The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-16
[ERTON DU PUY

this painting is a Very exact likeness
Iof Washington while Prcsidcn, OF the
United states In that il bears very
Httle resemblance TO the ordinarily ac-
cepted portraits Of him, its possess org
hoid that it is tho only true likeness.
Washinston's True Likeness.
IN 1872 this lodge. by special reso
luton requested the then Prosidcn,
washington who was living al pbilo
delphia. the capital, 10 have a naint.
ing made for the walls Of the lodge.
me instructions to the artist, whose
name was Williams and who was i'm
anton preacher was to render an
exact likeness. The picture was done
as flesh colored pastel. IL was an
proved by President Washington in
4's4 and accepted by the lodge These
wv hspcople OF Washington. men who
mad known him intimately all their
iNes pronounced The portrait an cx-
ceileht likeness Later authorities
nav, ii"Ve pronounced It most excellent
thing from an art standpoint.
certainly IL contains number of
marks that Washington was known
TO nave had and which appear in none
OF his idealized paintings. There was
mole under his right ear, for instance.
me mole shows in this rainting
There was n scar OH his left cheek and
the scar is shown. The glands beneath
the Presidents chin were permanently
enlarged and this enlargement is
shown.
These Masons hold that all the
world. wishing to appreciate tie actual
appearance of the first President, must
come TO this painting to get their cue
preservation The lodge has refused
Ian offer of fifty thousand dollars for
IL ana has been assured by authorities
tlat IL has 1t value Of Il hundred thous-
and.
Probably the next most valuable relic
IN IN. collection is the chair in which
asilihe ton sat When he presided over
Tue deliberations of the lOog. THIS
chair was occupied by him and officers
who succeeded him for a period of III
years OF active service. 1t might still
nave been serving tho purpose for
which il WAS intended but far that
Nandals III the form of souvenir hunt
crs began cutting strips off of il as
keepsakes. Then il was removed FROM
the lodge room proper and put into a
glass case in which 1T is still exhibited.
Knife Carried FIfty-si1 Years
One Of the best stories that the
AleNandria Masons have with relation
Ia u curio OF Washington is of the little
pocket knife III their possession which
he is said to have carried ifty-six
years. George Washington was clever.
years old when his fatner died.
shortly after this the boy took up his
residence at Mount Vernon with his
half brother, Lawrence ana while
waiting FOR repairs tn Mount Vernon
house stopped at Belvoir, the home or
William Fairfax. an intimate friend OF
+ the family. Through the influence OF
the FairfaNeS George obtained a COM
mission as midshlpman In the English
navy. All preparations had been made
for his departure when n final COM
mand came from his mother forbidding
him tn 20. In obcdienca to that com
mand the boy surrendered his com
mission and returned TO HIS studies
much depressed in spirit.
Ills mother noticed this depressi III
and sought 10 make amends for the
disappointment she had caused him.
Among the Items Of her next order to
England for annual supplies. was one
for very excellent pen knife. This
she presented 10 the boy az a reward
for his submission to her will with the
! Injunction always obey yout super
Tors" The ultimate reach OF that in
junction and It's affect upon a nations
history was little dreamed OF at the
time.
s Washington carried the knifc with
him through all his career che day
he explained It's Significance ~ an as