GEO. WASHINGTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

GEO. WASHINGTON

George Washington sat for his portrait dozens of times during his lifetime. Here is a word-picture of what Washington, the man, looked like. He was 6 feet 31- inches tall, and “as straight as an Indian.” He had large bones and muscles, large hands and feet, long legs and arms. He always was inclined to be slender, although he weighed in the neighbourhood of 220 pounds. His face was pale with a tendency to burn quickly’ in the sun. and it bore the marks of smallpox.

His hair was brown and he wore it tied in a queue behind. For ceremonial occasions it was well powdered. His eyes have been described as “bluish” or “a kind of blue.” and a female chronicler added that they were “very lively.” His teeth were defective, and in his earlier adult years he suffered much from toothache, entries in his private acounts showing frequent payments to dentists. A badly-made set of false teeth distorted his mouth and gave the lower part of his face the square look seen in some portraits. Later the acquisition of better Utting teeth improved his appearance. His walk was majestic. A chronicler of the time wrote: “There is a remarkable air of dignity about him, with a striking degree of gracefulness.”