--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Gibbs, Gweneth collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 4 published: 1922-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Gweneth Gibbs, "George Washington," *Improvement Era* 25, no. 4 (February 1922): 350–351.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2504unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2504unse start_page: 350 end_page: 351 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2504unse publication_year: 1922 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # George Washington George Washington By Gweneth Gibbs Picture for a moment one of the bloodiest battles in the history of America; a battle between the Indians and the whites. Men falling on all sides; officer after officer being shot down. In the center of your picture place Washington, on his horse, giving orders to his men. Four horses fell from under him, twelve bullets pierced his coat, yet no one could hit him. Several years later an old Indian chief appeared at the home of Washington, and this was his remark: "I have come a long way to see Colonel Washington, for in the battle of the Monongahela, I singled him out from all the rest of the English, and fired my rifle at him fifteen times, directing my men to do the same; but no one could hit him. I was therefore persuaded that the Great Spirit protected the young man, and I ceased firing at him, and told my men not to harm him." This superstitious reverence was not alone confined to the red skins, but intelligent white men believed that he bore a charmed life. Although Washington was in many battles, and at times came in contact with great dangers, he was never wounded, leading one to believe that there was a divine care about his life. An interesting incident took place during Washington's childhood. His home in Virginia was only a few blocks from the shores of the Atlantic. It was his pleasure, day by day, to go down to the waters with his boy friends and watch the ships enter and leave the harbor. A love for the water grew upon him, until finally his one big ambition was to become a sailor. The thought displeased his mother, and she tried hard to dis- courage this growing desire. Then the day came when he pleaded once more with his mother to let him join the English navy. After her last refusal, he left home, heart-broken, and went to the shore to bid farewell to his more fortunate boy friends who were leaving as mid-shipmen. Returning home, his mother noticed his downcast ex- pression and asked: "Are you sorry that you have stayed at home to make your mother happy?" To which he replied: "Yes; mother, I am sad, but I should have been more sad had I gone with the knowledge that you were unhappy." This awakens within us a feeling of sympathy and admira- GEORGE WASHINGTON 351 tion for the young boy; yet, it is not impertinent to wonder how many of us will live out in our lives the good impulses that come into our hearts toward our own mothers, who ever yearn for the happiness which came to George Washington's mother when her son made such a reply. The chief aim of celebrating Washington's birthday should be to present stimulating ideals that may help each one of us in our development of good traits of character. Can we think of a more stimulating ideal in any great man than the unselfish de- votion with which Washington gave his life's service for his country? On leaving home in Virginia, he left all that was dear to him; his happiness was all buried with his loved ones. Many have criticized this great man, and said his work was all done for gain. But such people have judged only the outward actions, and have not known his real motives. During the four years of conflict with the mother country, he was thrown into many hardships, and his life was always in danger. Yet, willingly he served his country without pay. Was this sordid gain? And after these years, although he longed to get back to his home in Virginia, his country could not spare him. They needed him as a guide. He served four years as President and still four years more. At last he realized his dream of home coming. But it was not for long, because death soon called him. I might add that at one time of conflict, dur- ing his term of presidency, a break in the nation was feared. It was suggested by many that the country be turned into a mon- archy with Washington as its king. But this he firmly refused. Many times his work did not show forth his motive. But people would never have criticized had they known the sin- cerity of his motives. We should judge men by their pur- poses, and intentions— not alone by their actions. George Washington— how deeply that name has been revered in America, how highly it has been esteemed the world over. A typical tribute is the gift of Frederick the Great in the form of a sword on which was inscribed, "From the oldest general to the greatest." , But with all the esteem and reverence attached to the name of Washington, there is no people that can so appreciate -it .as the Latter-day Saints, knowing, as we do, what the Lord has said both in the Doctrine and Covenants and in the Book ot Mormon, concerning the beginning of our country .history. Must we not, all of us, think of George Wash^gton as one of those noble spirits, selected before the f^^^.^J world, to become a special instrument in the fulfilment of God's great purposes here upon earth?