Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-03-26
THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY.
How lie Looked To Contemporary
Eyes. His Personal Appear
ance And Peculiarities.

Perhaps tine most graphic description OF
Washington now extant is that contained
in a letter in the possession OF Benjamin
III. Ackerson, OF Raleigh, y. c., written by
David Ackerson, in the year 1911, to his
son William, then living in Laurens dis
trict, ;. c. David Ackerson, the writer,
lived for many years near Alexandria, and
was captain OF company m "a continental
regiment during the revolutionary war.
lie was intimately acquainted with Wash
ingtcn. This part of the letter, giving a
personal DESCRIPTION OF Washington, was
written at the request of his son, who had
a curiosity to know how the Father of his
Country looked Ii was as follows:
I'm the first place, you should know that
Washington was not what the ladies
call pretty man. Ii seems that fate has
destined handsome men for other purposes
than heroic endeayor. But IN military
costume he was "A splendid figure, such as
would impress the memory ever after
wards. The first time ! was ever brought
in contact with the great hero was three
days before the crossing OF the Delaware,
rs | have related To you before. lt was
under the most uniavorable circumstances,
as the weather was bitterly cold, ard a
fierce wind was blowing Washington
had large, thick nose, and 1t was very red
that day, giving me the impression that
he was not 80 moderate in his use OF liquor as
he was supposed to be. | found afterwards
that this was popularity. His nose was
apt TO turn scarlet in a cold wind. He
was standing near small camp fire, evil
IDENTIFY lost in thought, and making no
effort to keep warm. lie seemed six feet
and a-half high, and was as erect as an
Indian, and did not for moment relax
from a military attitude. Washington's 5
exact height was six feet two inches IN his
boots. lie was then little lame from
striking his knee against tree. His eye
was so gray that il looked almost white,
and he had a troubled look on his colorless
face. He had piece of woolen tied around
his throat, and was quite hoarse. Perhaps
the throat trouble from which ne died
had its Origin about that time.
SIZE AND STRENGTH.
"Washington's boots were enormous
They were No. T. His ordinary walking
shoes were No. IL. His hands were large
in proportion, and he could not buy a
glove to fit HIM, and had 10 have his gloves
made TO order. His mouth was his strong
feature, the lips being always tightly com
pressed That day they were compressed
81 tightly as 10 be painful to look at At
that time he weighed 300 pounds, and
there was no surplus flesh about him. He
was tremendously muscled, and the fame
of his great strength was everywhere. His
huge tent when wrapped mp with the
poles was so heavy that it required two
men to place IL IN the camp wagon. Wash
ington could lit IL with one hand, and
throw il into the wagon as easily a. if il
were a pair OF saddle-bags. He
could hold musket with one hand
and shoot with precision as easily
as other men did with a horse-pls;ol.
His lungs were his weak point and there
he was never strong. lie was at that time
in TIE prime of life His hair was a chest
nut brown, his cheeks were prominent and
his head was not large, IN contrast toeyery
other part of his body, which seemed large
and bony at all points. His finger joints
and wrists were so large as to he genuine
curiosities. As to his habits at that period
/ found out much that might DE interest
ing.
APPETITE AND HABITS.
"lIe was an enormous eater, but was
content with bread and butter, if he could
get plenty of it. But hunger seemed to
put him in a rage. Ii was his custom to
take drink of rum or whisky ON awaken
ing in the morning OF course, all this
changed when he grew old. saw him at
Alexandria year before he died. His
hair was very gray, and his form was
slightly bent. His chest was very thin.
He had false teeth, which did not fit, and