The Washington critic., 1886-09-02
w WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER ?, 1856
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


81. Nicholas the writer says: Washing
ton had constant applications from per.
sons who wished to write his life or
paint his portrait There was q sculp.
tor named Wright who undertook to
get n model of Washingtou's face.
Wright came TO Mt. Vernon" 50
Washington tells the story, with the
singular request that ! should permit
him TO take a model Of my face in
plaster of paris, TO which consented
with some reluctance. lie oiled my
features, and placing inc flat upon
my back upon cot, proceeded to
daub my face with the plaster
Whilst | was In this ludicrous attitude
Mrs. Washington entered the room,
and seeing my face thus oyerspread
with the plaster, involuntarily cx.
claimed. Her cry excited in me q
disposition to smile, which gave my
mouth slight twist, or compression
of the lips, that Is now observable in
the busts which Wright afterward
made A more successful sculptor
was lloudon, who was commissioned
by Virginia to make statue of Wash
ington. lie also took plaster model,
and the fine statue which he made
stands in Richmond. a portrait
painter named Pine also paid visit to
Mt. Vernon about this time with let
ter fromone of Washington's friends
TO whom Washington wrote during
Pines visit: "'ln for penny, In for a
pound, is an old adOgc. am so hack
neyed to the touches of the painters
pencil that | am now altogether at their
beck, and sit, like patience ON a mOnu.
ment,' whilst they arc delinGating the
lines Of my face. 1t is "A proof among
many others Of what habit and custom
can effect At first was impatient at
the request and as restivc under the
operation as colt is of the saddle.
The next time | submitted very re.
luctantly, but with less aouncing. Now
no dray moves more readily to the thill
than ! do to the painters chair. 1t
may easily be conceived, therefore,
that yielded ready obedience to your
request, and TO the views OF Mr. Pine"
~
Says the Brooklyn Times: The views
of Senator Colquitt Of Georgia on the
temperance question are shared in the
main by the great mass of Southern
Democrats, who, like himself, took a
leading part in the secession drama
and look for the destruction Of the Re-
publican party as essential TO the rcsto-
ration Of the Southern ascendancy in
American politics, which lasted almost
without break from the date of the
admission of Missouri into the Union
until the rebellion. Mr.. Colquitt was
elected to Congress in 1852. He was
an active member of the Secession Con-
vention that, against the entreaties of
Alexander II. Stephens, forced Georgia
into the rebellion; he served with dis.
tinction throughout the war in the
rebel army and has never faltered in
his fidelity to the principles of John
c. Calhoun, or in his faith in the final
triumph of the South. He is the bosom
friend of that staunch Democratic Pro
hibitionisb DR.. Talmage-whO always
votes the straight Democratic ticket
and advises his Republican friends to
vote Prohibition-and he is accustomed
TO make periodical visits to Brooklyn
to boom the Prohibition ticket in the
North.
4#a
General McClellan's book on the war,
of which the copyright is taken out in
the name of Ellen NJ. Mcclellan, the
Generals widow, will be issued about
December /, and the publishers expect
sale of at least 100 900 copies. The
Introduction to the volume was not
found until after the authors death. 1t
explains clearly and decisively why he
never replied to the criticisms of his
conduct. "The labor of years" he
says, .fn the preparation of my mem
oirs having been destroyed by fire, il
remains to recommence the tediou:
work and replace the loss as best
may. Fortunately my original papers
are preserved. | have no present in
tention of publishing anything during
my life time, but desire to leave for the
Sc Of my children, my own accoun
of the great events in which ii was my
fortune to take part. Therefore, shoul,
live to complete my work, 1t viii
probably be found too voluminou5 for
publication, and anticipate the neces
sity of judicious pruning to iii it for
public use. | have thus far abstalncl
from any reply to the various criticisms
and misrepresentation of which have
b,on the subject, and shall probably
preserve the same attitude the remain.
der Of my life Certainly, up to with
in brief period, party feeling has rul
so high mat the pathway for the trutl
has been well-nigh closed, and to,
many have preferred to accept blinlly
whatever was most agreeable 10 tne!I
prejudices, rather than to eNnmlnln.
facts. Moreover, during the civil Wa
never sought rank nor command
Whatever of that nature came tD N
came by force of circumstances auJ
with no effort of my Own. In Thu
performance of the duties thus throw
upon me, ! can, with a clear con
science, say that never thought o
myself or my own interests, but that
steadily pursued the course whic,
commended itself to me as best scry
ing the true interests Of my country
and of the gallant troops whom
had the honor to command, | have
therefore, been able TO maintain IA caln
front under abuse, und-whilc ia
from claiming immunity from error
have remained satisfied with the con
viction that after my death at least
my countrymeu will recognize the fac
that Loyalty served my country in II
darkest hour, and that Others, VIII
during their lifetime have beeA NOR
favored than myself, would problll
have done no better under the circuu
stances which surrounded me wleu
twice Mt least, saved the cpital, one
created and once reorgaaiI1l 4 gr9a
army"
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