Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-01

THURLow WEEDS BORROWED DRESS
CoAT.-In 1925, while at Washington, !
received an invitation from Mr.. Clay to
dinner Two days afterward the porter
of Gadsby's Hotel, where was staying,
said to me, II hope you will accept Mr..
| Claws invitation, sir" / said, "How do
| you know had an invitation from Mr..
Clay ?" "Oh, sir, the letter came through
the Office. and we all know Mr.. Clays
hand writing" He repeated his hope that
I would go, and added, Gentlemen some
times come to Washington on business
without bringing their dress coats with
them. Possibly you have forgotten yours
if you did you would do me great favor
by accepting one I haven't worn, and
which would fit you nicely" The porter.
who was evidently an observing and saga
cious man, had OWNED the truth. | not
only had not brought dress coat, but /
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 I accepted both the coat
and the invitation.
General jackson in 1928 succeeded Mr..
Adams as president From that time UNI
til 1910, during the administration of
Jackson and Van Buren,, period of
twelve years, was not again in Washing
ton. In the latter year, upon the cleo
ton of General Harrison, again visited
the city, and in passing through the treas
ury apartment I encountered my old
friend Brady, the thoughtful porter whose
coat / had worn to Mr.. Clay's dinner,
with whom I exchanged very hearty
greeting. He informed me that he had
received clerkship in the department
from General Jackson, but as the "spoils
belonged to the victors," he now expected
to lose his place. After parting with him
I went to the secretary of the treasury
and related to him the peculiar obliga-
ton under which I had formerly placed
myself to the friendly porter, adding what
[ was quite sure he would find too true,
that he was a very capable and faithful
clerk. The secretary was amused at the
nature of the obligation / had incurred
years before, and cheerfully consented to
retain my friend in his situation.
In the year 1843, while again at Wash
ington, D. D. Barnard, our representative
from Albany, invited me to dinner. His
"mess' consisted of John Craig of Canaan
daigua, Henry Van Rensselaer, of Og-
densburg, and Jared Ingersoll of Phil
adelphia-a very select and refined circle,
all being gentlemen of high social
position When the dessert was
about to be brought on, it being OK
ceedingly hot day, Mr.. Greig suggested
that we should move TO the veranda,
where we could enjoy the cool breeze
from the bay. In going from the dining
room to the verands discovered in the
person arranging the table my old friend
Brady, with whom I cordially shook
hands. I learned from the brief questions
which / put to him that he was the host
of that house, and that these members of
Congress were his guests. As soon as he
retired commenced relating the story of
the coat, which my fastidieus friend Mr.
Barnard attempted to interrupt, from a
sense of horror that friend whom he had
honored with an invitation to dinner
should voluntarily confess that he had
worn a hotel-keeper's dress-coat to din
ner with the Secretary of State. Mr.. In
gersoll's susceptibilities seemed also TO be
disturbed, but Mr.. Greig, one of natures
noblemep," and Mr.. Van Rensselaer, (the
latter an accomplished son of the 'old
PATRON" and son-in-law of the late John
A. King, enjoyed the story immensely,
and insisted upon having Brady called in
to give his version of the incident. My
old friend remained through several ad-
ministrations in the treasury department,
and died fifteen years ago, extensively
known and greatly respected among the
citizens of Wsshington.-Mr. Weeds Re
ma IA, ieo10ees a, the JnIrrN