The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-21

with lofty severity: "Atr. Burnes, | have
been authorized to select the location of
the National Capitol. | nave selected
our farm as a part Of it. and | tel, you
that the Government will take it. at all
events. l trust that you will. under these
circumstances, enter into IN amicable ar
rangement."
Uncle Davy Bcrnes thereupon gave M
all opposition, seeing that lie confronted
the mandate of the United States in the
person of the President, and on being
asked again what terms he would prefer
for the transfer and sale Of his lands he
replied meekly enough: Any that your
EXcellency may choose TO name.' Thus
subdued and coerced was this irascible
old Scotch Maryland tobacco planter in
TO the possession of a great fortune.
Washington as a Colonel.
In 1860 Captain George Mercer wrote
to a friend a description of the personal
appearance of "Coloncl George Washing
ton. late commander of the Virginia Pro
vincial troops" which ran As follows:
HE may be described as being straight
as an Indian, measuring 6 feet . inches
in his stockings, and weighing 175 pounds.
His frame is padded with well-developed
iN|s = no
bones and joints are large. as are his feet
and hands. He is wide ~shouldcred. but
has not Il deep or FOUND chest; is neat
WASTED. but is broad across the hips, and
has rather long legs and arms. His head
is well shaped, though moi large. out is
gracefully poised on Il superb neck. 4
large and straight rather than Il promi-
tent nose, blue-gray penetrating eyes,
,,L..L a,n r;Int- .,l
hung by q heavy brow. His face is
long rather than broad. with high, round
cheek bones, and terminates in a good
firm chin. He has a clear though rather
colorlcss pale skin, which burns with the
sun. A pleasing. benevolent though a
commanding countenance. dark brown
hair. which he wears in Il cue. His mouth
is large and generally firmly closed. but
which from time 10 time discloses some
defective teeth. His features arc regular
and placed with ell the muscles of his
face under perfect control, though fcxi-
BILE. and expressive of deep feeling when
moved by emotions. In conversation nc
looks you full in the face, is deliberate.
d%eferential and engaging. His voice is
agreeable, rather than strong. His de-
meanor at all times composed and digni-
fed. His movements and gestures are
graceful, his walk majestic, and be is Il
splendid horseman.'
Jonathan Boucher's Estimate.
In 1716 Jonathan Boucher, who came
to America iii 1859, and acted for Il time
rs a private tutor to John Park Gusts,
Il son of the widow whom Washington
married, wrote of Washington (aftcr his
return to England in 1775): Il did not
know Mr.. Washington well. and though
occasions may call forth traits of charac-
ter that never could have been discov-
cred in the more sequeStered scenes of
life, | cannot conceive how he could,
otherwise than through the interested
representations of party. hav ever been
spoken of as 4 great man. He is shy,
silent, slow and cautious, but has no
quickness OF parts. extraordinary pene-
ing. In his moral character he is reg
ular. temperate, strictly Just and honest
Except that as Il Nirginian he has lately
found out that there is no moral turpi-
tude in not paying what he confesscs he
owes to a British crcditorl, and. as | al
ways thought, religious: having hereto
fore been pretty constant and even eS-
emplary in his attendance on public wor-
ship. But he seems to have nothing gen
erous or affectionate in his nature"
Much doing is not so important a.