George Washington's Birthday

[writesong]

I don't know if I'll get away with doing this, because - - -

This is way, way, WAY off-topic!

BUT - - - ,

Today, Wednesday 22 February 2017, is the 285th birthday of George Washington.

Will you join with me in enjoying a nice big slice (or two - - - or three) of the traditional cherry pie?

[RME]

Not even remotely off topic.  Wanswheel will quickly find an appropriate page or two for George Washington's Railroad.  Here's a cherry on top, figuratively speaking -- some of the publicity story!

[wanswheel]

Excerpt from History of the George Washington Bicentennial Celebration

The sun of the Far East cast long shadows through tropical trees upon a group of Americans, Frenchmen, native citizens and soldiers in picturesque white uniforms and straw helmets, gathered in the city of Saigon, French Indo-China, on October 29, 1932, for a celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington. The occasion was the official naming and dedication of a square in the city in honor of the Great American and the presentation of a bronze bust of Washington, mounted on a marble pedestal, to French Indo-China by the American colony in Saigon.

The authorities of Cochin-China, the province in which Saigon is located, speaking through their Governor in January, 1932, suggested that the Place d'Espagne, a beautiful square directly in front of the Palace of the Governor, would be the appropriate one to be given the name of George Washington. This square is a place of historical interest in Saigon, according to dispatches from the American Consul, Mr. Henry S. Waterman. The French, in taking possession of Cochin-China, including the capture of Saigon in 1859, were aided by a force of Spaniards from the Philippine Islands. After the settlement of Saigon by the French and their choice of a suitable location for the erection of the Governor's palace, a place directly in front of the proposed palace was given, in gratitude to Spain as a site for a consulate. Inasmuch as Spain did not desire to erect a consulate, a public square was laid out on the site and named "Place d'Espagne." Later, through direct negotiations with Spain, Great Britain acquired this square, but exchanged it for another site in Saigon. In March, 1932, Governor General Pierre Pasquier, the leading French governmental authority in the country, approved the renaming of the square in honor of George Washington.

https://archive.org/stream/historyofgeorgew04geor#page/100/mode/2up

https://archive.org/stream/historyofgeorgew01geor#page/n7/mode/2up

https://archive.org/stream/historyofgeorgew02geor#page/n7/mode/2up

https://archive.org/stream/historyofgeorgew03geor#page/n7/mode/2up

https://archive.org/stream/historyofgeorgew05geor#page/n3/mode/2up

[Murphy Siding]

George Washington never met a train he didn't like.

[54light15]

I once visited a hotel in the Catskills where there was an abandoned roadbed nearby. The guy said that George Washington used to take the train to the hotel when he was on vacation. What a putz! 

[BaltACD]

wanswheel

Was he the original BASE jumper?

[7j43k]

I've read up on ole George.

If you think it's kinda nice that there's a United States of America, you might want to tip your hat in memory of a great person.

 

 

Ed

[schlimm]

Turning aside from an irrelevant journey to neo-colonialism, here are the words of Washington's Farewell Address (drafted by Madison and reviewed by Hamilton).

Particularly noteworthy are his warnings for the future.  Here are a few: 

1. Be vigilant, people will seek to use the government for selfish ends.
2. Avoid overgrown military establishments; they are hostile to liberty.
3. Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government.

 

[wanswheel]

Forget neo-, it was plain old colonialism.

 

[Firelock76]

schlimm

Turning aside from an irrelevant journey to neo-colonialism, here are the words of Washington's Farewell Address (drafted by Madison and reviewed by Hamilton).

Particularly noteworthy are his warnings for the future.  Here are a few: 

1. Be vigilant, people will seek to use the government for selfish ends.
2. Avoid overgrown military establishments; they are hostile to liberty.
3. Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government.

 

 

All true.  There's actually three "Farewell Adresses" by George Washington.  The first to the troops at the close of the Revolutionary War, a circular letter to the governors of the newly-independant states written at the same time, and the famous one at the end of his presidency.  All should be required reading, in my humble opinion at least.

What a man.

[54light15]

As I understand it, he gave his farewell to the troops in Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. You owe it to yourself to have a few cold ones in that place. It is one of the coolest drinking establishments in all of New York. 

[Firelock76]

Right, I've got to get to "Black Sam" Fraunce's place ONE of these days!

And Washington didn't give the farewell to the troops there.  That was another circular letter read to the troops, kind of like announcements at morning formations in our own time.  General Washington didn't really care for public speaking at all.

What happened at Fraunces was Washington's leave taking of the army's officers. A cavalry major named BenjaminTallmadge remembered it as a gut-wrenching and very emotional experience.  "The idea that we might never see his face in this world again seemed utterly unsupportable."  Travel was tough in those days, and once you went home, you stayed, or didn't go more than 25 miles from home.

Of course, history had other plans for the General.  She wasn't done with him yet.

[wanswheel]

http://frauncestavernmuseum.org/about/history-of-fraunces-tavern/

https://archive.org/stream/sketchoffraunces00drow#page/16/mode/2up

[NKP guy]

   When Gen. Washington simply and dramatically resigned his commission in Congress at the successful end of the Revolutionary War, instead of becoming a dictator or monarch as was expected, his former enemy, King George III said of him, "If Washington does that, he'll be the greatest man who ever lived."

   Nevertheless, at the risk of being excoriated here, his reputation and standing these days among historians always includes a look at Washington the slave owner.   For example, his strenuous efforts to recover a runaway female slave don't do him any credit; torture was not unknown at Mount Vernon.  Washington did not admire the common man, hated to be touched, and was not religious by today's standards. Though a baptised Anglican, he was a Deist as were many learned men of his day.  One can only wonder what he would make of the current inhabitant of the Executive Mansion.

   Like any human being, Washington was complex.  Nevertheless, warts and all,  he remains one of the greatest men who ever lived and he got our country off to a fine start.