Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-27
Chief Maei7.ra.es.

THE PERSONAL APPEARANCES OF THE MEN
wHoU HAVE OCCUPIED THE PRESIDENTIAL
CHAIR.
The Presidents of the United States
were generally men of coed personal APP
pcarance. The extremes i'll point OF stat
ure were in Polk and Lincoln lat
ter of whom was six feet fonr, while the
former was little more than hive 1eet
three. Van Buren, was also small man.
The first four were men of much dignity.
Concerning Washington nothing need he
added on this point. He was the beau
ideal of manly beauty. even IN his latter
davs, and when Stuart undertook 10
paint his portrait, the artist was so over
come by the majesty of his patrsn that
at first he was unable to proceed with his
task. John Adams lacked Washington
noble stature and grandeur OF mien, but
he was n man Of much dignity. Jefler-
son was of noble personel-tall, we'll
built, and of imposing appearance. Mad
ison had merely respectable look. and,
being dressed in black, presented much
the appearance of II clergyman. Monroe
and Washington were the only Presidents
that served in the field during the revolu-
ton. They were together ut Trenton,
where Monroe was a Lieutenant and re-
ceived a ball which he carried through
life. He was the last of the revolution
arv Presidents, and Wore the cooked hat
acd Continental uniform which became
him to remarkable degree. John
Quincy Adams, like his father, was
stout. thick-sct and deficient in point of
stature. jackson was tall and gaunt,
with bristing hair, high check bones,
and nervous but defiant corntenance.
Van Buren, lacked personal dignity in
every point, and indeed was the most
deficient of all our Presidents in ply
sique except Polk. Harrison was a man of
much personal dignity. Tyler was a
spare faced man, with n long, thin nose,
which gave him comical appearance
1t was his station rs President that won
the hand of the rich woman, Mrs. Gardiner,
rather than any personal attraction. Polk
was, us has been said, a small man, with
a cold, repulsiye countenanrr, and hard,
staring pair Of eyes that were sinSularly
free from ANYTHING Ike kindly genial
look,
TAYLOR was heavy built man, with Il
rough visage, as might have been expect
cd OF one whose life was passed on the
frontier. He was bred soldier, and
loved the service His face had Il pleas
ant smile Mt times, but was often impress
sed with the stern character of Il military
life. Fillmore had II lymphatic counte-
nancc-dull, except when lit up 10y busl-
ness or pleasure. He was agreeable i'll
society and interesting i'll conversation,
to degree much beyond his predeces-
sors. lie was of more than average
size, and of proportions which suggested
dignity, if not elegance. Buchanan was
dull old gentleman, whose white chok-
er suggested the clerical order. His
countenance, however. showed that he
was not man Of progress, and rather
suggested the fossil order of intellect.
Lincoln WAS in shape the most uncouth
of all the Presidents. He did not, 1t is
true, have the vul"ar aspect Of Andy
johnson, but there were such I'M
gainly manners and such length Of limb
that 1t WIS mucl against his personal ap-
pearance His cUmmtrnance was sugges-
tive of deep thought, and an expression
Of deep melancholy gave it an air of re-
finement, but it had none Of the artific
ial polish of modern society. Destitute
Of culture, it was rich i'll native grace
for, as has been well remarked Mr.
Lincoln hid all the instincts of gentle
man." Andy Johnson had, as has been
suggested, countcnance which was es-
sentially vulgar. The expression did not
indicate poverty or toll, but narrowness
of mind and bitter prejudice. lie and
Polk were the worst looking of the entire
Presidential coteric Grants counte
nance is too familiar to need comment.
Though destitute Of what is called ''cul-
iur., it is suggestive of power. and also
Indicate, hinIly disposition. Hayes Is
fine looking mnn. and Garfield y colnte-
nance needs no further reference.