The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-02-07
THE HOME CIRCLE.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF GENERAL
WASHINGTON.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF GENERAL |
WASHINGTON.
The February Century contains an
historical sfind" in the unpublished
diary of a friend of Kosciusko, the
Polish poet Niemcewicz, who visited
General Washington at Mt Vernon in
June, 1898, as confirmed by the Cen
erals diary. The impressions OF the
first President and his conversations
give unique value and interest to the
paper. The visitor thus records his
first meeting with the General and his
wife, the narrator's 'slie" referring to
his effort to conceal the fact that Kos
ciusko had left America to head Pol
ish organizations:
Mr. Peters house is at the extreme
point of the city, quite near George
town. We arrived here between six
and seven o'clock. One can guess how
my heart was beating. 1 was to see
the man for whom since my youth l
had had great respect. caught sight
of him through the window and recog-
people were coming toward us. 1 saw
only him. was presented to him by
Mr. Law. He held out his hand to me
and clasped mine. We went into the
parlor. I sat down beside him; I was
moved, dumb, and could not look at
him enough. 1t is asmajestic face, in
which dignity is united with gentle
ness. The portraits that we have of
him in Europe are not like him at all.
He is nearly six feet high and very
strongly built: he has an aquiline nose,
blue eyes; his mouth. and particularly
his lower jaw, are large:
A0i ~<0
satin waistcoat, and breeches Of the
same color.
He began by questioning me about
General Kosciusko. was extremely
embarrassed and confused. The first
word said to this great man was a
lie. That was what this mysterious
departure brought me to. He put to
me the following questions:
"How long are you in this country"
"Eight MONTHS"
elbow do you like it?"
II am happy, sir, to see in America
those blessings which was so ardently
you, sir, are the Americans indebted
for them"
He bowed with a modest air, and
said to me.
II wished always to your country
we'll, and that with all my heart.'
He uttered these last words with
much feeling.
The questions on Kosciusko's jour-
ney to the springs, his health, etc.,
turned up again and renewed my tor
ture. Happily, Mrs Laws daughter,
aged IL months, came in. General
Washington called her to him, and
drew a peach-cheese from his pocket
"Here is something for yOu," said
| 10 hor voio0o 0n6 HiCco6
her. He then gave ali the rest to bel
mother.
"Take it, madam, for your little
Law" he said.
The conversation turned to agricul
ture, a favorite subject with the Gen
eral. They talked about the drought
which there was at this time, of how
tobacco was suffering through it, anC
also the maize and barley.
I then went up to Mrs Washington
She is the same age as the General
both we're born in 1882. She is short
has bright eyes, a gay manner ex
white stuff, drawn very tight, or rath
er attached on both sides with pins; q
bonnet of white gauze with ribbons
of the same color, showing the outline
of her head very much, leaving the
forehead uncovered and only partly
hiding her white hair, which was done
up in little pigtail. She was one Of
the most beautiful women in America
and even to-day she has something
very charming about her, She never
had any children by General Washing
ton; she had four by her first husband
Mr. Custis.
We spoke with Mrs Washington OF
the small likeness that there is be-
tween the General and his portraits
She asked Mrs Peters at last to play
the piano, which she did, and played
the eternal "Battle of Prague" Ia fav'
orite piece of music in America) very
we'll. Tea was served. l found ar
opportunity to be beside the General
He praised an address that the tOwr
of Norfolk had given to the President
J "Did you know Mr. JONES'" Mr. Law
asked him. "who was killed in duel by
Mr. livingstone"
81 believe 1 did see him, but did
not know him intimately. They say
that the shot he fired at his opponent
could he miss it. You know Mr. Liv-
ingston's nose, and what capital tar.
get it is"
81 was delighted to see the good
father in good humor. He turned to-
ward me, and asked me if I had travel.
ed much in the United States. I re.
piled that 1 had not been farther
than New York, that was surprised
at the progress which such a new
country had made in culture and pop
ulatiOn.
"There are the Eastern States" he
said to me, 'that are the most advanc-
ed in culture and population"
''They were," said I, "the first in
which the Europeans settled
ION the contrary" he replied, "the
first settlement was in Virginia, and
then in New England. But it is the
division into township which is SO
favorable to the maintenance of order,
police, and public establishments. The
population there is very Industrious
every farmer, even the poorest, lives
in independence"
"More independent, said 1, ethan
many gentlemen in other places You
are the happiest people in the world. y
| provided that we do not spoil oul