Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-19
April 10 1852 NO 9
NO. 90.

yesterday afternoon. The old gentleman
with his long white hair and beard sat at q
desk near a comfortable fire, examining his
papers, while near At hand. in an easy chair,
sat his wife, with waving white locks rolling
down her temples from beneath laced and
friiled white cap. With her gold-rimmed
spectacles over her nose she sat and sewed.
Thus they were when the visitor was intro
duced by Mrs. Cuthbert. He, 90 years old,
still hearty and hale and smiling; his wife, at
the age of s., as spry almost as her daughter
Immediately upon entering the room the old
gentlemen arose and shook hands with the
writer and handed him chair. Being Ques-
toned in regard TO his acquaintance with
Washington, MIR. Jones said: II did not
know him intimately. but he was firm
friend of my father. who lived in new York in
those days. When Washington came to town
he invariably sought out my father, DIR. Jones.
and went about the city in his company.
was attending school in 1929 at DIR. Steen-
backs school, when Gen. Washington, in
company with NV father, visited the school.
went up 20 both of them, when nv father.
speaking to the distinguished looking gentle
man, said, This is my son, sir, and to me:
Charles, this is Gen. Washington l held
out my hand and the General grasped II
heartily My father and General Washington
then departed, hut before going the General
placed his hand on my head and kissed me,
after which he gave me his blessing. I had
of course heard of General Washington At
the time, but did not fully appreciate, until
long wears aiterward, the honor conferred
upon me"
In small frame there hung upon the wall
letter which Mrs. Cuthbert took down and
! handed to the genial old gentleman, who
handed it to the reporter for inspection, say
ing, That's u genuine autograph letter of
Gen Washington's.' The paper is yellow,
and the creases still remain marked as il was
folded by the General when delivered to the
postboy On two pieces of paper are two
separate pieces of writing; one the super
scrption. thus doctor Jones !" and the invi-
tation, thus "Gen. Washington presents his
compliments to DIR Jones, and requests the
favor of his company at dinner this day four
o clock, Monday, 9th May" There is but
one blot or blur upon the letter, and that IL
over the word "Dr. !" the ink is still very
black and the invaluable relic is exceedingly
well preserved.
Mr.. Jones went into many "reminiscences,
showing the reporter copy of the New York
Times, containing an account of the tearing
down of the house in whiehi lived his great
grandfather; 'On the corner of Wall and
Nassau streets, New York, where now stands
the United States assay Office, stood the court
house, two stories high, from the second
story of which General Washington deliv.
cred his first inaugural address, while the
people thronged the streets for squares
around" Here the old gentleman took from
drawer two pictures done in oil upon ivory.
One he handed the reporter, saying, "rhats
a picture Of my father; it is lag years old"
The painting is excellent, and DIR. Jones,
from the picture, appears to have been much
the same kind of man as George
Washington. 1.-The other picture is one
of my sister. who was one OF the most
remarkable women, rs she retained her early
beauty all her life. An amusing incident oc-
CURED one day as was walking along Broad
way, New York, with her. She was 60 years
old at the time, and one of the many gentle
men who passed remarked loud enough for
me to overhear him: "Isn't that a pretty
girl with that old gentleman ?'' Indeed. she
must have been rare beauty, judging from
the picture, which, Mr.. Jones remarked
rather lightly, was only 20 years old. II
have known or seen nearly all the great men
of my country--Washington Adams, JefIer-
son, Madison. | knew all the presidents
down to Millard Fillmore, and am honored
in having lived under every President so far
81 LoUis Republican.