Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1917 — WASHINGTON’S WILL POWER [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON’S WILL POWER

Kept His Pugnacity in Subjection, but Occasionally He Allowed Passion to Have Sway. It is related of John Adams that when Stuart exhibited his portrait of General Washington, Mr. Adams went to see it. After gazing at it for several minutes he exclaimed, “That’s the portrait of a man who knew how to hold his tongue, which this old fool never did I” The portrait does indicate that the original could be reticent, but it also shows that he could control himself. The square, massive jaw, the full, broad-based nose, and the compressed lips express pugnacity and passion, such as require a strong will to keep them in subjection. Sometimes even Washington allowed his passion to have sway. When Glover’s Marblehead fishermen and Morgan’s Virginia riflemen were engaged in a rough and tumble fight, Washington leaped from his horse over the bars of the camp fence, dashed among the rioters, seized two brawny riflemen by the throat and, shaking them at arms’ length, subdued not only them, but the whole band. It was the victory due to commanding strength, presence and manner. The men saw that they must obey, and they obeyed. z