Day. But even more prosaic was his celebration of his first birthday; as President of the United States.' says his diary for “Monday, Feb- 1 ruary 22, (1790). Set seriously about removing my furniture to my new home. Two of the gen tlemen of the family had their beds taken there and would sleep there tonight." This “new home" was the first Executive Mansion, the Mc Combs house on Broadway. New York city, and the mind of the first President of the United States on that historic birthday was occupied, not with the af fairs of state, but with the home ly details of placing and arrang ing furniture. However, there was evidently a reception of some sort in his honor at that time for he records, somewhat naively, on February 23: “Few or no visitors at the Levee to day, from the idea of my being on the move." Although Washington was loath to encourage any celebration of his birthday, since it might smack of homage to royalty, his people were eager to honor him on that occasion. Especially was this true after the seat of govern ment was moved from New York city to Philadelphia. In 1795 a ceremonious function was held in the capital in honor of the President’s birthday and the following year an even more Portrait of Washington painted by Charles Willson Peale in Phil adelphia shortly before his birth day celebration at Middlebrook, N. J., February 22, 1779. elaborate one was given. Fitz patrick says of it: “The church- bells rang, the light horse, artil lery and light infantry seized the opportunity to turn out in full strength, to show off their new uniforms, and ai*tillery salutes were fired. Congress, the state officials, the clergy and others visited the President to pay their respects and in the evening the Assembly gave a ball, which the President and Mrs. Washington attended, which was, Dunlap’s Advertiser reported, ‘the most brilliant display of beauty, per haps, ever exhibited in this city.’ ” Soon after the Revolution closed and even before Washing ton became President, his Vir ginia friends instituted one cele bration of his birthday which lasted for many years. This was the “Birthnight Ball," first held in Alexandria and attended by the hero of the Revolution whose di ary betrays his great fondness for “routs” and who never failed to attend one of these functions. Washington’s last birthday, in 1799, was marked by the marri age of his beloved adopted daugh ter, Nellie Custis, who requested him to wear the splendid new uni form of General of the Armies of the United States, an office that had been created for him the pre vious year. Instead, the general presented her with the magnifi cent white plumes from the uni form and appeared at the wed ding clad in the uniform in which he had won his greatest fame— the old Continental buff and blue. Beneath his arm was a faded cocked hat with a simple ribbon cockade, a reminder of those stir ring days when he was waging his fight for the liberties of his country. Just as simple and unassuming as this gesture was his comment in his diary for this, his last birth day. He merely wrote: “The Revd Mr Davis and Mr Geo Cal vert came to dinner and Miss Custis was married at Candle lieht to Mr Lawrence Lewis." 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