New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
HOW wAsHINGToN LOOKED
THE PORTRAITS THE FATHER OF HIS coUN.
TRY SAT FOR
wAsHINeToN's sTATUEsoUE POSE AND A
. HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED DESCRIPTION OF
HIS OUTWARD APPEARANCE By ONE

Washington March 3o-Preparatlons are being
made here to send 20 New-York in time for the wash
ngton Centennial either photographs or the originals
of the most interesting Of the personal relics Of Wash
lngton treasured by the Government. There are In
this city several of tho original portraits. General
washington sat many times for hs portrait to different
artists. Tho most celebrated portraits Of HIM arc
those OF Stuart, Trumbull, and the Pesles. Tho first
portrait painted by Charles Wilson Peale was ex-
ecuted in 17T2. Washington was then Colonel In
the Virginia militia and In the portrait no is repro
sented wearing silver gorget engraved win the
royal arms such as was then worn By officers OF the
British service as a badge Of authority. feature
appearing in later portrait By the same painter after
the Revolutionary War, is blue sash or scarf said
to have been at the time tho insignia OF . Field
Marshal of France
Thcre has always been question whether pr not
Field Marshals baton ever conferred upon Wash
ngton by the King Of France Tho story IS that, as
matter Of etiquette, when Rochambeau and bis army
were directed TO cooperate with Washington as an
auxiliary force, Washington was made Field Marshal
Rochanibeau as a Lieutenant General could receive
orders only from the King in person or from Field
Marshal To save Rochambeau's dignity and Is a
recognition OF Washingtons leadership, the title was
conferred upon him. Certain poems In French and
other writings OF that day were dedicated or addressed
to "Le Mareschal Washington The late g. W. p.
Gusts, Of Arlington was authority for the statement
that Washington vested with that dignity by the
King Of France The. blue sash Is said BY some
chronicles to have been the insignia chosen BY wash
ington himself to distinguish the commander-in-ohlef
when he took command Of the army at Cambridge
Some persons to whom the idea OF Washington's &C
cepting title from foreign potontate while engaged
IN struggle TO establish liberty is repugnant bring
forward letter from washington acknowledging
poem dedicated to Marshal Washington in which
no disclalms the title.
The Houdon head of Washington, which has received
the approval Of the Government by being printed
upon postage stamps, Is tho standard head CO.
made by Houdon himself from his life-mask is now In
New York in the possession Of the daughter OF VIII
son Macdonald, the sculptor. 1t was preserved at
Mount Vernon for sixty years. In 1870 the late Clark
Mills brodght 1t to this city TO use IN modelling the
equestrian statue OF Washington for which he had re-
csived Q commission from Congress Mr. Mns sent
counterfeit back to Mount Vernon and kppt the
original lfe-cGst In his own possession until 1879,
when he presented il to Mr.. Macdonald from whom Il
passed 70 his daughters, This head Is o1quisitely
modelled, and is much finer and, is is said. moro
truthful than the head Houaon subsequently made
for the statue he was employed TO make for the Virginia
State House. The Virginia statue has been criticised
beosuse OF attempt by tho artist perhaps uncon-
scously, to Galieize the head and features, making
tho 1owls prominent, and perng mp the chin In the
manner familiar m portraits Of the French royalty
and nobility century ago The Houdon head In
NewYork Is all in plaster except the tip OF the cue,
which having beep broken of replaced with wax.
Houdon, who at tho time was Il tho height Of his
fame as a sculptor, was chosen by Thomas Jefferson
and BENJAMIN Franklin, then in Paris, to execute tho
statue which the Legislature of Virginia had orcred.
Ho eame TO America for the purpose and arrived at
Mount Vernon In October. 1875. He was Hospitality
entertained by Washington who took great interest
m all the details Of the sculptOPs work II Is said
Houdou sough. IN vain for several days to catch
Washington In a statuesque attitude, and finally al
most despaired. One day man eame to sell Wash
ington horse, and asked exorbitant prSce for n
Washington fired ZIP Indignantly, and in his anger as
sumed the attitude that Houdon wanted Tho sculptor
whipped out hB c-ayon and msde rapid sketch OF
Warrington as he denounced the horse jockey, Hou'
don not only secured cast OF WashngtonB head, BAT
also took back with him to France casts OF different
parts CeSis body and accurate measurements from lc
For hts work be rcceEed a thousand gufueAs and
penses He accepted tho order, II Is stated, the
promise Of HIS distinguished patrons that they would
exert their influence 20 for him the commission
for the equestrian statue which Congress had resolved
10 have made project which was not carried out tn
msny years had elapsed
1t may be we'll for washingtnn's memory and for
the standard OF art in America that the original plan
Of Congress, agreed 70 August :, 1885, TO have
equestrian statue OF Washington msdo, was not OK
of bronze the General 20 be represented in Roman
dress holding trllneheon in his right hand and his
head eneircled with a laurel wreath" The statue
to DO made I'm France, but IN American sculptor
named Joseph Wright was employed 10 secure life
cast Of the face. Wright was shy and troniblod
with awe whom In the great Washington's presence.
when he he'd removed tho mould from wsShIngton's
face In hls tcpidatou he lot IL M and II was broken.
Washington would not then permit second trial.
IL is supposed that wright gathered the fragments Of
tho broken mask and put than together. head
said to have been cast from tbs mask stood in ono
of the rooms OF the Capitol and It Is thought to have
been destroyed IN tho burning OF that building IN 1914
There are other heads cxtant Sd 90 have been modelled
on another lifecast made by Wright. Those heads
are distinguished By peculiat twist OF the mouth.
This is explained by statement made by Washington
himself to a member OF his family. When tho mould
was made the sculptor had Washington lie down upon
his back at full length cot. Then he oiled his
features and daubcd them over with plaster. Mrs.
Washington, who not apprisod Of tho proceeding.
entered Just as the sculptor had applied tho plaster,
and the sight was so unexpected and startling that
she gave an involuntary scream Washington, appro-
cisng the righteousness Of the situation, could hardly
control the muscles Of his tae and his effort to re-
press a smile has been recorded and pcrpetuated In
marble and bronze.
Washington, according to Houdon's meas,nemen~'
was SIX feet two inches in height Tic was giant In
siEo and physical strength. Looking tine extern
slye collection OF old letters and meoranda relating to
Washington in the possession Of Dr. Joseph NJ Toner
of tls city who Is now engaged in editing wasbineons
diaries, found copy OF interesting account OF
washing0n's personal appearance, written by one who
had seen him. 1t was letter penncd BY David AcEer'
son. Of Alexandra, Va in 1871 IN answer to an In
quiry by his son. Mr. Ackerson commanded COM
dany In tho Revolutionary War.
@washirgton was not" no wrote, what ladies'
would call pretty man, but in military costume,
heroic figure such would impress tho memory ever
afteFward.
The writer had a good view Of Washington three
days before the crossing Of the Delaware.
"washIngton,' no says, had large thick nose, and
It was very red that day, giving the impression
that he was not so moderate in the OF liquors as be
was supposed 10 be- found afterward that this was
peculiarly His nose was apt 10 turn scarlet In
cold wind. He was standing near small campfire
In effort 10 keep