The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-01
Twenty-Five Years Ago.
A BREAKFAST AT THE WASHINGTON RESI-
DENCE OF DANIEL WEBSTER.

A BREAKFAST AT THE WASHINGTON RESI-
DENCE OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
Washington society was delightful twenty
five years age. 1t may be said with truth that
Washington society is always delightful, for
there is q combination there, or should be, OF
not only eur own best thinkers and talkers.bu
there is also a foreign element, in the diplomat
c people, Which must be Of exceentassstance
in forming society--meeting, too, on COM
mon ground, where nobody is particularly res
ponsible for his own surroundings in the way
OF houses and lands, q state Of things very ia
vorable to the Development OF the individu-
al.
That sort OF freedom does moi exist in any of
our other cities. lin Boston, the proverb says
they ask "How much you knows" i'll New
York, s'How much are you worth?" in balti-
more, ''If you are good-looking;' and in Phil
atlelphia, ssWho You grandfather was;'' but in
dear, responsible Washington, they ask, sis he
agreeable?"
This is Il question which every one can an
swer for himself, at his first dinner party SO
it happened in the shabby ant poor old town
innocent of upholstering, which Washington
then was-that it was often answered i'll the
affirmative. Balls were given in rickety halls
which were orllamented by very imprisoned
hanoings, and lighted by candies stuck in chan
that 'spermaceti was so expensive" said gen
tleman once. as he surveyed his coar, "but
paid ten dollars the price Of ball tcketfor less
than pound ~ The inhabitants lived in
small. narrow, inconyenient houses, which
were very much out of keeping with the mag
nifcent broad streets OH which they stood
The hotels were barren, poorly furnished, and
cold; the boarding-houses exceedingly plain,
and. if one could secure a decent table, it was
all that could be expected. There were some
good colored cooks. it is true, and the dinners
were not bad. One or two fine houses, like
Mr.. Ogle Iaylor's and Mr.. Cercoran's, the
"Octagen,' and some on Presidents square.
lighted up the shabby, half-built town. but it
was only the exception which proved the rule.
But what interior, what warmth of welcome,
what genial hospitality, what elegance OF man
ner, what charm OF conversation greeted the
visitor in the houses of Gales and Seaton, the
Mays. the Taylors, the Blars, the Ritches, the
Lees, the Persons, the Ramseys, and thous-
and others That old southern society was
replete with charm aud grace-lt was simple
and neighborly. In the spring, when paren-
NAL tlrapery OF flowers and vines, beautiful
poisoning trees. and all the lavish drapery
spread by Proserpine's gentle hand had hid
den the defo.mites Of mans imperfect work,
ting on their door steps, or running from house
to house with a pitcher in hand, containing
some nice beverage, OF a platefull OF some deli
cacy for sick friend, bonnetless and gloveess.
There seemed no improperly in these out-oI-
DIOR civilities in the quiet, friendly. deserted,
grand avenues, or the still more quiet side
streets. The southern hospitality and grace
were very agreeable to the northern people,
and were admirably responded to by Mr.. With
row when Speaker of the House, and by Mr.
Webster, by Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, a few years
before, and by the two agreeable New Workers,
James G, and John A. King, who had joint
palatal establishment, and who gave very e}e-
giant entertainment. In fact, it began to, D.
feared that these opulens New Workers might
injure the tone of the simple Washingtonians,
that they might began to sigh for real chande-
liers and such like ga.lds. There were cases,
to be sure, of sporadic splentlor; few cmbas-
sailors had gold and silver service. Mr.. Cor
coran even then lived in something like his
subsequent elegance; the Riggs family. and u
few others, had the belongings OF epulence and
taste. But the order was shabblness and pow
erty, and think, it conduced to general social
ability, and enjoyment. The officers OF the
army and navy always our aristocraey,) and
those who served the government in other ca
pacities, were professionally poor, OF course
Therefore it became, in measure, fashionable
to be poor and it was -wttiiy said BY wash
ington lady. when the wife OF an officer in the
navy happened to have sich father, VINO
bought her a honsc, that she rather lost caste
in the best society of Washington thereby, and
was looked upon as a nouUedu 2'ache.
1t is a very good sign in our new ana pros
porous world (were mans ability and worth
arc too much measured by his talent for mon
cv-gettng.) when the people are not ashamed
OF being poor. This was the distinction OF od
Washington society, and it lifted much OF that
burden of false pretenses, which makes the
minor misery Of society i'll other places.
Mr.. Webster moved as king IN washington
society for many years. His Commanding
presence, his admirable and dignited style OF
dress, his super!atiye powers as converse
Journalist all. added to his leadership IN the
old wing party Chen counting in its ranks the
best takers and most ornamental men both
North aud South.) made Mr.. Webster the CEN
trail ifs ure of IL Washington winter. One Won
dered that he desired the Presidency. Tor lie
was always much more than Preslncht. never
being in any sense q rich man, Mr.. WeDster
lived in republican simplicity in little house
in Louisville avenue, next door to the Unitarian
church. There he gave famous dinners, COOK
ed by an old black woman named Monica, VINO
was so eminent an artist in fried oysters, ter
rapin and canvass-back duck, that she was CIT
en- called in and complimented. In those days
Fletcher Webster was often in Washlngtoh,are'
added much to the talk on these occasion. ne
| was very witty, and could make his INDUSTRIOUS
lsltilCT idCSu liz llsttt WY P'>oJ
vers do societe, and once embalmea the hame
of the old cook in a laughing renonstrance. 4
| LADY, had accused hi1. of sending poquet TO
| very pretty girl, which he denied III tue follow
| ing language:
my dear Auntie Bess,
l hear that you guess
| That sent boquet to Miss Sullivan
But tie credit belongs to another mani
To the greenhouse went,
BY another man sent.
Admired each rose and japonlca
! But when buy green,
am sure twill be seen
| On the table, well cooked by old Monica"
This gay, witty and accomplished man 1ell
as IL is well known, at the second battle OF Bull
| RIM. almost within sight of the city Where ne
had enieyed many convivial hours. lie fell j.
| the midst of that fraternal strife winch MI
Webster foresaw, and prayed to DC deilsefed
Fletcher Webster was an unsel1isll ana 10Y eaole
person. Peace to his ashes.
An invitation from Mr.. Webster IN those
| DAYS. to dinner OF breakfast, was almost
command. AS in London the invitations O
the Duke Of Wellington were considered to OBJ
literate all other engagements. except a com
| mand from the palace, so MIR. Webstcr's INVITA-
| lions were imperative, unless one was engaged
| at the White House. No one disliked 10 oDe.
these mandates, written always i'll a Witty ant
informal manner. One of them lies pe1or
me:
| Will ven breakfast will