Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-22
PATER PATRlAE
Some Odd and interesting Facts About
WashIrston--Hls Personal Ap.
pearance, Habits and Home
Life-Random Notes
Ry GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
GEORGE WASHINGTON, surveyor.

by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
| GEORGE WASHINGTON, surveyor. In
VI dian fighter, planter, commander in
| chief, first President, doctor Of laws states
| man, was born 1S9 years ago today.
He is the greatest figure in American his
| tory and has been called the greatest figure
| of all times.
From descriptions Of his personal ap-
| pearance by, his contemporaries he was six
feet two inches in height and weighed about
| 200 pounds.
There was no surplus flesh upon his
| frame. He was tremendously muscled and
was noted for his great strength.
His hair was chestnut brown, his cheeks
were prominent and his head was not large
| in contrast to the rest of his body, which
| was massive and bony.
His feet and hands were unusually large
! and his ordinary walking shoes were nun.
His hands were equally big in proper
| ton, and it is said that he could not buy
! glove to ft him, but had to have his gloves
made to order.
Tn HIS personal habits he was fastidious
in point Of dress and had his clothes
| made in the fashion of his day.
He was hearty cater and was particu.
| larly fond of a plain meal of bread and
meat.
1t was his custom to take drink Of rum
| or whisky on awakening in the morning.
| of Madeira wine.
He was n great lover Of fine horses. and
when riding was always mounted on hand.
some charger
lie presented a superb picture in full uni
| form on horseback, though he was rather
| shambling walker and slow upon his feet
| In later life he wore a set of false teeth.
which fitted badly and caused his lower lip
| slightly TO protrude.
TITS relioious affiliations ,roro with tho
IL Protestant Episcopal Church. of which
| he was faithful and devout attendant.
The question has been repeatedly raised
| as TO whether he was communicate or
| merely an attendant and contributor of that
| church.
Some years ago DR.. Philip Slaughter an
| nounced that General Washington was
| vestryman of the old Pohic Church. in Fair
| fax county, Va, as ancient records of the
| church proved.
For the first three Sundays that he spent
| in Philadelphia as President he went three
times to Episcopal churches. and once each
to the Presbyterian, Quaker and Roman
| Catholic churches.
1t is said that his remark concerning
| these three latter visits was that "It was
the first time he had the opportunity Of
! observing some of these modes of worship
The story of the cherry tree and his
| Ratchet is apoCryphal.
The author of it was n clergyman. the
Rev. NJ. L.. Wcems, a rambling writer and
| perlpatetlc book pedder.
The story is ignored by the leading biog-
| raphers, such as Sparks, Marshall. Wash
| lngton irving, Losing and others.
! WASHINGTON was one of the largest and
! w wealthiest land owners of his day.
| His wife was the widow of Daniel Parke
! Custis.
| She was married at seventeen and was a
widow with two children at twenty four,
hpCnmn NrS
She brought the general dover of II, 900
acres of land, 300 slaves and $50 900 in
| securities.
Washington was about twenty seven
years of age when he was married, but he
had had one romance in his life previous
| to that.
lie fell in love with beautiful girl about
| ten years earlier. She rejected him and he
took the matter very much to heart
lie referred to her as his 'owIand
beauty Her identity was never satisfac-
toriy disclosed.
She is believed 10 have been Miss Betty
Fauntleroy, though this is largely matter
| of surmise
Washington was a Mason and past
master of the Alexandria, Va, Masonic
| lodge,
A MONG other interesting points in the life
| - of the first President are the following:
| When n young man he made trip TO
| the island of Barbados, where he caught
| smallpox. His face showed the marks of
! the disease to his death.
lie sat for more portraits Of himself than
| any other American of his time
| lie was most industrious correspond
cnt, kept diaries, account books and made
| memoranda Of everything of moment in the
| course Of his life.
\ crisis in the American Revolution came
when Washington determined to resign his
| position as commander in chief
lt was during the winter at Valley Forge
| lDC1nntanf Nrit rpnupayu' -
| his ragged and starving army was the cause
! lie reconsidered it. however. on the recent
| Of encouraging news that money for the
| army was Forthcoming.
Martha Washington was with her hus-
| band at Valley Forge part Of the winter
She brought with her provisions for his pr-
| vatc table.
! Washington was very particular both as
TO his own clothes and those Of his wife
White satin and black velvet were his
| favoritc materials for his coats
| TO q large extent he saved his wife the
trouble of ordering her own gowns, many
| Of which came from London
His wedding ring was purchased in Phil
adelphia and it cost pounds lG shillings
| about $3.50.
DOTH the General ana Mrs Washington
| d were fond Of the play and went to the
| theatre quite often.
His box was usually filled with friends
| 10 whom he sent tickets for the perform
| ance.
Official dinners when 10 was President.
| and while living in Philadelphia. we're very
| formal affairs.
There was very little conversation. his
| guests seeming to be nwcd by the aestic
| presence and great dignity of the host
When in Philadelphia and New York the
| President and his wife complained that the
| social attentions wcrc urgent that they
dned out nearly every night,
| xryASJJI\GTO% vos verr o,,icL -, .oro..o.