THE BUILDER JULY 1916

WASHINGTON IN HIS OWN TIME
BY BRO. SAMUEL BULLARD, 1790

(By the kindness of Brother C.M. Schenck, of Denver, Colorado, we
present herewith a contemporary estimate of Washington, being an
excerpt from "An Almanack, for the Year of the Christian Aera 1790,
by Samuel Bullard, Boston. Printed and Sold by John W. Folsom, No.
30 Union street; sold also by most of the Town and Country
Booksellers." Added thereto is a poem F. Plumer, "a citizen of the
World," from the same edition of the Almanack, albeit composed in
1782. It is more interesting than important, written in a
high-flown manner, with many allusions to mythology--after the
style affected in that day--but it recalls the spirit of the time.
A copy of this Almanack is now in possession of Mrs. C.M. Schenck,
of Denver. The extract takes us back for a brief moment, into the
age in which Washington lived, and shows that the estimate of his
character was then very much what it is today. As the editor of the
Almanack said, "We cannot entertain a doubt of its being agreeable
to all of our kind of Readers."--The Editor.)

As the following is a Sketch of the Life and Character of our
American Fabius, we cannot entertain a doubt of its being agreeable
to all our kind Readers. As this Gentleman always refused to accept
of any pecuniary appointment for his public services, no salary was
annexed by Congress to his important command, and he only drew
weekly for the expenses of his public table, and other necessary
demands.

General Washington, having never been in Europe, could not possibly
have seen much military service when the armies of Britain were
sent to subdue the Americans; yet still, for a variety of reasons
he was by much the most proper man on the continent, and probably
anywhere else, to be placed at the head of an American army. The
very high estimation he stood in for integrity and honor, his
engaging in the cause of his country from sentiment and conviction
of her wrongs, his moderation in politics, his extensive property,
and his approved abilities as a Commander, were motives which
necessarily obliged the choice of America, to fall upon him.

That nature had given General Washington extraordinary talents,
will hardly be controverted by his most bitter enemies. Having been
early actuated with a warm passion to serve his country in the
military line, he has greatly improved his talents, by unwearied
industry, a close application to the best writers upon tactics, and
by more than common method and exactness. In reality, when it comes
to be considered, that at first he only headed a body of men
entirely unacquainted with military discipline or operations,
somewhat ungovernable in temper, and who at best could only be
styled an alert and good militia, acting under very short
enlistments, unclothed, unaccoutred, and at all times very ill
supplied with ammunition and artillery; and that with such an army
he withstood the ravages and progress of near 40,000 veteran troops
plentifully provided with every necessary article, commanded by the
bravest officers in Europe, supported by a very powerful navy,
which effectually prevented all movements by water; when all this
comes to be impartially considered, we can venture to pronounce,
that General Washington may be regarded as one of the greatest
military ornaments of the present age.

General Washington is now in the 58th year of his age; having
completed his fifty-seventh on the 11th of February last, as it
appears by the "Federal Calendar," that truly worthy and brave
Veteran was born in the year 1732. He is a tall, well made man,
rather large boned, and has a tolerable genteel address; his
features are manly and bold; his eyes of a bluish cast, and very
lively; his hair a deep brown; his face rather long, and marked
with small-pox; his complexion sun-burnt, and without much color,
and his countenance sensible, composed and thoughtful. There is a
remarkable air of dignity about him, with a striking degree of
gracefulness; he has an excellent understanding, without much
quickness; is strictly just, vigilant and generous; an affectionate
husband, a faithful friend, a father to the deserving soldier;
gentle in his manner, in temper rather reserved; a total stranger
to religious prejudices, which have so often excited Christians of
one denomination to cut the throats of those of another; in his
morals he is irreproachable, and was never known to exceed the
bounds of the most rigid temperance. In a word, all his friends and
acquaintances universally allow, that no man ever united in his own
person a more perfect alliance of the virtues of the Philosopher
with the talents of a General; candor, sincerity, affability, and
simplicity, seem to be the striking features of his character,
until an occasion offers of displaying the most determined Bravery
and Independence of spirit.

A POEM, on Geo. Washington.--Composed in 1782, but never before
published.--By F. Plumer, a citizen of the World; also from "An
Almanack," by Samuel Bullard, 1791.

Come all ye powers that e'er sent by Jove, 
Did the great fancy of an Homer move. 
To chant the praises of Ulysses great, 
The Hero of the times of ancient date: 
Come all ye powers that e'er did Virgil aid, 
To sing of Aeneas and the wars he made; 
To paint the Hero in the noblest lays, 
To chant his honor and advance his praise; 
Attend me while in feeble strains I try 
To lisp of one whose fam'd above the sky; 
A greater than the conquering Grecian King, 
Great Washington's the Man, whose fame I'd sing.

Rejoice ye Dryades, O Collinna plance! 
Exult ye forests, and ye mountains dance, 
The time, the great, the glorious time is near, 
When ye shall cease the noise of war to hear; 
When barb'rous Britons shall their butchering cease, 
When war and discord shall give way to Peace; 
When Washington shall be completely found, 
With victory and with conqueror's laurels crown'd.

Ceres be glad, our verdant fields shall be 
From all destroyers, from arm'd Britons free; 
Men's guns and pistols shall be turn'd to hoes, 
And swords instead of men shall clip the rose; 
Our Nymphs and Swains beneath the cooling shade, 
Shall on the springing grass and herbs be laid, 
And feast on fruit, while of no foes afraid. 
Sons of Columbia give your hours to play, 
No more we are the subjects of dismay; 
No more the Sons of Justice in the earth, 
Can doubt our prized Freedom's birth: 
For thro' the world the tidings have been spread, 
How Columbia's Sons have fought, and how been led; 
Our General's spirit spreading wide and far, 
Hath rous'd the nations in the East to war; 
Hath given spirit to Hibernia's Sons, 
And almost 'mongst the Dutch rais'd Washingtons. 
Inspir'd by Washington, great Hyder rose, 
And hurl'd destruction all around his foes; 
Shew'd them the power of an Hero's arm, 
When rous'd by Justice to loud war's alarm. 
Sons of Nemesis thro' the world rejoice, 
And sing your joy in clear and manly voice, 
Columbia's numerous Race are free, 
No more oppress'd by British Tyranny. 
Our Hero's fame shall thro' the world be rung, 
His deeds shall in heroic verse be sung, 
And loud be chanted by both old and young. 
The mortals of this age shall loudly sing, 
And make his fame thro' all our regions ring; 
Ten hundred thousand millions yet to come, 
Shall on this Shore the pleasing theme resume; 
Fathers to children shall with joy declare, 
The glory that he's gain'd in deeds of war. 
Nor shall ye cease to hear the cheerful sound, 
While suns and other shining worlds are found. 
Much sooner shall great Phoebus cease the skies 
To illuminate, the gay Minerva cries, 
Than Bards or Muses cease to chant aloud, 
Washington's glory to th' astonished crowd; 
Apollo and the Muses thus agree. 
And thus the great, th' immortal Gods decree.

BRILLIANTS

Wind puffs up empty bladders; opinions, fools. 
--Socrates.

We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all.
--La Rochefoucauld.

A man who is proud of small things shows that small things are
great to him.
--Madame de Girardin.

The rose does not bloom without thorns. True; but would that the
thorns did not outlive the rose !
--Richter.

A man will be what his most cherished feelings are. If he encourage
a noble generosity, every feeling will be enriched by it; if he
nurse bitter thoughts his own spirit will absorb the poison.
--Henry Ward Beecher.

WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN

Unlike in certain qualities, our two supreme Americans were not
unlike in their supreme achievements. There was no structural
difference in the work they did; it was all of a piece. By the
scale of a hemisphere they shaped their designs; but their work was
larger than a hemisphere. Look upon it now as it lies spread out
before you in the white light of world-wide criticism; it is of as
noble dimensions as civilization itself. It matches the
achievements of Alexander and Caesar, Charlemagne and Alfred, simon
de Montfort and Cromwell. Nay, it is greater by as much as America,
in prospect certainly, is greater than Greece or Rome, France or
England. Europe herself admits the fact. The Iron Duke, speaking
for the Old World, says: "I esteem Washington as perhaps the
noblest character of modern times--possibly of all time." And an
Italian scholar, spokesman for a world old before England was born,
offers this stirring panegyric: "Lincoln stood higher in my
estimation and love than all the Alexanders and Caesars who have
reddened the pages of history with their brilliant exploits."
--Review of Reviews.

THE BUILDER

Behold the Builder! Here he stands erect,
By many labors perfected. By trial,
And sacrifice, he's won, beyond denial,
The place he merits. Grave and circumspect,
He labors now to plan and to perfect,
Before the shadows cover up the dial,
His edifice, awaiting all the while
The coming of the Master to inspect.
Thus future ages and that Wisdom bright,
That finds the lost, that brings to light the true,
Shall vindicate the soul that strives for right
Whate'er may be the obstacle. 
To do That faithfully is all that God requires; 
To see His Face fulfils all man desires.
--H. W. Ticknor, Florida.

THE LAMB-SKIN, OR WHITE LEATHER APRON

Of honest toil the humble garment thou, 
Yet by the Ancient Craft to uses high
And splendid raised ! No gorgeous panoply
Of knight or monarch, bright on breast or brow,--
Star, Cross or Garter,--can like thee endow
The wearer with pure honor! Emblem white
Of Innocence,--thou Lamb-skin Apron ! Light 
Breaks on the darkened eyes, and teaches how 
Thou must be worthily worn, when thou'rt bestowed. 
True to thy glorious precepts may I stand,
Upright and just, however life may test! 
For, if I wear thee spotless on the road, 
When next I have thee at the Master's hand, 
I may deserve thee, spotless, o'er my breast.
--A. F. Van Bibber, Maryland.

