National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-14
A DAY AT THE EBBITT,

A DAY AT THE EBB1TT
si-rCH OF THE DIYING-RoOI AM
PORTRAITS OF G UESTS.
DIES RrPTIoN OF THE HoTEL-THE LOBBY
ANDITs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE
pINING-RuoM-SoMEoF THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE THERE.
Apropos of hotel life, let us linger for an even
ing in the thronged halls Of another than vii
lard's.
Standing on the crest of street, ut its inter
section with Fourteenth, and conspicuous for the
beauty of its pure white facade, fs the Ebbitt
house. one of the most popular, cosy and com
Portable of hotels. With its foundations laid deep
in Newspaper Row, and uplifted, as It were, by Sc
much that is able and brilliant in journalism, the
superstructure could be naught else than bright
and attractive. But to those who enter and dwell
within its hosptable walls the promise is not de-
lusive, for mine host takes care that none who
enter shall leave any hope behind. Tho hotel
has recently undergone thorough remodelmg
and reftting, at great expense and In excellent
taste, and is now decidedly one of the most COM
plete and Elegant in the country. The halls are
capacious and admirably adapted to their use.
The main hall, in which is the office, is . gem Of
architectural taste and SKILL and is as light airy
and graceful as an Eastern kiosk. Everybody
knows Caleb Willard. His name is synony'
NOUS with improvement and public spirit
and as Landlord, one could be more At
tentive to the wants Of his guests more careful
and efficient in adm inistering the complex affairs
Of his hotel The young gentlemen in the Office
Meesrs. Logan, Frazier, Burch, etc.-are ency.
clopadias Of useful knowledge, whom, in this age
nf hofal ira q \ IN oh.
and II, In the multitude and distraction of their
duties they cannot answer your immediate de-
mands, they ut least bow you away with smile,
facinatinE in its perfect consolation.
The Ebbftt has long been the favorite rendez-
vous of the oficers Of the army and navy, and
these hardy sons Of Mars and Neptune may be
seen daily there in fraternal confab. High ad-
mirals and beardiess middIes may jostle each
other in the crowded halls in careless forgetful-
ness Of the rigid discipline of the quarterback,
and rugged generals ignore subordination in
eager discussion of the army bill with an ensign
or sub-iieutenant.
oren among them you will meet . historic
narne famous for doughty deeds on sea and land,
and Of which the nation is proud; and not unfre-
qucntIy there comes one or more OF whom we
know from Dixle's land, and the meeting is not
unpleasant TO see, for the brave know Nc section,
and peace has healed all wounds.
THE LOBBY AT THE EBBITT
Is an important one in political and Legislative
public life are domicIied there. The Row comes e
with the regularity of the daily mail to look for
paragraphs, and lobbyists Of every degree watch
sutton- hole them for a whispered word nt every
point and angle. 1t is q curious spectacle, these
halls, lighted and crowded in early evening Of SO
many sorts and kinds Of the human race, and
with SO many different interests-with such an as
sortment of axes to grind-from him who seeks to
BE- Cabinet Minister to the aspirant for con-
70 hn fSl mas In
the printing bureau. Knots and groups OF men
are scattered all around, and restless, hungry
eyed looking fellows are moving to and fro, iiling
NJ the interstices making the scene Kaleidoscope
IN Ks many changes. Gaunt, tall and dark, a
member Of Congress slowly elbows his way to
refresh himself at the bar with three
circle Of amused listeners, right under the very
tkyyight, stands an alert, vigorous form-Colonel
Richard Wintersmith-in the highest top sparkle
pfa Western anecdote, which convulses even the
gaturnine Morton. Colonel Dick, as he is widely
Known is the raconfeur par excellence Of his day,
md famous as possessing the keenest wit and
strongest arm in Kentucky. In animated CONVEX
sation with noted member of the NTH house is
Senator Robertson. the wealthy South Carolinian,
fhe only native to the manner born who has
been twice elected to serve in the Senate by
southern State since its reconstruction. Usually
Iedate, almost to moroscness, what can 1t be that
gives such brilliancy and interest to his features?
All. now we understand the topic of tho CONVEX
sation. The adroit lobbyist has tathomed the weak
point, and entered his wedge successfully. They
horses which the Senator has brought with him
from his home in Columbia-which, by the way,
cannot be excelled in style and point by any
above another" continued the Senator stroking
his goatee. at is horsefesh. 1t was always my
pride to own the fastest and prettiest team in my
country, and consider this pair the best ever
owned. Yesterday a rich colleague of mine In
the Senate offered me q check in blank for them,
telling me, at the same time, 1 might fill in any
amount wanted as their price; But don't see
IT, he continues. .sWhatever they are worth to
any other man, be he ever so wealthy, they are Of
equal value to me-" .But it isn't every man,
Senator" interposes the foxy one, "that can
handle such q team in like manner to yourself 1
noticed you yesterday on the Avenue, and hun
Greds admired the delicate touch with which you
eased tine ribbons and kept them, at the same
time so we'll together and so nicely In hand" &C.,
&c And thus runs the glib tongue of hattery, to
has no weak point beyond that of pride in his
equipage.
Turning to the right about, in q far-of corner
Is seated
GENTLEMAN OF FkLsTAFFIAN PROPORTIONS.
but by NO means resembling the knight in any
pther point OF character. He is the very last man
In the world that bears outward semblance of his
profession, which IL none other than that OF
sailor, and yet there was o day when that good
two hundred and fifty avoirdupois could mount
ratIine and climb the top with any man. Father
Time has dealt leniently with him, however and NO
ono would fancy that nearly half century OF his
life had been passed in his country's service and
most of it active service at that Although q
Marylander by birth Washington claims Admiral
Ioldsborough as her child by adoption, for he has
traveller and an accomplished linguist, he is ar.
guing our relations with Spain with an atfache Of
his Conversation as correctly as our Interpretation
Of the French language will admit We believe the
good old Admiral is lar from being on the war
3ath.i
He says he knows the Spanish character well,
and has Travelled as many feet Of Spanish soil as
I'D bon Cesar de Bazan in his retrogressions,
md me I'd
Is an opponent, they will make q sad mistake-as
much SO as did the Merrimac when she tackled
he little cheese-box Monitor, before paying his
respects to my flagship, as was the intention.
Dplomaticlike, the Frenchman turns the subject
10 the discussion Of new entremet which the chef
The Admiral how he smacks his chops over the
description of It. An epicure hmself-almost q
gourne.-this little fine bouche has its attractions
which he means to have hand at himself the
day following.
Seated near the window in the outer hall on one
of the stationary sofas against the WALL is quiet,
unobtrrsve man, with q calm, Intelligent face,
whose gaIe seems TO reach beyond the scenes be-
fore him, into the distant past. One remarking
ess had once been SO great that his name had been
at one time aterror throughout the borders of two
turbulent States. But he met, one early morning,
his quietus in another quiet man
ONE OF sToNKwALL JAcKsoN's NEs-
whose glance along the rifles barrel suited him
TOT anI;ssES vas ns sset h., h.,, in tn. If,
lie ante-chamber to deliver our hat TO the Ct
tendant in charge. Simple % this proceeding
may be, and apparently uninterestiNg to or:
readers, yet there is much importance attached
20 the conduct Of this attendant who notwith-
standing the hundreds intrusted to his care al
most At the same moment, has yet to report his
FIRST loss this season. Should party OF Ave CON-
ing together, hand him their hats for safe keep
ing, we will wager an Albemarle pippn that ne
returns each to its individual owner without sub
,ecton TO their individual scrutiny. This facility is
only acquired by long habit, and as q tax on the
memory far excels that of calling the last two
sarls in your adversary's hands at q game Of
whist,
II there -is one point above another that Mr..
willard may Justly feel proud OF, in connection
With his hotel, It is his dining room, which, in our
,pinion is perfection itself More than sufficiently
large 10 meet the requirements of the guests, It
combines the two great desideratuns OF ban
Suet hall-heighth and light. In this respect It
& by far the grandest In Washirgto vhile the
decorations, blue, gold and white, are pccuiaTly
.haste. The old system Of long dining tables
aas given place to little cosy ones, where part1O
Of from four to eight can be accommodated, and
The colored walters are required TO robe them
)elves in q uniform of white, in keeping with the
marble floor, the crystal chandeliers, and last,
it9ugl not least, tho sfotlsss table linen, Of
Ehich there is alwaysa superb Guidance. We are
glad that tho architect designed the tastefuity
jhaped window In the north end Of the hail. which
p also on level with one of the ladies' parlors