New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20
Thurloyy Weeds Borrowed Dress
Coat.

| In 1928, while at Washington, received an
invitation from Mr.. Clay to dinner. Two days
| aiterward the porter of Gadsby's Hotel, where
| was staying, said to me-: " 1 hope you will
accept Mr.. Clay's invitation, sir" ] said
How do you know ] had an invitation fron'
| Mr.. Clay ~ - Oh, sir, the letter came through
the office and we all know Mr.. Ciays hand
writing" He repeated his hope that would
| 90 and added . Gentlemen sometimes come
| to Washington on business without bringing
their dress coats with them. Possibly you have
| forgotten yours you would do me a great
| favor by accepting one | havn't worn, and
which would fit you nicely" The porter who
was evidently an observing and sagacioas man,
had OWNED the truth. | not only had not
brought a dress-coat; but i 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 kiRdness and deicacy that accepted both
the coat and the invitation.
Gen jackson in 1928 succeeded Mr.. Adams
| as President. From that time until lS4O,
during the administration of Jackson and Van
Buren, a period of twelve years, was not again
| In Washington. In the latter year, upon the
election of Gen. Harrison, ! again visited the
city and in passing through the Treasury
Department, encountered my old friend Brady,
the thoughtful porter whose coat had worn to
MIR. Clay's dinner, with whom l exchanged a
very hearty greeting. He informed me that
he had received clerkship III the department
from Gen. Jackson but, as the spoils be-
longcd TO the victors, he now expected 10 lose
his place. After parting with him, | went to
the Secretary of the Treasury and related TO
him the peculiar obligation under which l had
formerly placed myself to the friendly porter,
adding, what / was quite sure he would find
true that he was very capable and faithful
ha Lot fh.,n nf.,rn
of the obligation l had incurred years before
and cheeriully consented to retain my friend in
his situation.
Ina the year lS43, while again al Washington,
ID. ID. Barnard, our representative from Albany,
invited me to dinner His q mess " consisted
OF John Crcig, of Canandagua; Henry Van
Rensselaer,, of Ogdensburg; and Jared Ingcrsoll,
OF Philadelphia-a very select and refined cir
Gle, all being gentlemen of high social position.
When the dessert was about to be brought on,
it being an exceedingly hot day, Mr.. Creig
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
veraBda, discovered in the person arranging
the table my old friend Brady, with whom |
cordially shook hands. | 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, l comu.enced relating the story of the
coat, which my lastidious friend, Mr.. Barnard,
attempted to interrupt from sense Of horror
that a friend whom he had honosed with an
invitation TO dinner should voluntarily confess
that he had worn a hotel-keepers dress-eoat to
dinner with the Secretary Of State. Mr..
lngersolfs susceptibllities seemed also to be
disturbed but MIR. Creig one of . Natures
noblemen,' 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 incl
dent My old friend remained through several
administrations in the Treasury Department,
and died fifteen years. ago, extensively known
and greatly respected among the citizens of
ngton.-- GALAXY.