Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-10
WashingtOn's Teeth.

The Father Of his Country had only
one false thing about him. That was \
set OF false teeth. OF these he wore a
double set. | have them in one hand
while writing you these lines with the
other.
That Washington wore false teeth, and
that they were very roughly made, will
explain some things in regard to the ex.
preston OF his cOuntenance, which has
been the subject of discussion. There Is
marked difference in the mouth as rep
resented in the Peale portrait, and in the
Stuart portrait, which has given the most
general impression to the world of the
style of face. In Stuart's portrait, and in
all the engravings made from it and re-
peated by millions, there is projecting
upper lip, giving an expression of pout-
ing which Washington himself did not
like, because il was not natural to him.
Gen. &. b. Mcclellan has the original
of medallion head OF Washington
which the illustrious man preferred so de-
cidedly that he presented il to Mrs. Nor
ris, with the following words in note:
"The Presidents compliments accom-
pany the inclosed to Mrs Morris"
This portrait has been elegantly en-
graved under the direction of the late
Secretary of War. 1t shows no projec-
ton OF the upper lip; the mouth is firm
and symmetrical, and the appearance Of
tullness, as in the other, is wanting.
These differences in the expression are
easily explained by the fact that Washing.
ton lost all his teeth; had set of arti.
fetal teeth made; they were clumsy and
irksome, so that it is quite likely they
were sometimes worn and often not; that
the position Of the lips was taken as they
appeared at various times; and the whole
expression varies with that Of the mouth,
which is more an index of the mind than
any other portion OF the human counte-
nance. Try the experiment, and see for
yourself what difference it makes as you
compress or extend the lips
Observe that Washington specifics the
pouting expression as the result of these
badly fitting teeth. And to look at thera,
the wonder is that any man ever held
them in his mouth five minutes. The
teeth are bits OF bone, scarcely trying to
look like teeth, attached TO gold plate,
with strips riveted across to strengthen
the teeth in place: while coiled wire at
the end OF the jaws makes a spring, and
assists In opening and closing the ma.
chine. They are rs near TO the perfect
work of our day in this line, as the old
windmill telegraph to a Morse instru-
ment. The Baltimore Dental College
has obtained possession of them, and Drs.
}. Allen Il Son, of this city, preparing a
case Of their workmanship for exhibition
at the Centennial in Philadelphia, have
secured the loan of them to put into the
foreground Of their magnificent display,
that the present generation may see what
the Father of his Country endured in the
times that tried mems souls. He must
have been a man Of exemplary patience
and fOrtitude to have borne with these
things in his mouth. AS to eating with
them, or talking with them in, it would
seem impossible, but it is PROBABLE they
answered the purpose very we'll, for it is
not always the handsomest looking ma
chine that does the best work.-Irsn0us.
tn N. Y. Observer.