Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-14
WASHINGT0N'S PERSONAL APP
PEARANCE,

PEARAhCE.
" ashington, according to HOu.
dnn's measurements, was d fee: .
inches III height. He was a
giant IN size and physical strength.
Looking over the extensive col.
lection OF old letters aud memo.
randa relating to Washington, in
the pos SCI sion Of DR.. Joseph X.
Toner of Washington, who is now
engaged in editing WashlnRtOn's
diaries, says the Washington cor.
respondent of the New York Tri.
bane, found a copy of an inter
csting account Of WashingtOn's
personal appearance, written by
one who had seen him. 1t was q
letter penned by David AckersOn,
of Alexandria, Va, in 1911, in
answer to an inquiry by his son.
Mr.. Ackers0n commanded a com.
panl IN the revolutionary war.
"N ashlngton was not" he wrote,
what ladies would call pretty
nan, bat III military costume, a
heroic figure such as would I'm.
press the memory eyer atterward.r
The writer had II good view of
Washington three days before the
crossing of the Delaware.
"Washlugton," lie says, chad a
large thick nose, and 1t was very
red that day, giving me the i'm.
preston that be was not so mod.
crate in the use of liquors AZ he
was supposed to be. | found afte'.
ward that this was a peculiarlty.-
His nose was apt to turn scarlet in
a cold wind. He was standing
near small camp fire, evidently
lost in thought and making no
effort to keep warm. He seemed
six feet AMI half in height, was
as erect as all Indian, and did not
tor a moment relax from a military
attitude. WashingtOn's exact
height was 6 feet . inches in his
boots. lie was then little lame
from striking his knee against a
tree. His eye was 80 gray that it
/ looked almost white, and he had
troubled look on his colOrless face.
lie had piece of WOODEN tied
around his throat aud was quite
hoarse. Perhaps throat trouble
from which he finally died had its
origin about then. Washington's
boots were enormous. They were
No. Is. His ordinary walking
shoes were No. IL. His hands
were large in proportion, and he
could not bay glove to TT him
and had to have his gloves made
to order. His mouth was his strong
feature, :he lips being always
tightly compressed. That day
they were compressed 10 tightly as
to be painful to look at. At that
time he weighe 200 pounds and
there was no surplus flesh about
him. lie was tremeu dously mus
cled, and the fame of bis strength
was every where. His large tent
when wrapped up with the poles
was 80 heavy that it required two
men to place it in the camp wagon.
Washington would lit 1t with one
hand and throw 1t In the wagon
as easily as it it were pair of
saddle bags. He could hold a
musSet with one hand and shoot
with precision as easily as other
men did with a horse. pistol. His
lungs were his weak point and his
voice was never strong. He was
at that time in the prime Of life.
His hair was chestnut brown, his
cheeks were prominent, aud his
head was not large in contrast to
every other part OF his body, which
seemed large and bOny at all
points. His finger joints and wrists
were 80 large as to be genuine
curiosities. AS TO his habits at
that period | found out much that
might be interesting. He was an
enormous eater, bot WAS content
with bread and meat, If he had
plenty Of it. But hunger seemed
to put aim in il rage. 1t was his
custom 10 take a drink OF rum or
whiskey on awakening in the
morning. OF course all this was
changed when he grew old. saw
him AT Alexa udria 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 ct and
pushed his under lip outward"
Pride, like the magnet, constant
IL MONT TO one object, self; but,