Washington telegraph., 1901-02-22

the next night will do as we'll The
next night comes, and, with it, the same
causes for postponement, and so on.
1t may strike you that in this detail no
mention is made of any portion of time
allotted for reading. The remark
would be just, for l have not looked in
to book since | came home, nor shall
be able to do it until l have discharged
my workmen; probably not before tbs
nights grow longer, when, possibly,
may be looking in Doomsday book"
For the rest, the best portrait we get
of Washington at this time is that
given by John Bernard, distinguished
English actor, who visited this country
in 1898. Travelling on horseback,
through the country to Alexandria,
Bernard came upon an upturned Ve-'
hicle at the same time that another
horseman rode up. The occupants
were man and woman.
Actor Bernard's Meeting.
The stranger. all the time addressing
volley of invectives to the man,
worked in the broiling sun with Bern
ard until the chaise was righted.
Then" recounts the actor, my com
panion offered very courteously to dust
my coat. He was tall, erect, well
made man, advanced in years, but who
appeared to have retained all the vigor
and elasticity resulting from life Of
temperance and exercise. His dress
was a blue coat buttoned to his chin,
and buckskin breeches. ! failed to
identify him, and to my surprise found
| was an object of equal speculation in
his eyes. But, after moments pause,
he said: sAlr. Bernard, believe and
mentioned the occasion on which he
had seen me play in Philadelphia. He
then asked Bernard TO go home with
him for a couple of hours rest, and
pointed out the house. Bernard at
once exclaimed: "Have I the hoRor of
addressing Gen. Washington % with
a smile that l have never seen equaled,"
continues the actor, 'he offered his
hand and replied: An odd sort of in
PRODUCTION, Mr.. Bernard; but am
pleased to find that you can play so
active part in private, and without
prompter.' ;"
Perhaps no man in private life ever
submitted himself more often to the
tender mercies of the portrait painter
than Washington, and yet it has been
said that few portraits resemble him.
There was an expression on Washing
toms face" writes Brissot de Warville,
that no painter had succeeded in tak
ing" In 1777 Washington wrote: II
am SO hackneyed to the touches of the
painters pencil that / am now alto
gether at their beck, and sit, like pa
| tience on monument, whilst they are
delineating the lines of my face. II is
a proof of what habit and system can
| effect. At first, / was as impatient at
| the request and as restive under the OPP
Grafton as a colt is of the saddle The
next time submitted very reluctantly,
but with less fiouncing. Now, no dray
moves more readily to the mill than
do to the painters chair" Among the
most notable portraits OF Washington
are those by Peale, Wright, Ramage,
| Savage, Trumbull, Wertmul!er, Vallee,
Houdon and those by Stuart The orig
inal Stuart pictures were copied many
| times. There is one in the art insti-
| tute concerning the authenticity OF
which there has been much discussion.
Prince de Broglie, who saw Washing
ton in 1882, wrote of him: His physi-
ognomy is mild and open. His aceost is
cold, although polite. His pensive
gray eyes seem more attentive than
sparkling, but their expression is be
nevolent, noble and self-possessed. In
his private conduct he preserves that
polite and attentive good breeding
which satisfies everybody and that dig
nified reserve which otfends no one.
Modest even to humility, he does not
seem to estimate himself at his true
worth. He speaks but little in general,
and that in subdued tone"
The estimates which great men have
paced upon Washington's character
are almost unanimous in giving hia
rank with the nobest of all ages.
Thomas Jefferson wrote: 81 felt on his
death, with my countrymen, that verify
a great man hath fallen this day in
Israeli"
Lord Brougham called Washington
"the greatest man of our own or any
age"
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