The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-20

are widely separated and overhung by
heavy brows. His face Is long rather
than broad. with high. round cheek
bones, and terminates I'm a good, firm
chin. lie has a clear though rather
colorless, pale skin which burns in the
sun, a pleasing, benevolent though COM
manding countenance and dark brown
hair, which he wears in a cue. His
mouth is large aud generally firmly
closed, but from time 10 time discloses
some defective teeth. His features are
regular and placid, with all the muscles
Of his face under perfect control"
incidentally, on one occasion Wash
ington outlined his own figure, when, in
1868. he wrote TO his London tailor for
a 'genteele suite of cloaths made of SUI
perfine broadcloth handsomely chosen"
and directed him TO take measure of a
gentleman who wears well made
cloaths of the following size -te-~it:
Six feet high and proportionately made.
If anything rather slender than thick
for person of that height, with pretty
long arms and thighs"
William Hazlltt. the English author.
said of him: :beWashington was grave in
manners, but perfectly easy. There
was commanding air i'm his presence
which compelled respect and forbade
too great "a freedom toward him inde-
pendently Of that species of awe which
is always felt in the influence OF
great character. In every movement,
too, there was a polite gracefulness
equal Ia any met with in the most poll
ished individuals i'm Europe. and his
smile was extraordinarily attractive. 1t
was observed to me that there was an
expression In Washington's face that
no painter had succeeded i'm taking"
In confirmation of this sta tcment the
artist Sharpless. who painted pastel
portrait OF Washington in 1896 declar-
ed:
1T is not i'm the grasp OF any painter
TO hold the dignity and mightiness OF
the great subject. There Is concealed.
though not unconquered. passion work
ing within him which rendered him
some what painful subject"
His face r. handsome, noble and
mild" wrote a distinguished French
man, and Rochambeaus ald-de-c camp
said: His handsome and majestic,
while at the same time open, counte-
nance perfectly reflects his moral quail
itiesi he looks the hero shade OF
sadness overspreads his countenance
which Is not unbecoming and gives him
an interesting air" Abigail Adams
wrote in 1775: Dignity with ease and
compncency. the gentleman and SOL
dier looked agreeably blended in him.
Majesty marks every line and feature
OF his face"
The first authentic portrait OF Wash
ington was undoubtedly painted in the
year 1772 by Charles Wilson Pealc, who
secured at different times no less than
Ia sittings from his distinguished sub
iect Colonel Washington wrote TO
friend at that time. Inclination having
yielded 20 Importantly | am now. con-
trary TO all expectations. under the
hands of Mr. Peale. but In so grave, 40
sullen mood, and now and then under
the influence OF Morpheus when some
critical strokes are making. that l fan
cy the skill of this gentleman's pencil
will be put TO it In describing TO the
world what manner of man 1 am"
Peale also painted the portraits OF Mrs.
Washington and her daughter, Martha
Parke Custis. while az Mount Vernon.
That of Washington represents him In
the costume of a Virginia colonel--a
dark blue coat faced with red and dark
red Waistcoat and breeches.
After this scarcely "a year passed that
the distinguished gentleman was not
made the victim ot some artist or other
anxious 70 attach his name TO a picture
OF one who would send II booming down
20 posterity. Probably the most per-
sIstent of those who made his life at
times so miserable were the Peales-