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

Inc FeOruary century contains an
historical find" in the unpublished
Polish poet Niemcewicz, who visited
General Washington at Mt Vernon in
June, 1893, 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 organization:
Mr. Peters house Is at the extreme
point of the city, quite near George
and seven O'Clock. One can guess how
my heart was beating. was to see
the man for whom since my youth l
had had great respect. l caught sight
of him through the window and recOg-
nized him at once. About dozen
people were coming toward us. saw
only him. l was presented to him by
Mr. Law. He held out his hand to me
and clasped mine. We went into the
moved, dumb, and could not look at
him enough. It is a:majestic 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.
He wore tail coat, black stockings,
satin waiStcOat, and breeches of the
same color.
He began by questioning me about
General KOsciusko. was extremely
,I,or ona cnnfrca6 Tho fret
word I said to this great man was
lie. That was what this mysterious
departure brought me to. He put to
me the following questions:
GLOW 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
wishing for in my own country. To
you, sir, are the Americans indebted
for them"
He bowed with a modest air, and
said to me.
81 wished slways 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 Is months, came in. General
Washington called her to him, and
drew peach-cheese from his pocket;
he. He gave her piece and kissed
her. He then gave all the rest to her
mother.
"Take it, madam, for your little
Law" he said.
The conversation turned to agricul-
ture, favOrite subject with the Gen
eral. They talked about the drought,
which there was at this time, of how
tobacco was suffering through it, and
also the maize and barley.
then went up to Mrs Washington.
She is the same age as the General
tremely good. She had on a gown oil
white stuff, drawn very tight, or rath.
er attached on both sides with pins; a
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
Every charming about her. She never
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" "a fav.
orite piece of music in America) very
we'll. Tea was served. 1 found an
opportunity to be beside the General
He praised an address that the town
"Did you know Mr. JONES'" Mr. Law
asked him, "who was killed in duel by
Mr. livingstone"
II believe l did see him, but did
not know him intimately. They say
that the shot he fired at his opponent
cut a piece off his nose. How
could he miss it. You know Mr. Liv-
ingston's nose, and what capital tar
get it is"
Il was delighted to see the good
father in good humor. He turned to-
ed much in the United States. I re-
piled that I had not been farther
than New York, that was surprised
at the progress which such new
country had made in culture and pop
ulation.
"There are the Eastern States" he
said to me, shat 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
then in New England. But it is the
division into township which is Sc
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 I, ethan