Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-21

inlS time forward TO encourage pupil'
and private cleanliness.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF GEN. WASHING
TON.
The February Century contains al
historical find in the unpublished
/ diary of a friend of Kosciusko, TIL,
General Washington at Mt. Vernon IL
June. 1898. as confirmed by the gen
erals diary. The impressions of the
first president and his conversation.
give unique value and interest to the
paper. The visitor thus records his
first meeting with the general and his
wife, the narrator's lie referring tc
his effort to conceal the fact that
Kosciusko had left America to head
a Polish organization:
Mr.. Peters's house is at the extreme
point of the city, quite near George
town. We arrive there between six
and seven o'clock. One can guess hot.
my heart was beating. l was to SEE
the man for whom since my youth
had had great respect. / caught sight
| of him thru the window and recog-
nized him at once. About dozen
| people We're coming toward us. l saw
only him. ! was presented to him by
Mr.. Law. He held out his hand 10 me
and clasped mine. We went into the
parlor. / sat down beside him; I WAS
moved, dumb, and could not look a,
him enough. 1t is a majestic face
| in which dignity is united with gentle
ness. The portraits that we have o.
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 particular
ly his lower jaw, are large.
He wore a tail coat, black stock
ings, satin waistcoat, and breeches OF
the same color.
He began by questioning me about
General kosctusko. l was extreme
ly embarrassed and confused. The first
word said to this great man was q
lie. That was what this mysterious
departure brought me to. He put to
me the following questions:
:" How long are you in this coun-
try?'
:. Eight months
How do you like it?'
am happy, sir, to see in Amer
lea those blessings which I was so ar
IDENTIFY wishing for in my own coun-
try. To you, sir, are the Americans
indebted for them
He bowed with a modest air, and
said to me:
wished always to your coun-
try well. and that with all my heart
He uttered these last words with
much feeling.
The questions on Kosciuszko's Jour-
ney to the springs. his health etc,
turned up again and renewed my tor
ture. Happily. Mrs. Laws daughter,
aged sixteen months. came in. Cen
eral Washington called her to him. and
drew a peach cheese from his pocket.
Here is something for YOU said
he. He gave her a 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 gem
eral. They talked about the drought.
which there was at this time, of how
tobacco was suffering thru it. and also
the maize and barley
II then went up to Mrs Washington.
She is the same age as the general;
both We're born in 1892 She is short,
has bright eyes and gay manner ex J
tremely good. She had on a gown Of
white stuff. drawn very tight, or rath-
er attached on both sides with pins:
bonnet of white gauze with ribbons of
the same color, showing the outline OF
her head very much, leaving the fore
head uncovered and only partly hid
ing her white hair, which was done up
in a little pigtail. She was one of the
most beautiful women in America and
even today she has something very
charming about her. She never had
any children by General Washington:
she had four by her first husband, Mr..
Custis.
1--WE spoke with Mrs. Washington of
the small likeness there is between 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 favorite piece of
music III AiHeIlcdJ very we'll Iea
was served. / found an opportunity
to be beside the general. He praised
an address that the town of Norfolk
had given to the, president.
Did you know Mr.. Jones' Mr.. Law
asked him, who was just killed in duel
by Mr.. Livingstone?'
believe did see him. but 1 did
not know him intimately. They say
that the shot he fired at his Open
ent cut piece off his nose. How
could he miss 1t? You know Mr.. Liv.
ingston's nose and what capital tar
get it is
II was delighted to see the good
father in good humor. He turned to-
ward me, and asked me if had trav-
eled much in the United States. l re-
piled that had not been farther than
New York, that was surprised at the
progress which such a new country
had made in culture and population.
There are the eastern states he
said to me, that are the most advanced
in culture and population
They We're said l, the first in
which the Europeans settled
ON the contrary he said, the first
settlement was in Virginia, and then
in New England. But 1t the division
into townships which is so favorable
to the maintenance of order, police,
and public establishments. The popu-
lation there is very Industrious; every