The Washington herald., 1912-02-18

L. Weems transmitted for the viev
of helpless childhood the Wssh
ington of humdrum homily.
The stress which attended the forming
Df State created for generations to com,
Washington with honors almost divine
a Cincinnatus of Virginia, Father o.
His Country to whom were ascribed tn,
attributes of statesmen who had lived no
by the Potomac but by the yellow Tber
Busts and images of the great leader Of
the American Revolution there are which
portray him in toga and classic robe and
invest him with the nlmbus of majesty
Practically everything which Washing,
ton was not has been exploited, and il
has remained for the present generation
to obtain the proper perspective and to
know Washington the debonair, the genial
and the well beloved.
Facts and incidents were not wanting
which revealed George Washington as the
alert, masterfuI, strong tempered and yet
lovable man, and they have been known
for many years by the historians, preserved
in family traditions and represented in
contemporary portraits. Perhaps there is
none in this city who by reason of ancestry
and environment and long familiarity with
the facts through patient investigation
knows the true Washington better than
does Miss. ]. ]. Boudinot. She is the
grandniece of Elias Boudinot, commIssary
general of prisoners in the Revolution, the
granddaughter of Elisha Boudinot, a
leader of the New Jersey Bar and figure
of note in the days of the colonies. Her
grandfather and her granduncle were in
the confidence of this founder of the
American Republic and leader of its
armies. Had she not oral tradition and
letters to guide her as lamps Of the past
she would still have a precious heritage
of art, a portrait painted from life by
Charles Wilson Peale, who had set up his
easel in circling camps.
Owned by Miss Boudinot.
This work was painted for Elias Boudi-
not and bequeathed to Elisha, to whose
granddaughter it came by inheritance. 1t
is the image of Washington as known to
his officers and intimates-Washington the
alert commander, yet Washington Of the
mouth which could smile, the eyes which
sparkled and the face so often illumined
by humor and human sympathy. Dwell
ing in house in New Jersey which echoed
once with the light tread of the commander
of the partiot armies, amid walls which
had given back his vibrant voice and in the
presence of this painted transcript of his
life gave to Miss Boudinot the continual
inspiration of the Washington who lived
his life as a man among men in stirring
days of old.
1t was labor of love which caused Miss
Boudinot to delve into dusty records and
TO explore the family papers to present for
all the idea Of the Washington of the Peale
portrait which hangs in the parlor of her
apartment, on Morningside Heights, New
York city. Not far from where she sits
at her desk British and Colonial forces
met in battle, and the house in which she
dwells stands on storied ground.
Portrait painting was an incident in the
lives of the artists of the period when
crown and colony were at war. Charles
Wilson Peale was an officer with General
1t is believed that the por-
trait owned by Miss Boudinot, which is
reproduced herewith, was posed for
BY the distinguished subject at Valley
Forge. There is one like it, and undoubt-
edly from the same hand, in the Patent
Office in Washington. Rembrandt Peale,
he son, was also known for his portrayals q
If Washington, and it is said that another I
relative also tried his hand at representing I
he features Of the Father of His Couu-
ry. The story goes that the trio once set :
Up their easels at once and painted indus @
riously while the General posed for them. q
Il perceive, gentlemen" he remarked +
With an amused smile, that 1 am being
'ealed from three sides at once" Y
There are chroniclers who declare that Iir
His was the only pun which Washington !,
yer uttered-a record which, if supported, a
vas attained by few in that age and gen.
ration.
General Washington is revealed in this :,
'Ortrait with one hand resting on the /,
reech of a cannon. In the background .,
nay be seen Princeton College, and it is I"
elieved that, although the picture was T,
ainted, or at least sketcbed, at Valley
'orge, the background was filed in after n,
be engagement at Old Nassau. Wash h,
lgtOn is in the uniform of buff and blue in
nd his rank is designated by blue silk te
,arf which vas used in the earlier days .,