Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-03

roneOuS m p I a
sions OF h m,
writes General Porter in cur
rent magazine article. There were
shen few correct portraits of him in cir
sulation. Some Of the earliest pictures
purporting to be photographs Of him
had been manufactured when he was
at the distant front, never stopping in
One place long enough to be focused"
Nothing daunted, the practicers Of that
art which is the chief solace of the vain
had photographed a burly beef-contrac-
tor, and spread the pictures broadcast
US representing the determined, but
rather robust features of the coming
hero, and 1t was some time before the
real photographs which followed were
believed to be genuine.
False impressions of him were de-
rived, too from the fact that he had
come forth from country leather
store, and was famous chiefly for strik-
Ing sledge-hammer blows in the field.
and conducting relentless pursuits Of
his foes through the swamps Of the
southwest. He was pictured in the pop
ular mind as striding about in the most
approved swash-buckler style Of melo-
drama. Many of us were not a little
surprised to find In him a man of slim
figure, slightly stopped, five feet eight
inches in height, weighing only 1876
pounds, and modesty Of mien and
gentleness OF manner which seemed to
lit him more for the court than for the
camp. His eyes were dark gray, and
were the most expressive of his fea-
lures. Like nearly all men who speak
little, he was good listener; but his
face gave little indication of his
thoughts, and it was the expression of
his eyes which furnished about the
only response to the speaker who con-
versed with him. When he was about
to say anything amusing, there was
always perceptible twinkle In his eyes
before he began to speak, and he often
laughed heartily at witty remark or
humorous incident.
His mouth, like Washingtons, was
Of the letter-boX shape, the contact Of
the lips forming nearly horizontal
line. This feature was of pattern in
striking contrast with that Of Napoleon,
who had bow mouth, which looked as
II 1t had been modelled after a front
view Of his cooked hat. The flrmness
with which the generals square-shaped
Jaws were set when his features were In
repose was highly expressive Of his
force Of character and the strength Of
his will-power. His hair and beard
were of chestnut brown color. The
beard was worn full, no part Of the
face being shaved, but, like the hair,
WAS always kept closely and neatly
trimmed. Like Cromwell, Lincoln, and
several other great men In history, he
had wart on his cheek. In his case
1t was small, and located on the right
side just above the line Of the beard.
His face was not perfectly symmetrical,
the left eye being a little lower than
the right. His brow was high, broad,
and rather square and was creased
with several horizontal wrinkles, which
helped to emphasize the serious and
somewhat careworn look which was
never absent from his countenance.
This expression, however, was In no
wise an indication Of his nature, which
was always buOyant, cheerful and hope
full. His voice was exceedingly must
cal, and one Of the clearest in sound
and the most distinct utterance that
have ever heard. 1t had singular
power of penetration, and sentences
spoken by him in an ordinary tone in
camp could be heard at distance
which was surprising.
His gait in walking might have been
called decidedly unmilitary. He never
carried his body erect, and having no
ear for music or rhythm, he never kept
step to the airs played by the bands,
no matter how vigorously the base
drums emphasized the accent. When
walking in company there was no at
tempt to keep step with others. In con-
versing he usually employed only two
gestures; one was the stroking of his
chin beard with his left hand; the other
was the raising and lowering of his
right hand, and resting 1t at intervals
upon his knee or table, the hand be-
ing held with the fingers close together
and the knuckles bent, so that the back
of the hand and fingers formed right
angle. When not pressed by any mat
ter Of Importance he was often slow in
his movements, but when reused to &C
tiVity he was quick in every motion,
and worked with marvellous rapldity.
He was civil to all who came in contact
with him, and never attempted to snub
any one, or treat anybody with less
consideration on account Of his infer
iority in rank. With him there was none
Of the puppyism so often bred by pow
er, and none of the dogmatism which
Samuel Johnson characterized as pup
pyism grown to maturity.
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