The herald., 1895-11-11
SELLING WASHINGTON RELICS

One OF the largest collections Of WASH
ington relics in this country has been on
exhibition at a leading jewelers. in this
city for several days. 1t is for sale. 1t
is the property of Mrs. George Goldsbor.
ough of Baltimore, Md, who Is a great
great-granddaughte OF Martha Washing
ton.
Mrs. Goldsborough is widow and
more than 70 years OF age. She is
possessed of great deal OF money, and
some of her Baltimore neighbor have
taken it upon themselves to criticise her
for selling piecemeal q collection of arti-
Giles of historical interest that should be
kept together. AS Mrs. Goldsborough is
the absolute owner of the relics, and as
at least some of them have been offered
for sale to the government and refused.
it is difficult to SEE the justice Of THESE
criticisms.
One of the chief objects of interest IL a
small, half-leneth pastel portrait OF
George Washington. done by Sharpless OF
Philadelphia, not long bafore the patri-
OTIS death. 1t represents his cOuntenahce
aslmild and genial. There is no trace Of
and solemnity ascribed to Washington
by some of his portrayers. The face is
that OF Kindly, broad minded man,
whose age is indicated by the expression
of ripe benevolence rather than by
wrinkles. The hair is gray, powdered
almost 10 Gue ueRTe6 VI WultcucSss uo
father of his country is shown as wear.
ing thick side whiskers, closely cut and
extending but little below the ears. Tho
whisk crs are gray. The cheeks are deli
cately pink. On the Jack of the ancient
gilded frame pieces of several very old
Boston newspapers bave been pasted, one
above the other. Pasted upon these is o
sheet of thick note paper, once white,
perhaps, but now as brown as coffee. On
this is written:
This is an original portrait of General
Washington, taken in 1897. 1t was
painted by Mr.. Sharpless d is an exact
likeness, except the complexion.
'Gsnl Washington was very fair, with
light brown. almost auburn hair. He
had not black beard. He had artificial
teeth, but so well fitted that they did not
dis6gure his mouth.
Ellis hair was thin, cropd & drest,
with powder and pomatum in this pro.
tile.-Eliza P. Custis.'
A lock of General Wsshington's hair,
with one from the head OF Martina WASH
ington is in gold brooch near at hand.
The color of this specimen bears out the
accuracy Of the observation quoted above.
The hnir although streaked with gray,
shows fair brown and red strands.
Doubtless Washington's hair was OF the
tint one so often sees in Virginia-a fair
brown shot with reddish tints in the SUM-
light. Martha Wssnlngton's hair Is yell
low, only v"rv family tlnged with gray.
TIE pricesof the pastel portrait is $3.50.
and the brooch may be han for $3.50.
Near them are ancient silver shoe buckles
set with brilliants, that were worn by
Washington. Martha Washingron's silver
scissors case is also in the collection.
The buckles are quoted at $500 and tho
scissors case at S25.
The sworn worn by Washington when
he resigned his commission at Annapolis
is also for sale. 1t is a dress sword.
straight and slim, yet its point is some
what bent, as if it had been used. The
sash from which the scahbard hangs in
dicstes a girth OF less than forty inches.
This shows that Washington, even when
past middle age, did not allow himself
to become heavy and bulky, as is the
fashion among statesmen OF today. The
sword when owned by Miss Virginia
Taylor Lewis, was offered to the United
States government for $4,000 IN 1888.
but the bill authorizing its purchase died
after its spcDnu reading IN the senate.
Four letters OF Washington are included
among the relics. A purple and black
striped silk gown and gold watch that
belonged to Mrs. Washington are also
in the collecticn.-New York Herald.