Evening star., 1901-02-16

to her Gf 1t be remembered after the
change that is contemplated Is consun-
matcd), | will suggest another more appil-
cable to yourself.
Do not then, in your contemplation OF
the marriage state. look for perfect fehc-
jty before you consent to wed-nor conceive {
rom the fine tales the poets and lovers Oh
Id have tod US of the transports of mu-
ual love- that heaven has taken Its abode
earth. Nor do not deceive youfseit III
Imposing that the only means by when
these are to be obtained is to drink deep OF
the cup and revel in an ocean of love. Love
is n mighty pretty thing: but like ali otheF
delicious things, 1t is c!oylnS, ana When
the first transports of the passion begins
to subside, which it assuredly Will do. ana
yie.d-oftentmes too late-to more SOBER
reflections. it serves to eVince that love IS
too dainty a food to live upon alone ana
ought not to be considered further thah
necessary ingredient for that matrimonial
happiness which results from a comblna-
ton of Causes-none of which are OF
greater Importance than that the object OH
whCr il is placed should possess soou
sense. good disposition and the means or
supporting you in the way you have beeh
brought up. Such qualifications cannot
fail 10 attract tafter marr1age) your es-
TEEN and regard. into which or into dis
gust, sooner or later, love naturally re-
solves itself-and, who, at the same time
has a claim to the esteem of the circle he
moves in. Without these, whatever may
be your first impression of the man, they
and experience Will convince you, that
there Is no truth more certain than that
all our enioyments fall short of our eX-
pectations, and to none does this apply
with more force than to the qualification
of the passions
You may believe me to be always and
sincerely,
Your affectionate,
G.. WASHINGTON.
To Miss Betcy Gusts
More than two years elapsed between the
date of the letter and the production OF the
portrait In the meantime Gilbert Stuart
had limned Washington's features and the
result had not proven entirely satisfactory
either to the sitter or to his 1rlenis-
Stuarts likeness was defective, in that the
expression of the lips was not the natural
expression of the man. This Is explained
by the fact that Washington had recently
been provided with a full set of art1hclal
teeth, which fitted him badly In at.
tempting to remedy the resultant facial
changes Stuart filled out the lips with cot
ton and the effect was not all that could
have been desired. Sharpless made later
effort, and the portrait now In the coiiec-
ton of DR.. Reuling is the result. 1t came
into the possession, first of Eliza Parke,
or "Betcy," who has recorded her opinion
of it upon the back of the canvas upon
which the coloring is laid. This note. which
Is by the way. not the least interesting
feature of the portrait bears no date, and
reads as follows:
Miss Custis' Criticism.
This Is an original portrait of Gen.
Washington, taken in 1895. 1t was painted
| by Mr.. Sharpless. and 1t is an exact like
ness except the complexion. Gen. Washing
! ton was very fair, with light brown, almost
i auburn hair. He had not black beard.
| He had artificial teeth, but so we'll fixed
! that they did not disfisure his mouth. His
! hair was thin, crimped and dressed with
powder and pomatum as in this profile.
(Signed "ELIZA p. CUSTIS.'
! II Is necessary to explain, in order that
! Miss Gusts criticism may be fully under
| stood, that in the portrait Sharpless has
pictured Washington as having gray hair.
| almost white in fact, but tinged with black.
| The side whiskcrs also suggest black as the
! original shade. and upon the upper lip and
chin is just shade of black. indicative OF
| a newly shaven face which might have had
| a black growth upon 1t save for the IRE
quent use of the razor.
| From "Betcy" CustiS the portrait de-
scended to her daughter, the wife Of Ed
mund Law Rogers. For many years 1t
| hung upon the walls of the Rogers mag
| nificent country home in the heart of what
| is now Druid Hill Park, the pride of Balti
| more and the delight of its citizens. III
| dil ect line from Mrs. Rogers 1t reached the
| har ds of Mrs. George r. Goldborough from
| whom DIR. Reuling obtained 1t.