The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-07-09
The Personal Appearance of Washington.

The Personal Appearance of Washington.
Correspondence Of the National In,silisencsr. .--
| saw this remarkable man four times,
1t was in the month Of November, 1893.
| first beheld the father Of his country.
Ii was very cold, the northwest wind
blowing down the Potomsc Mt George.
town. d. c. A troupe of light horse
from Alexandria escorted him to the
western bank Of the river. The waves
ran high, and the boat which brough,
him over seemed to labor considerably
Several thousand people greeted his ar
rival with swelling hearts and joyful
countenances the military were drawn
up in long line to receive MIN the off,
GERS, dressed in regimentsls, did him
homage. / was SO fortunate as to walk
By his side, aud had full view of him.
Although only about ten years Of age, the
impression his person aud manner made
on me is now perfectly revived. He VIA.
six feet and one inch high, broad and
athletic, with very large limbs, entirely
erect, and withons the slightest tendency
to STOPPING; his hair was white, and tied
with silk string his countcnance lofty,
masculine. and cousemplative his eyes
bril- ht gray. He was dressed in the
clothes Of a citizen, aud over these n blue
sursout, of the finest cloth. His weight
must have been 230 pounds, with no su-
perhuous flesh all was bone and sinew
and he walked like soldier, Whoever
has seen, in the Patent Office At Wash
ton, the dress he wore when resignisy
his commission ~ Commander i,,- Chief, |
in December. 1888, ut oace p-rceivcs
how large and magnificent was his frame
During the parade, something at a dis
tance suddenly attracted his attention ---
His eye was instantsncou,Iy lighted up,
as with the lightning's fash. At this
moment see its marvellous animation. its !
glowing FIRE, exhibiting strong passion,
controlled b. deliberatereason.
In the summer of 1899, | again sew
the chief. He rode purely white hor>e
seventeen hands high, veil proportioued,
of high spirit; he anos, seemed con.
scious tha. he bore on his back the Fs-
thcr Of his Country. He reminded me
Of the horse hose neck is clothed with !
thunder. | have seen some highly ac.
ccmpllshed riders, but none Of them ap.
preached Washington he was perfect in
this respect. Behind him, at a distance
Of perhaps forty yards, came Billy lee,
his body servant. who had peri.led his
life in many field, beginning on the
heights of Boston in ITS, and ending
in 1871, when Cornwaiis surrendered
and the captive army, with inexpressible
chngrin, laid down their arms at York.
town. Billy rode cream co!ored horse
of the fines, form, and his revolutionary
cooked hat indicated that its owner had
often heard the rear o. canuon aud small
arms, had encountered many trying
scenes. Billy was a dark mulat,o I'll.
master speaks highly Of him in his will,
and provides for his support.
A few months before his death, I be.
held thla extraordinary man for the last
time. He stopped ut the tavern opposite
the Presbyterian church in Bridge street.
Georgetown, At that time a regiment
of soldiers was stationed in their tents
on the banks of R,ck creek, and fire.
quen,ly attended Dr. Baichs church.
dressed in their costume, and powdered
after the revolutionary fashion at
teaded their parade almost cy'ry day,
and on one Of these occasions | rccccuiz.
ed Washingt q riding on hors sebaek. un
accompanied by any one. He was going
out to see his houses on Capitol Hi, as
! supposed They were burnt BY the
British in 1914. My youthful eye was
riveted on him until he disa opeared, und
that forever. | was surprised thr. he
did not once look at the parade; so far as
| could discover. Oh the contrary. he ap.
peared indifferent 'athe whole scene. 1t
has been my privilege TO see the best
likeness of the Chief. The one of all
others most resembling him, is that pre-.
fixed to the first volume Of Irving's Life
of Washington All the res, wanted
the animation which | perceived in his
features. In personal appearance, Wash
ington has never been equaled by any
man in the United States.