The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-26
THE IRREGULARITIES
Of PAUL JONES
REASONS WHY IT Is BELIEVED
GENERAL POTrER'S FIND
Is HIS REMAINS.

NEW IOhh, Dec. Z5s--When
Charles Henry Hart, Of Philadelphia,
set 1orth In his new book that the
body brought to this country and
buried with National honors as that
or John Paul Jones was not the body
OF Jones at all. Gen. Horace Porter
characterized the assertion as absurd
and silly
Gen. Porter was Ambassador to
France at the time. discovered the
BODY, and had IL removed to America.
one who through six years OF research
mas become recognized authority on
the life OF Paul Jones agrees with
Gen. Porter. This is Mrs. Reginald
DE koven. who consented to give
some of her reasons yesterday after
noon In her apartment at 40 East Six
ty-eecond street.
She reviewed some of the points
made by Gen. Porter. pointing out
that by careful official investigation
through documentary evidence bear
ing on the time and place OF burial
the identity of the admiral's coffin
was one OF a possible four that had
not been barred out through the pro-
cess OF elimination. The other three
We're checked off by the presence of
municipalities On the fourth there was
none, so that q certain conviction was
reached even before the coffin was
open. 1t is said that when II was
opened the likeness to the Houdon
bust was startling. and to this ma
terial Mrs De koven was able to add
Yesterday, certain cumulative ev;-
dences which in her mind Danish all
doubt.
an unpublished sketch made by De
Il have in my possession" she said.
Stuers before the air had affected the
face. and so like is this portrait to the
bust of Houdon that it goes to
strengthen the belief that the body
was really that of Paul Jones The
Houdon bust is the We'll known -re-
sentiment of the man attested by both
Madison and Jefferson to have been
OF extraordinary accuracy.
One of Paul Jones ears had n pc
culiarity in that small portion of the
center cartilage descended curiouslv
through the fieshy lobe. a REGULARITY
not present in the other ear. Houdon.
with that fidelity to detail character
izing him above all other sculptors of
his time. and perhaps any other time.
carefully recorded this popularity in
his bust. 1t is found, too. in the body
that was brought from Paris.
Mr.. Hart states that there were
two divergences between the body
found In Paris and in the actual ply
steal characteristics OF Paul Jones
himself. One was his point that the
hair was dark. while Jones himself
had red hair. 1t is "A curious fact
and one not mentioned by General
Porter that Paul Jones had dark
brown hair which by his continuous
lifelong exposure to the sea-air had
been bleached to sandy color, par
ticularly In front. This has been re-
corded by one of his sailors who knew
hi tn,
and who later served In the squadron
under the command OF Paul Jones
at the time of the famous victory
over the Serapis.
This sailor dictated his recolleetions
to his grandson and they have been
preserved. Now this same peculiar
bleached hair was noted on the body
brought from Paris. The other ply
steal divergence noted by Mr.. Hart,
his contention that Paul Jones' nose
WAS short and blunt. Is entirely dis
proved by the lineaments Of the
Houdon bust as General Porter has
correctly observed.
There Ia interesting evidence, too,
in the little monogram embroidered
on the linen cap which enclosed the
NARA simple com bination Of the
two letters p. and j. in common with
the famous men of his day. Paul
Jones apparently gave considerable
thought to the elaboration of his sig
nature. His full name being John
Paul Jones, the first two initials and
the second two were interchangeable.
In several OF the signatures belong
Ing to the latter part If his life the
name appears first to be written GIN
ply Paul Jones; but on examination,
We find that the p. of the first name
contains j. hTe combination of
the letters in a monogram, thing
from which he would have taken a
native satisfaction. was perfectly
characteristic OF Paul Jones and was
probably invented by himself
Paul Jones is Mrs De koven's hero.
The result Of her years OF study OF
that gallant admiral is to become
public next year in two-yoIurne
work which Will probably appear
under Life and Letters title. She
cares good deal that the things
said about him should be correct
and genuine.