Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19
THURLOw WEEDS BORROWED
DRE9a.COAT.

From Mr.. Thurlow Weeds "reminiscences In
the December Galaxy we take the following
In Is25, while at Washington, I received an
invitation from Mr.. Clay to dinner Two DAYS
afterward the porter OF Gadsby's Hotel, where
was STAYING, said to me, al hope YOU will ac-
cept Mr.. Clay's invitation, sir" / said. Chow
did You know 1 had an Invitation from Mr.
clay on, SIR, the letter came through the
once, ana we all know Mr.. Claws handwriting"
DE repeated his hope that would 90 and add
go, Gentlemen sometimes come to Washington
on business without bringing their dress-coats
", WIN Insm. POSSIBLY you have forgotten yours;
"a you old, you would do me a great favor by
accepting one haven { worn, and which would
nj you nicely" The porter, who was evidently
an observing and sagscious man, had OWNED
the truth Il not only had not brought dress
coat, but 1 did not possess one to bring, and
really was regretting the necessity of declining
the invitation for that reason. But the porter
urged his offer with such kindness and delicacy
that accepted both the coat and the invitation.
General jackson in 1923 succeeded Mr.. Adams
As President. From that time until 1870, during
the administra atoms of jackson and Van Buren,
a period of twelve years, / was not again in
Washington. In the latter year, upon the cleo
ton OF General Harrison, again visited the
city, and in passing through the Treasury De-
partment encountered my old friend Brady,
the thoughtful porter whose coat L had worn
to Mr. Gays dinner, with whom exchanged
very hearty greeting. He informed me that he
bad received clerkship in the Department
from General jackson, but as the "spoils be-
longed to the victors, >" he now expected to lose
the Secretary of the Treasury and related to
him the peculiar obligation under which had
formerly placed myself to the friendly porter
adding, what was quite sure he would lind to
be true, that he was q very capable and faithful
clerk. The Secretary was amused at the nature
of the obligation 1 had incurred years before,
and cheerfully consented to retain my friend in
his situation.
In 1s43, while again at Washington, the Hon
ID. ID. Barnard, our representative from Albany,
invited me to dinner. His "mess" consisted of
the Hon. John Greig of Canandaigua, the Hon.
Henry Van Rensselaer, Of Ogdensburg, and the
Hon. Jared lngersoll of Philadelphia-a very
select and refined circle, all being gentlemen of
high social position. When the desert was about
to be brought on, 1t being an exceedingly hot
day, Mr.. Greig suggested that we should move
70 the verandah, where we could enjoy the cool
breeze from the bay: In going from the dining
room to the verandah discovered in the person
arranging the table my old friend Brady, with
whom cordially shook hands. I learned from
the brief questions put to him that he was the
host or that house, and that these mem
bers of Congress were his gusets. As
soon as he retired I commenced relating the
story of the coat, which my fastidious friend,
sense of horror that friend whom he had hon
ored with an invitation to dinner should yOlun-
tarlly confess that he had worn a hotel keepers
dress-coat to a dinner with the Secretary of
State. Mr.. IngersOlIs susceptibilities seemed
also to be disturbed, but Mr. Greiy, one of sna-
ture q noblemen," and Mr. Van Rens selasr 1.-THE
lat or an accomplished son of the sold Pa troSn"
and son-in-law Of the late John A. King en-
joyed the story immensely, and insisted upon
having Brady called in to give his version of
the incident. My old friend remained through
several administrations in the Treasury Depart
ment, and died fifteen years ago, extensively
known and greatly respected among the citi-
Zens of Washington.