The NEW BERN
\h
WEIKLY
OF
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VOhUME 2
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1959
NUMBER 12
It might be well for all of us to
remember, on the eve of Father’s
Day, that the most unusual portrait
ever painted of the Father of Our
Country was the work of a New
Bern artist, William Williams.
Williams, even as many another
notable figure, lies beneath the
sod in historic Cedar Grove ceme-
. tery here. Unhonored and unsung
in life, *he has long since joined
the forgotten in a world that sel
dom remembers.
True, two of his grandsons—
Charles A. WillJhms and J. F. Wil
liams of Charlotte—saw to it that
nS modest monument was erected
over hi§ grave.' But the carving
thereon has almost been obliterat
ed by the ravages of time.
The portrait of George Washing
ton that the local artist a’eated
was unique in two respects. It was
the only painting ever done of the
famed subject in full Masonic re
galia. Aside from that, it was the
only Washington portrait tijat was
n’t intentionally flattering.
Masons of the Alexandria, Va.,
lodge picked the right man when
they asked Williams to do an hon
est job, and let the chips fall where
they would. A stickler for accuracy,
no matter how brutal the results
might be, Williams emulated Wash
ington, who legend says displayed
■a bit of honesty himself in the
chip department when he whacked
down a cherry tree.
So exacting was |he artist that
the very busy President posed no
less than 13 times before the por*
trait was completed. Obviously, pa
tient and;CD!»Mde,ra.te G. W. ratjher
liked the idea of assuring posterity
of at least one glimpse of his coun
tenance that reveale(j[ all.
Let it be said that Williams did
n’t overlook anything. He included
a none too flattering mole under
Washington’s right ear, an unsight
ly scar on the left cheek, and pock
marks on his nose.
Not content with detailing these
items, the painter saw to it that
the “five o’clock shadow” on the
President’s heavily bearded upper
lip got proper emphasis. And the
familiar square jaws, resulting
from an ill-fitting denture, were
duly put upon the canvas too.
It was typical of Washington’s
greatness that he heartily approved
of the portrait, notwithstanding the
blemishes. A lesser man, with more
vanity, would have been insulted,
but not G. W.
Williams delivered the portrait
in person to the Masons at Alexan
dria. They probably knew little
about art, but they saw that it was
indeed a true likeness and proceed
ed to pay the artist $50 for his
work.
Few purchases in history have
turned out to be as big a bargain,
although no one apparently realiz
ed it at the time. Today, it is said,
the Alexandria-Washington lodge
has a standing 'offer of $100,000
for the portrait, and,^ wouldn’t think
of selling.
Incidentaliy, Williams was a Mas
on himself, and a portrait he did
of Francis Lowthrop for New
Bern’s St. Johns lodge is still in
its possession. The artist was paid
$40 for the Lowthrop work".
Washington was worshipful mas
ter of the Alexandria lodge for
eight months while he was Presi
dent—a situation that is without
parallei in the history of the na
tion. He was in Philadelphia at the
seat of government when fellow
members of the lodge passed a res
olution asking him to pose for a
portrait.
It so happened that Williams
was living in Philadelphia at the
time. He readily agreed to do the
portrait, when a committee ap
pointed to select an artist ap
proached him.
Williams had never met the
Father of Our Country, but they
EI^ESS VAKirry-—Iri' (8ut motKer City of Blrtie tHe
grandoise and the picturesque are blended together in a
harmony that is little short of remarkable. Ancient struc
tures and modern architecture give the visitor a glimpse
Of the old and the'ftbw. This latest scene, in a series arrang
ed by The Mirror to acquaint New Bernians with their
heritage, was flown to us from Switzerland with the good
wishes of Berne officials.
Jack Horton Gets Our Vote
As Nation's Top Bus Driver
If you’re looking for the nicest,
most outstanding bus driver in the
State, the South or probably the
nation, you can stop right here in
New Bern and get acquainted with
Jack Horton.
He passes through our town
daily on his Seashore Transporta
tion Company run from Washing
ton to Wilmington and back. Ex
cept for a very short period when
he made the round trip from More-
head City to Goldsboro, he has de
voted his entire 34-year career to
traveling on Highway 17 as he does
today.
During those 34 years he has
driven approximately 2,734,550
miles. In all those miles, transport
ing thousands and thousands of
passengers, he has never once been
charged with an accident.
This despite the fact that the
Washington-Wilmington highway is
one of the heaviest traveled roads
in the State, and through the years
has had a grim toll of dead and in
jured.
Among fellow Seashore em
ployees the name Jack Horton and
the word “safety” mean almost the
same thing. The greatest compli-
had a mutual friend. General Hen
ry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, who
was then serving in Congress from
the state of Virginia. Lee arranged
a meeting, and^ Williams carried
the ball from tliere.
Incidentally, the portrait was
used on a nine-cent postage stamp
issued by the Federal government
in 1932, during the bi-centeimial
celebration of Washington’s birth
day.
meht paid the big, good natured
fellow—greater even than the af
fection his regular passengers feel
for him—is the deep respect ac
corded him by bus men every
where.
As remarkable as his fantastic
driving record is the fact that in
the 34 years he has missed just
four days from work due to illness.
He took a penicillin shot for sore
throat, ^back in 1957, and the
reaction forced him out of action.
Even then, officials of the company
practically had to hog-tie him to
keep him home.
At 56, he is as strong as an ox,
wd each year his annual physical
examination- -indicates that his
health is good enough to assure
Jack Horton
many more years of good driving.
Not only is Jack young in body,
but young at heart.
As friendly as a speckled puppy,
he smiles constantly and laughs
often.
His is a robust, rollicking sort of
laugh that somehow puts you in
mind of Santa Claus. He loves peo
ple and one look at his honest,
cheerful face will convince you
that driving over the same road
day in and day out for more than
a third of a century hasn’t grown
monotonous for him.
Having worked with him, years
ago, in the bus business, we’re con
vinced that the man is ageless. He
has shown no sign of change in
looks, temperament or attitude to
ward the world and folks who live
in it.
Jack takes everything in stride.
Like the time, early in his career,
when he was hailed down between
New Bern and Wilmington. A
group of folks wanted to go up the
road a piece for a funeral.
This wouldn’t have been unusual,
except for the fact that they want
ed him to haul the deceased too.
Obligingly, Horton loaded the cof
fin on top of his bus, and they pro
ceeded to the little country grave
yard.
No one who knows Jack would
have expected him to do anything
else at a time like that. Being a
bus driver presents all sorts of in
cidents and problems, but Horton
is so tolerant and understanding
that fellow passengers would be
tempted to thrash any individual
who found fault with him.
(Continued on back pogol