New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-28
TIE WASHINGTON PANEL.
Historic 1ccuracy Shoscn in Depict
ing act at TdlIey Forge.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: 1t has been asserted with strange lnsstence
that the style of glove by our supreme ma
tonal hero in the bronze Valley Forge panel on the
Sub Treasury building is about a century ahead Of
the time. Reference to Ms Alice Morse Earle's
work American costume. published by Nacmil-
Ian in 1909 Will furnish light these much abused
gloves, FOR Mrs. EARL IS perhaps the leading alI-
thority in this country things Colonial on
page Isl of Vol. l may be found a picture OF 4
pair OF gloves worn by Governor Leverett OF
Massachusetts. who died in 1917 These differ in no
respect the conventional glove of the present
day, except in their somewhat ornate gauntets
on page 200 OF Vol. IL is shown pair OF ancient
home made linen ana wool gloves also exhibiting
the triple stitchings at the back
There is in he Governors Room ut the city Hall
in New York city, a portrait of Jacob Morton aide
de camp at Washngtnn's Inauguration. painted
from life 10y Jarvis Morton is here represented
seated with his crossed hands tncased in gaunteted
gloves. from which the three rows OF stitching
stand forth without any apologies,
As for the authenticity If the praying incident.
# has been narrated by many chroniclcrs that
It should long ago have been elevated to a higher
rank than that of popular tradition. In my own
modest collection of twelve Venerable lives Of
Washington It happens to be recorded four times
Watson. of Annals fame. is by no means a mo-
nopoist of the story. Take the Life by Ramsay,
published in 1907. RamSays rank an historian OF
Revolutionary times Is not questioned, and this
book evidently went record as one of the big
sellers" OF his day 1t is credited with five edl-
tions in English. in French and two in Spanish.
This author records the incident usually given,
and states that General Knox, who a OF
self-appointed bodyguard OF his beloved commander
In Clisf. was also witness TO some OF these
aytrful retreats.
quaint little volume Vie de Washington traduit
de TAnglas dedie a la jeunesse Americane.'
published by Giraut, in 1884 gives the incident in
full with curious print of very downcast Father
of His Country kneeling in the forest. and the
shadowy form OF the curious old Tory Mr.. Potts
lurking I'm the background
Religious Opinions and Character OF Washington"
published by the Harpers in 1886 Is Of value in that
Il is largely a compilation from Washngtons own
orderly books. his diaries and his correspondence
In commenting the Valley Forge incident he re-
marks that Washington probably selected the ad-
jacent wood his private oratory because of the
fact that, in common with the officers and soldiers
of the army, he lodged in restricted quarters and
the fewness of the apartments did not admit of
that privacy desirable for such DUTY"
have difficulty in Teconcilng the anecdote with
the religious side OF his nature. often evil
denCc
a prominent Roman Catholic priest in New York
"anti-relgious movement" Quite as easy is II TO
believe that il nstigaed by religious or patr-
otto extremists who have CanoniZed Washington
and resent the implication that our first President
would assaH with equal vigor the assertion that
he waXed profane We revere him none the
less for either OF these acts.
General o. .. Howard, whom we all accent as a
man of veractty. repeats story that Lincoln told
him OF how he retired TO unoccupled room at the
top of the White House, got down on his knees ON
the bare floor and sought Divine guidance in the
darkest days of the war. That story should be in
scrtbed In some unperishable substance while AZ
can be youehed for under OATH The wood pulp