Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-12

with the champion, the struggle was fierce but
momentary, for, said the vanquished hero of the
arena, in Washiugton's hon-lkc grasp | be-
came powerless, and was hurled to the ground
with force that seemed to jar the marrow in
my bones; while the victor, regardless Of the
shouts that proclaimed his triumph, lcisurely
retired TO his shade, and the enjoyment of his
fayorite volume.
The power of Washington's arm was dis
played in several memorable instances In his
throwing stone across the Rappahannock ri
yer below Fredericksburg, another from the bed
cfthe stream TO the top of the Natural Bridge
and yet another over the Palisades into the
Hudson. While the late and venerable G. H.
Peal was at Mount Vernon in l772, engaged
in painting the portrait OF the provincial Colon
el, some Young men were contending in the ex-
crcise cfpitching the bar. Washington looked
on for time, then, grasping the missile in his
master hand, whired the iron through the air,
which took the ground far, very far, beyond a
ny of It's former limits--the Colonel observing
with smile, 'Gou perceive, young gentlemen
that my arm yet retains some portion of the vi
gor of my earlier days" lie was then in his
i1rieth year, and probably in the full meridian
of his physical powers; but these powers be-
came rather mellowed than decaycd by time,
for "his agc was like a lusty winter, frosty yet
kindly" and mp TO his siXty-cighth year, he
mounted a horse with surprising agility, and
roGc with case and gracciulness of his Better
days His personal prowcss that ELECTED the
admiration ofa people who have nearly all pas
scd from the stage Of life, still serves as mo,
del for the mauhood OF modern times
With all its development Of muscular power.
the form of Washington had no appearance of
bnIklness and so harmonious were lis proper
tlons that he did not appear so passing tall as
his portraits have represented. He was rather
spare than fall during his whole life this is
readily asccrtaincd from his weight. The last
time he weighed was in the summer of 1889,
when having made the tour of his farms, ac-
companied by an English gentleman, he called
at his mill and weighed. The writer placed
the weight in the scales. The Englshman,
not so tall, but stout, square built, and leshy,
weighed heavily, and expressed much surprise
that the General had not outweighed him, when
Washington observed that the best weight of
his best days never exceeded from 90 to 220
In the instance alluded to he weighed little
rising 2lO
OF the portraits of Washington, the most OF
them give to his person a fullness that it did
not possess, together with aR abdominal en-
largcment greater than III the life, while his
matchless limbs have in but two instances been
faithfully portrayed. In the equestrian by
, Trumbull of 1870, a copy of which Is in the CT
ty Hall of New York, and in an engraving BY
Losier, from painting by Cogniet, French ar,
fists of distinguished merit. The latter is moi
an original painting, the head being from
Stuart, but the lineation of the limbs is the
most perfect cXtaEt
OF the remarkable degree of awe and rcvcr
encc that the presence OF Washington alway,
inspired, We shall give one out of Que thousant
instances. During the cantonment Of the \
merlcan army at the Valley Forge, some ofl
GERS of the 18th Pennsylvania regiment were
engaged ina game of fves. In the midst o
their sport they discovered the Commandcr-in
chicfieaning upon the enclosure and behold
ing the game with evident satisfaction. In q
noinent all things were changed. The bal
was suffered to roll idly away, the gay laugl
and Joyous shout of excitement were hushed in
to profound silence, and the officers were