Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-05-13
Reminiscences of washington.

Wv RSh VI thO AuNJ iACNs III. AnUDNl
Green, long time President of Princeton
College, and one of the carly Chap,ains
OF Congress, has just been published:
After great deal of talking, and
writing, and controversy, about the per-
manent seat of Congress, under the pre-
sent Constitution, it was determined that
Philadelphia should be honored with its
presence for ten years, and afterwards its
permanent location should be il the city
of Washington, where it now is. lii
the mean time the Federal City was in
building, and the Legislature of Penn
sylvania voted sum of money to build
a house for the President, perhaps with
some hope that this might help to keep
the seat of the General Government in
the capital, for Philadelphia was then
the capital Of the State. What was lately
the University of Pennsylvania was the
structure erected for the purpose But
as soon as Gen. Washington saw its di-
mansions, and good while before it was
finished, he let it be known that he would
not occupy, and should certainly not go
to the expense of purchasing suitable
furniture for such dwelling for tits to
be understood, in those days Of stern
Republicanism, nobody thought Of Con-
gress furnishing the Presidents house I;
or if, perchance, such u thought did enter
into some arstocratic head, it was too
unpopular to be uttered.
President Washington, therefore, rent
cd house Of Mr.. Robert Morris, in
Market street, between Fifth and Sixth
streets, on the south side, and furnished
it handsomely, but not gorgeously.-
There he lived, with Mrs Washington,
Mr.. Lear (his Private Secretary and
wife, and Mrs. Washngtons grandson,
Gusts, making a part Of the family
Young Gusts had private tutor, en-
ployed by the President. who vas en-
gagged to attend on his pupil one hour in
the winter mornings before breakfast,
and who then commonly breaifasted with
the President and his family. The Pre-
sident ate Indian cakes for his breakfast,
and after the Virginia fashion, although
buckwheat cakes were generally on the
table.
Washington's dining parties we're en-
tertained in very handsome style His
weekly dining hour was always four
O'Clock in the afternoon. His rule was
to allow five minutes for the variation of
clocks and watches, and then 20 to the
table, be present or absent whoever
might. He kept his own clock in the
hall, just within the outward door, and
always exactly regulated When tagging
members Of Congress came in, as they
often did, after the guests had sat down
to dinner, the Presidents only apology
was, Gentlemen, Cor sir we are too
punctual for you. | have cook who
never asks whether the company has
come, but whether the hour has come"
The company usually assembled in the
drawing-room about fifteen or twenty
minutes before dinner, aud the President
spoke to every guest personally on enter
ing the room. lie was always dressed
in a suit Of black, his hair powdered,
and tied in a black queue behind, with a
very elegant dress sword, which he wore
with inimitable grace.
Mrs Washington often, but not al
ways, dined with the company, sat at
the head Of the table, and if, az was oc-
casionally the case, there were other la
dies present, they sat Mt the foot Of the
table, and she was expected to be quiet
and attentive to all the guests. The
President himself sat half way from the
head to the foot OF the table, and on that
side which would place Mrs. Washington,
though distant from, hirn on his right
hand. lie always, unless a Clergyman
were present, at bis own table, asked a
blessing in a standing posture. If a
clergyman were present, he was request
cd both to ask blessing and to return
thanks after dinner. The centre Of the
table contained five or six large silver or
plated walters, three Of the ends circu>
lar, or rather oval on one side, SO MS 10
make the arrangement correspond with
the shape Of the table The walters be-
tween the pieces we're in the form Of pa
rallelograms, the ends about one third
part Of the length Of tho sides and the
whole Of these walters were filed with
alabaster figures, taken from the ancient
mythology, but none Of them such as to
offend, in the smallest degree, against
delicacy
A small roll Of bread, enclosed in a
napkin, was laid by the side Of each
plate The President, it' is believed,
generally dincd on one dish, and that Of
simple kind If offered something,
either in the first or second course which
was very rich. bis usual reply was, "That
is too good for me-" Ilo had a silver
pint cup Or mug Of beer placed by bis
plate, which he drank while dining. He
took one glass Of wine during dinner
and commonly ono after. lie then re-
tired, (the ladies' having gone a liLde
before him, and loft his secretary 10 SUI
perintend the table till the wine bibbers
Of Congress had satisfied themselves with
drinking. His wines we're always the
best that could be obtained. Nothing
could exceed the order with which his
table was served Every servant knew
what he was to do, and did il in tho most
quiet and yet rapid manner. The dishes
and plates were removed with silence
and speed which seemed like cnchant-
ment.
FER The Man who travels thousand
miles in thousand hours may be tolor.
ably quick footed but he isn't to0gll
TO tho woman that keeps up with .ho ia,l-