The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-28

the Nlil@ anu tHiNhAh AN' i''''.'
Fairfax than 10 have witnessed all inc
IDENTITIES and ceremonial OF the semi
regal court i'm Philadelphia. \ rldicu-
lous notion once got abroad that ash
inrton was never seen 10 smile alter ne
took command of the army; and so
nrrsistent has the impression been thai
neople DO not like 10 be de-
nriyed of the dismal pleasure of
believing il now. II is well known that
ne frequently INDUCED in laughter, al.
though habiiuallv 40 taciiurn, reserved,
and thoughtful lie could not resist CON
sidcrahlv more than smile. upon one oc-
ca,ion. about the time of the battle oi
Monmouth. when his own hody-soryant
I'm company with others, undertook %
initiate the commander in chief and his
stan hy pretending tO fcconnoltrc the
enemy from ncighboIing elevation ON
horseback. and using the Generals own
fcld-rhss. OF course the enemy were
attracted by the movement and soon
gave the adventurous group an artillery
salute which caused such a sudden and
ridiculous discontinue as 90 excite the
ri.iblcs of the General himself
Colonel Scanned one of bis and. de-
camps. was q considerable wag. had al
WAYS fund of anccdOfe, and a quaint,
gorcible way OF expressing himself which
often amused his chief. lie frequently
IN lulrel his Jokes. II not i'm the actual
presence. certainly within hearing OF
close hcaduuartcrs. 10 was noticed that
although no hilarious laughter followed
these sallics of the rollicking aid, they
were. nevertheless, duly acknowledged
hv the brightest and blandest Of smiles
OF course every one has heard how
consuming was his wrath II there were
occasion for t. The famous interview
between Washington and General Charles
Lee at the repulsc at Monmouth BIAS re-
coived many versions. The writer was
4hc recipient of one which came almost
directly from one of the witnesses OF
that incident and which. although not
differing materially from the accounts
generally given. /. worth referring 90.
ON that memorable occasion. as We have
10. Washington had just seated himself
40 the foot of "a pefsimmon tree. op
pressed and weared by heat and thirst
The weather was hot and dry. lie
had requested Dragon tO bring him 20
canteen of wafer ron neighhoring
spring and the soldier vas in the act OF
handing 20 tO him when suddenly he
noise and dust and clamor of Lee we
treating men attracted his attention. lie
instantly seemed to forget all about the
water. and. rising to Dos feet, uttered
-uou words as. Wcarc told, almost caused
tlc very leaves on the tree to tremb'e iol
fear. Just at that moment lee rode up,
and those standing intentionally near
the Two Thought 30 best to withdraw to 70
more respectful distance
Much has been written in regard to
the portraits and other representations
of Washington features and person.
The late publications in this direction
seem tO have added t0 lisf already sur
Dri-inglv long Doubtless they All have
merits peculiar % the period of life at
which they were taken. and the taste of
fhc artist who executed them But,
even 40 This late day and with ail those
advantages. there is NOT in existence
-nch satisfactory representation OF thc
founder ot this country as should Doe
acknowledged a- the national portrait
of Washington.
Although the depicter- of Napoleon
fhc Great have rigaIled in numbTs those
OF Washington. and. although they too.
have succeeded iu making faithful. rep
ic.cnia'ions of his appearance 100 Diff
fcront periods of his life. yet the world
BIAS been taught t0 recognize the form
md features 0f thc great Emperor in the
historic green uniform and gray s1urtout
of the victor of Auster.iv as he stands
rlling with an Nious eye upon the event
which is 20 decide crisis iu Dis
destiny From canvass 30 Was suisse
quenty raised fO the dignity of -culp-
lure. and even IN these republican
times stand, elevated upon O. lofty
column in the midst of the gay Capital
still the tuteAry deity of the French
people
So should 30 be with some realistic ne
mindcr OF our Incompatible Washing
tom Instead of This. portrait from tlr
pom ii of Gilbert Stuart. which discovers
thc weakness of seni.ity and thc det0rm
Iiics of bad dentistry. is allowed to ap-
pear and rcappear imposed upon official
stamps and public muniment- until thc
II. . n
fbe distorted feature, of miserable
caricature In place of the strong. im-
pre--ire vi.aec SD characteristic of the
Washington family. The truth must bee
said. that the only appropriate and real
rcproducfion of the great Nirginnn'.
form and features +. to Doe found in the
C,pitol I'm chi. city When. ion October
1855 NJ Uoulon. the fir.t sculptor of the
oty came over with Dr Franklin. aud
affera lone min across the Atlantic. an
rived safely at Mount Vernon. he came.
NOT fo make.a faucy,ket,h. bat "a perfect
and exact c0pg of The iuu-tri0us man
who there received and gmci0u-ly enter
famed him. one of the late writers on
this subject condesCend- tO admit
that the great French artist after TWO
weeks work under the eye of bis host
and other inmates OF Mount crnOu,
finally made "A "typical Washington per.
feeied bv the eeniu. of The French .culp-
tor" and thcn adds. "N sustils al
lo5L uLn" Ideal indeed Perhaps in
all the world of art portaiture there is
not more exact copy OF the person
and expression of the original than
{, this peerless statue How could