Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-28
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcH.I

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.I
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Just at this
time there is considerable interest felt in
the personal appearance of the Father Of
His Country. DR.. j. NJ. Toner, the editor
of Washington's diaries, has large collec-
ton of prints and engraved portraits Of
Washington, and a careful examination
and comparison of them would lead to the
conclusion that Americans of this day do
not know what Washington looked like.
Portraits from life were made of WashS
ington by upwards of 40 artists, and no two
of the faces are alike. Among some Of these
alleged likenesses there is no resemblance
at all. Elizabeth Bryant Johnston, who
spent much time in searching out the orig
inal portraits of Washington, concludes
that no artist succeeded in producing an en-
tirely satisfactory portrait. The only way
to settle the matter, perhaps, is to nave
composite photograph made of the
whole SERIES The result would probably
be something like the real Washington,
AS it is, Americans, with pardonable pride,
have clung to and perpetuated the hand"
soonest faces that appear on these canvases,
the dignifed, serene, majestic countenances
painted by Stuart and Peale, and the god
like head nodded by Houdon. Some of the
portraits, and even the quaint shadow pct,
ures made by Nellie Custis, after Washing.
ton finally retired 10 Mt. Vernon, represent
the Father of His Country with an smple
double chin.
HIS BIRTHDAY FIRST CELEBRATED.
In looking over old records relating to
TrT- =. = Al Il -
first public celebration of his birthday was
held at the court house of Talbot county,
Virginia, in 1888. The day celebrated was
the 11th Of February, as that was the day
he was born according to the old style Of
reckoning which had not then gone out Of
vogue. The 22d was first substituted and
first publicly celebrated in Philadelphia in
1871.
1t was a Philadelphian who panied
Washington perhaps oftener than any other
portrait painter. This was Charles Wilson
Peale, artist, soldier, promoter of science
and the first American manufacturer of en-,
ameled teeth. Peale fought under WashA
ington, and spent much of his time when not
fighting in making portraits of his distin+
gnished leader. He may also have made
the set OF false teeth that dis6gured Wash-
ington's eountenance in the latter
years of his life. He painted
the picture of Washington at Princeton
College. A ball from one of Washington's
cannons entered the college building at the
battle of Princeton, but did no damage
further than the destruction of portrait Of
George the Second. Washington gave so
guineas from his own pocket to pay for the
damage. The trustees of the college devoted
this sum to securing portrait of Washing
ton to replace the picture destroyed.
The old city Of Alexandra, opposits
Washington, teens with memories Of Wash
ington. Its streets, now grass-groWn, and
its wharves and warehouses, now fallen
into decay, were in Washingion's time
bristling with trade that promised great
future to the city.
APuLAR OF THE CHURCH.
Washington was one of the first Vestrymen
chosen when the parish Of Fairfax was ere
ated in 1765, and the pew he occupied in old
Christ Church is still shown to visitors.
Some of the old records of the parish are in
teresting. In 1866. for instance, the sexton
received an annual salary of 500 pounds Of
tobacco. When it was desired to build
new church the vestry ordered q levy upon
the people Of the parish of 81, ,185 pounds Of
tobacco for the purpose. Upon the complies
ton of the new church in February, 1773,.
Colonel George Washington purchased pew
No. for the sum of e36 10s., the highesk
price paid in those colonial days.
In consequence of the relation then exc,
listing between church and State, the fune.
tion of the vestry extending to q variety Of
matters. The church wardens bound apA
prentices to their masters, and the record
shows fines paid to them for deer killing out
of season, for gaming and for hunt-
ing on the Sabbath. In this parish
women came to the 'front.' for in 1776
the sexton was a woman named Susannah
Edwards, who ushered the members
of the congregation up the tile paved aisles
to the seats allotted to each Sin according to
dignity" In 1910 the name of Mrs. Cook
appears as sexton. She filed the Office until
1921, when she was retired on an annuity.
II is related that she used to lock the pare
ishioners into their pews and patrol the aisle
with military air. alert to detect and prompt
to suppress any violation OF order. Near
George Washington's pew the visitor is
shown one that was occupied by General
Robert E. Lee, whose memory is held By
Viginians in scarcely less reverence than
IL IT..