, 1878-03-01
A Picture OF Custer.

boyfsh Iace of the young officer, obsery.
ing both the features and expression with
close cri,ici,m. II WAS strange to think
this wRs Custer who had made himself n
man of mark" amosg 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 u general OF cavalry EN-.
bodied in our gallant, glorious, unsur.
passed Stuart, the very prince royal Of
soldiers with his strlkingly fine face and
form, his bold, brilliant, earnest eyes.
Here was the hero of another Amy -
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 wsging. My Oh.
serva,ions and opinions of him would be
certainly impartial, snd I resolved to try
and be also unprejudiced. What l saw
was this: A tall youpgman whose decided.
ly dashing dressgave u picturesque peculi-
arity to his appearance; with face full
of perre and animation; clear cut, regu-
lar features; nose somewhat severely
straight, with flexible, nervous nostrils
the compressed lips of an expressive
mouth, thin and firm, shaded by blonde
mustache; the short, well curved chin,
we'll shaven. Under 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 soflcning
sometimes with kindly emotion. Back
from the brow were carelcssly tossed the
golden locks" he was noted for, of realy y
beautiful hair, that looked like child's
curls, they seemed so soft and, silkenr7
utterly unlike ones imagination of what
pertained to warrior and altogether
uncommon. The tall, we'll proportioned
figure, straight, supple, muscular
what thin, though in times of rest and
peace it might have been fuller--was dis
played and set off by the dress that as |
have said, gave peculiar picturesque
ness to his appearance. This was a 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 biigadier.genersls. Then 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
ed in a sailor knot at 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 gold cord and
tas,eI and long black plume. thought
he lroked more like stage soldier or a
Spanish cdUGLletr0, except the blonde col
oring, and could scarcely imagine any
one lighting fercely in such a dress,
though it seemed singulariy suitable to
the style of man was inspecting. One
has an abstract admiration for the splen.
did spotted skin Of a 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, sc
subtly concealed in their furry covering
And as ! looked knew shat fine fancy
dress formed formidable foe; and in,
voluntarily 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.-Ars. e. B. Washington, IN Phiia
detphta Times. -