The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-21
A Picture Of Custer.

Though not a scientist 10 physognomy,
| sought to study out the blonde, almost
boyish face of the young officer, observ-
ing both the features and expression with
close criticism. 1t was strange to think
this was Custer who had made himself n
man Of mark" among an army whose
commanders combined the skill, drill
and courage of this and other countries
he looked like a youth. l had my own
beau ideal of "a general of cavalry en-
bodied in our gallant, glorious, unsur-
passed Stuart, the very prince royal of
soldiers with his strikingly fine face and
form, his bold, brilliant, earnest eyes.
Here WAS the hero of another army -
alike the pride and idol of the people,
who admired and eulogized him in an
equally enthusiastic manner. They said
his rapid promotion was for gallant SER
vices" though yet so young in years.
Skill and courage counted high in the
deadly strife they were waging. My OBJ
servations and opinions of him would be
certainly impartial, and l resolved to try
and be also unprecedented. What l saw
wac this: A tall young man whose decided
y dashiug dress gave picturesque peculi-
arity to his appearance; with face full
of cerre and animation; clear cut, regu-
lar features; a nose somewhat severely
straight, with flexible, nervous nostrils
the compressed lips of an expressive
mouth, thin and finn shaded by blonde
mustache; the short, we'll curved chin,
we'll shaven. Under a high, broad brow
there cleaned and glowed eyes of a
clear, bright blue-strange scintillating
eyes they were, surging with expression,
full of lights and shadows, sparkling like
steel flashing like fire, or soflening
sometimes with kindly emotion. Back
from the brow were carelcssly tossed the
golden locks" he was noted for, of really
beautiful hair, that looked like child's
curls, they seemed so soft and silken-
utterly unlike ones imagination of what
pertained to warrior and altogether
uncommon. The tall, well proportioned
figure, straight, supple, muscular-some-
what thin, though in times of rest and
peace it might have been tuller-was dis
played and set off by the dress thar, rs
have said, gave IL peculiar picturesque
ness to his appearance. This was cav
airy Jacket Of dark blue or black velvet,
richly ornamented on the sleeves with
gold braid, shaped into what was called
the Hungarian knot" with shoulder
straps and buttons in the style belonging
to brigadier, generals. Then II fatigue
shirt of navy blue, with wide collar, out
lined with white braid, star embroid
cred in white ut each corner, turned over
u cravat of vivid scarlet silk. carelessly
I ed in sailor knot ut the throat. The
tout ensemble was effectively completed by
high cavalry boots drawn over ordinary
pantaloons of dark lead color, and a
black felt hat held in his hand, with wide
brim, decorated with a gold cord and
tas,e and long black plume. thought
he looked more like stage soldier or a
Spanish cduaiietro, except the blonde col
oring and could scarcely imagine any
one fighting fiercely in such dress,
though it seemed singulariy suitable to
the style of man was inspecting. One
has an abstract admiration for the spen-
did spotted skin of royal Bengal tiger
while safely contemplating his Gagged
beauty, though feeling the while there is
deadly power in the stroke of those dead
ly pads of paws that step so still and
softly up and down behind the iron bars
The fierce, beautiful brute carries death
in the clutch of those terrible claws, SO
subtly concealed in their furry covering
And as looked l knew that fine fancy
dress formed formidable foe; and in
voluntarily II swift shudder shook my
nerves when | thought of the death. deal.
ing work those sinewy white hands had
done, and yet were doing, to the cause
the country, the people loved and feared
for.-A,s. e. B. Washington, IN Phiia.
deiphia Times.