The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-02-27
WASHINGTON WAS
REAL MAN HISTORY
rs NOW DISCLOSING.
People Of America Have Thought OF
COuntry's Father rs D;cty
Rather Than an Or,lln-
airy Nan.

In the room Of III NaescniG iadge
at Alexandria, Va, is pastel por-
trait of George Washington, painted
from life in 1894 for the members OF
this lodge, of which Washington was
a member, by William Williams, OF
Philadelphia. Washington was then
50 years old, and was in his second
term as president. This portrait is
perhaps the most faithful likeness of
him in existence. The artist, accord
ing to instructions; painted him ex-
actly as he was, emitting no blemish.
The marks left by smallpox in his
youth are plainly visible. No wrinkle
is overlooked or subdued The eyes
are faded. The corners of the mouth
droop. 1t Is not handsome face, and
bears little resemblance to the ideal
lied portrait of Stuart. Moreover, it
shows that at 80 Washington was an
old man physically. He looks in the
picture to be at least ten yers older
than that.
Yet there Is a strength and dignity
in this severely honest portrait that
makes 1t more impressive. than the
handsomer ones with which we are
familiar. One finds it hard to leave it.
There are numerous interesting relics
of Washington in this lodge room, but
one comes back to this portrait again
and again. This, one feels. is Wash
ington, the man his intimate contem-
poraries knew. And seeing him there
as he was, one feels that he loses
nothing by this frank revelation. On
the contrary, that SCARED old face in
spires more reverence than all the |
pictures that CLOSED his blemishes |
and made him something other than
he was.
And it is no less true of his reputa-
ton. that reality is more impressive |
than fiction. Historical research and
criticism have removed much of the
glamous of legand tradition that sur
rounded Washington. They have ruth
lessly exposed his weaknesses, such
as they could find. The net result Of
all this is truer conception of the
man, a better understanding OF the
vast difficulties with which he con-
tended. Judgment Of postterity that
is based upon truth and vet adds e.
rather than subtracts from our admir-
alton for his personality and his serv-
ices We know Washington today
or We can know if we will but read
beteter than did most of his conten-
poraries who were too close to the
circumstances Of the time to get
fair perspective. And we know him
much better than in the succeeding
years which tended to defy him
rather than to appraise him justly.
We owe much to historical iconoclasm
when it has ben truthful and sincere,
fer it has helped to make Washington
more real, more substantial, and be- :
cause, having done this without
his greatness, it has 1
established his place in history and in
national reverence more securely and :
=
The real Washington was essential b
y a man. And he was not a man of
ability in any direction, r
His education was not extensive. He A
lad little leagal learning. At the be-
ginning of the revolution he had had :
mall military experience He had
lad almost no training for stateman-
hip. He was exceedingly dfftident in
peech. He dislikel public life. He Z
ad no ambition for the plaudits OF
nen. He much preferred the simple
ty of his rural home and the associa-
ion of his ordinary friends. If it had
ct been for the circumstances of the =,
ime he would no doubt have lived and 4
led at Mount Vernon unknown to L
anne. But the time required man, 81
nd Washington proved that he was 4.
the man for the time.
. was the extraordinary high average
[ all the desirable and needed quail J
es OF manhood that made him great II
bove his fellows and peculiarly fit
I'd him for the task. In him "com- 4
on sense was lifted to the level OF
anius" He burned with no visionary
re. His ideals were lofty but they
eer practical. He did not reach for
10 unattainable. The best thing that
,uld be done was for him the thing q
do, II the best from practical a
andpoint were also right. He would
,t compromise with sis conscience.
be right was the first consideration;
spediency followed. And this was =
10 natural outgrowth OF his incor-
iptible integrity. u
It was the confidence in this integ-
ty, in the wisdom of his Judgment, =
his unalterable justice, that made =
IN the pilla rof strength which sup q
,rted the whole edifice built up by
erevolution and the constitution. =
father Of his country" is no mere :
cure of speech 1t is not too much Y
say that he alone made It possible, >
at but for him there would have
zen no independence and no repub-
g.. For three years of the revolution ?
was the single personality of WASH =
gton that held the army together q
I'd maintained the cause. II was his r
'urago. his patience and his patriat- ?
mthat persisted onward In the face y