The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-14
FATHER GEORGE
REALLY cUssfD
First President May Not Have
Lied, Says Artist, but He
Swore Beautifully.
TALKS OF H0UD0N STATUE
Sculptor T. w. Story Tells In
teresting Tale of Its
Fashioning.
TALKS OF HoUDoN STATUE

Thom4S W4I0o Story. HUSBAND VI
Miss Bessie ABBOTT, the Maid Marian OF
the Robin Hood company which closed
its engagement at the Academy last
night. had In his possession UP to -four
years ago the plaster mask Of George
Washington. made by Houdon in pre-
paration for the statue now in the ro-
tunda OF the Virginia State Capitol. 1t
was left to him. together with num-
Der of other belongings. by his father,
w. W. Story. the poet and sculptor,
At the Academy of Music last night.
MIR. Story, who Is accompanying his
wife on her tour. told an interesting
story Of the famous task. His father.
he said. had received II from an Irish
artist named Pedrick who was an In
innate friend OF Houdon in Paris.
There Is another mask eXtant and
now in Washington, l believe" said
Mr.. Story, (which purports to be the
original one cast by Houdon. l have
it on excellent authority that that
claim Is not valid. The mask which.
up to four years ago was in my pos
session. was automatically accredited
through my father and Pedrick, ehe
latter receiving II from Houdon's own
hands.
Says Washington Cussed.
The most startling thing in con-
nection with the mask. however. is
that IL caused the Father Of His Coun-
try to give utterance to uncouth
language. Mr.. story tells the tale
with all reverence. but insists that tine
sources through which he has II leave
no room to doubt its truth.
According to Pedrick, who had II
through Houdon.'' said Mr.. Story, the
plaster when it set on Washington S
face took a firm grip on his eyebrows,
and upon the hair acove his ears.
When Houdon yanked it off a good
part OF Washington's eyebrows and d
number of strands of hair come with
il, and Father George spoke immedi-
ately and with vigor. Houdon often
recounted the episode. and declared
that the language of the first Presi-
dent on that occasion was pungently
unparliamentary."
The mask. which Mr.. Story hae pre-.
scented to ]. Pierpont Morgan. still holds
imbedded some of the hairs. While il
was in the possession of .Pedrick, il
Is related, the latter made a practice
Of presenting each prominent American
he met with one of Father George 5
hairs as a souvenir.
Competed for Davis Statue.
Mr. Story, who is a wellknown sclup-
tor. in common with number of other
artists, submitted d design for a me-
mortal to jefferson Davis i'll the com
petition which preceded the erection
Of the present monument in this city.
My design" said Mr.. Story. was I
trtumphal arch to cost about 100000. ]
was informed by the committee having
the project in charge that it regarded
my arch with favor. but that the ap-
preparation Of $750Oo. which was at it's
disposal. forbade its adoption. 1 sub
mitted a model Of the arch to the COM
mittee. and / suppose IL is still in Rich
mond-I have never found out what
became OF it
Mr.. Story made a tour Of the city s
monuments yesterday. and was par
ticularly pleased with the Crawford
group in Capital Square. and the Lee
Monument in the West End. The Hou-
don statue in the Capitol, he said, was
without doubt the finest example OF
the artists work extant.
Mr.. Story is a brother of Julian
Story. Of Philadelphia. an artist with
an international reputation. He is a
grandson of Joseph Story, one-time
Justice of the Supreme Court OF the
United States.