an oration. The Latin eulogy did not attract that attention in the newspapers which some of the classical inhabitants of old Boston considered was its due, and a few days later a subscriber signing himself "Classicus Americanus wrote a polite note to the editor of the "Independent Chronicle " asking him "to publish the universal sentiment of those who have a competent knowledge of the Latin tongue and who heard or have perused the address of President Willard. Their judgment is that the address is a specimen of correct, classical, and beautiful Latin composition; that it is remarkably appo site, sentimental, and pathetic; that it displays the prominent features of the character celebrated in a concise yet accurate and forcible manner; in short, that it reflects honor both on its venerable author and the Seminary over which he presides." President Willard's oration and the sermon were published in pamphlet form, but the declamations of the students are buried in oblivion, as they "modestly declined giving copies of their performances for the press." It was no new thing for the young men of Harvard to celebrate the birthday of the Father of his Country, as is seen from an interesting notice in a local newspaper of 1798: "The sons of our University never let slip an opportunity of doing honor to the character they so much admire. In one of the circles met to celebrate the birthday of the Hero of Mt. Vernon, among other toasts was the following: George Washington; a man brave without temerity, laborious without ambition, generous without prodigality, noble without pride, and virtuous without secrecy. Three cheers in pantomime for fear of disturbing the peace." Many other college presidents contributed their share to the Washington memorials called forth by the church services on February 22. Timothy Dwight, the versatile President of Yale, who had seen active service in the Revolution as an army chaplain, was requested to preach the birthday sermon before the citizens of New Haven. President Samuel Stanhope Smith, of Princeton, delivered an address in the State House at Trenton, N. J. The Rev. James Madison, President of William and Mary College, and also Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, preached a sermon in Williamsburg that was afterwards widely published, being honored with a London edition. In New York the faculty and students of Columbia College were advised by their President, William Samuel Johnson, to take an active part in the Washington memorial parade on December 31, 1799, which closed with religious exercises in St. Paul's Church, and an oration by Gouverneur Morris. All classes sought to honor the memory of Washington: No town was so small that it did not give visible expression to its grief, and a multitude of instances might be related revealing the different methods employed in the services on that memorable day in February one hundred years ago. The birthday orations and sermons were published by the score in pamphlet form, some of the better ones being printed in half a dozen cities at the same time. Indeed, it was weeks before this deluge of Washington literature showed signs of abating. Brief mention must be made of one of this large number now so completely forgotten. It is unique in being the only public tribute to Washington from the Negro race. The Rev. Richard Allen, pastor of the African Methodist Church in Philadelphia, while preaching his memorial sermon, dwelt particularly upon that clause in Washington's will whereby provision was made for freeing all the slaves at Mount Vernon. In referring to the country's loss he said: "We, my friends, have peculiar cause to bemoan our loss. To us he has ever been the sympathizing friend and tender father. He has watched over us and viewed our degradation and afflicted state with compassion and pity; his heart was not insensible to our sufferings. He, whose wisdom the nations revered, thought we had a right to liberty. Unblasted by the popular opinions of the State in which is the memorable Mount Vernon, he dared to do his duty and wipe off the only stain with which man could ever reproach him. If he who broke the yoke of British burdens from off the neck of the people' of this land was hailed his country's deliverer, by what name shall we call him who secretly and almost unknown emancipated his bondmen and bondwomen, and became to them a father and gave them an inheritance ?" WASHINGTON'S EXITYS PROB COAT OF ARMS OF STATE JOHN HAY, in his management of the foreign SECRETARY the United States, has achieved solid and permanent diplomatic successes. In gaining from the Great Powers their assent to the principle of the open door" for China, in obtaining from Great Britain a declaration that provisions should not be seized as contraband unless it was proved that they were destined for the enemy's army, and in advancing the cause of international arbitration at The Hague, Secretary Hay has helped to make this Administration memorable. His career, since he came with President Lincoln from Springfield to Washington to act as private secretary, has been full of varied public services and political activities. He held in turn at Paris, Vienna, and Madrid important diplomatic offices; his appointment as Ambassador to Great Britain by President McKinley was accepted by Americans without regard to party affiliations as almost beyond criticism. In London he had the best possible training for the duties of the office he now holds; and in London he did an immense deal to make possible the present friendly understanding between the two great English-speaking countries. In journalism and literature, as well as in diplomacy, Colonel Hay has attained distinction; his "Life of Lincoln," his "Castilian Days," and his "Pike County Ballads " could hardly lie in more diverse fields of literary work, and each in its own way has force and has made a distinct impression on the reading public; while his editorial work on the New York "Tribune" during a critical period was marked by intelligent and wise direction. F The Village of Jean François Millet By Clifton Johnson With Illustrations by the Author NEW places in the world are more closely associated with names of genius than is Barbizon with the name of Jean François Millet. To think of him and of his work is at once to recall this little peasant village near Paris on the borders of the Forest of Fontainebleau. But though we know of Barbizon as Millet's home and the place where he painted all of his most famous pictures, he was born far away on the western coast, and for many dragging, unsuccessful years in the earlier part of his career he lived in Paris. Indeed, he did not desert the city for the country until he had reached the age of thirty-five, and then only by reason of his being driven out by an epidemic of cholera. Barbizon was chosen as a refuge because it was not too far away, and because it already was to some degree a resort of painters, notable among whom was Theodore Rousseau. The village was then very humble and poor. Few strangers ever entered BOUND FOR THE MOWING its seclusion, and the little group of artists were the only outsiders. It was a plain farming community, without a church, without a hotel, without anything to give it publicity. It has changed since, and though most of its permanent inhabitants are still farmers, it is no longer the place to seek for rural retirement. Since the death of its half-starved artists, its fame as their abode has become a lodestone that draws worshipful tourists from all parts of the earth. Another attraction, and one which appeals more powerfully to the general public and does more to build up the growing reputation that Barbizon now has as a pleasure resort, is the fact that within easy access are some of the wildest and most beautiful parts of the Forest of Fontainebleau. This brings to the place people of all sorts and conditions, and the majority of them care little or nothing for Millet, or Rousseau, or any other artist. They are usually wholly intent on excursions and picnics in the Forest, and the woodland ways are always enlivened by pedestrians, by people driving or on bicycles, and by many automobiles spinning along the smooth, hard main roads with their peculiar throb and clatter. .The region has adapted itself to the needs of the crowd, and there are restaurants here and there in the Forest, several big hotels have interpolated themselves among the cottages and farm-houses of the village, and the engines of a steam tramway go creaking and puffing through the one long, narrow street at frequent intervals. This tramway connects the village with the railroad eight miles distant, and it is regarded as an improvement over the omnibuses it supersedes, though the speed |