National Republican., 1876-05-15

wAsH1NeroH LITERARY SOCIETY.
The Closing Meeting ut General Garhelfs'
Centennial Relies Exhibited,


The last meeting for the season of the WASH
ington Literary Society took place Saturday even
ing at the residence of Genexal Garfield. Tho
subject Of discussion was, "who were the i've
greatest promoters of American Independence" 2"
This question was ably discussed by General Gar
field, Mrs. Long, Judge Drake, DR.. Chris. O. Cox
and Mr.. Howard.
After refreshments, DR.. Cox recited, by request,
N. p. WHILE poem upon the death Of Henry
Clay" and Judge Drake read a Centennial poem
by Mrs. Nealy, entitled "a Cup OF Tea ~ after
which Miss Johnston, daughter Of Judge john
ston, favored the company with several songs, her
voice being peculiarly sweet, and her manner al
together sympathetic and charming. She was
accompanied upon the piano by q pretty young
brunette, whose name is not remembered.
Among the Centennial relics then exhibited
the following are remembered: A lock of Wash
ington's hair and letter written by him early in
December, I779 only few days before his death,
by Mr.. Hoffman; letter from Jefferson to rs
daughter, and two ivory buttons worn upon the
coat Of the same sse%st G atm MAJ By Mrs. II Judge Weed;
CinciDnstus" Ex-senator Crittenden, Of Kentucky,
signed by Washington; also d .claration Of In
twelve prominent Kentucky gentlemen, by Mrs.
Chapman Coleman, q daughter of the great
statesman, Of Kentucky, above mentioned; a
Miss Gator, Of Capitol Hill, which she inherited
from her grand-uncle Fielding l. Lswis, jr., and
whtch was preSent-1 Dy washington 10 the elQer
Fielding Lewis, who serv-d upon his staff during
the Revolutionary war; also piece of bark rom q
tree marked by "Mr. George Washington" in his
survey of tract Of land in Hardy county, West
Virginia, and signci by Lord Fairfax in l752, by
Mrs Nealy, who has read the grant and descrIr-
tion of the trees marking the sorners Of the land
The bark-chestnut oak-st'll retains the smooth
cut of the axe. while that upon the white oak is
almost grown over, and the maple tree is entirely
gone.
Mr.. Nealy exhibited a miniature portrait on
ivory OF Mr.. Henderson. oil Phtlr ielphia, painted
by Raphael Peale, bro.rIr TO Rembrandt Peale;
also, a curious and VARIABLE lOcket and pin COM
binca, with a pieSule 4 bar, me- de by Iartfa
Washington, enc'rcl with pearls. These are
the property of Mr.. Hays, o; this city.
Dr. Toner exhibited great many letters OF
Washington end oGler gIesit men OF the last GEN.
tUry, as we'll a7 pic .ur = autogr- phs aud other
interesting relics. The only oil painting ex-
bibited was one of Mrs. Long, an exact reprC
sentation Of the punch bowl, from which the celc
returning from their famous rad upon the tea.
This oecurrcd in tie house Of Mrs. Longs ances-
tor, Benz. Edcs, EDITOR Of the Bo1ton GdSeiie, and
the bowl has been in the family nearly two hun
Crcd years.
This literary society has proved a most success
full organization in every respect, having been
conducted uuder strict rules and with great
its hostess through the grs iter portion OF the
season, Mrs. Dahlgren, and to Miss Henry, Miss
Johnston and General Garfield, who have taken
in turns the parts of hostess and host the society
owe grateIu ul thinks. With the hope that 1t may
not a gain languish when deprived of the magnetic
influence Of one who proved herself always equal
to the emergency during several mon.hs, and
who more than once lett her sick room to enter
tain her ocate members, the society closed its
season o. lSit-lsi6.