Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-27
Washington Fifty Years Ago.

Congress mas It's comedies as we'll as
it's tragedies, and the leading comedian
was Thomas Corwin, Representative
from Ohio, who was type of early
Western culture and born humorist.
lie was a middle-sized, somewhat stout
man, with pleasing manners, fine
head. sparkling hazel eyes. and COM
pleXlon so dark that on several Occa
sions-as he used to narrate with great
glee-he WAS supposed to be of African
descent. =" There is no need of my
working" said he, for whenever
cannot support myself iu Ohio all /
should have to do would be 10 cross the
river. give myself up to n Kentucky
negro.trader. be taken South, and sold
for field hand" lie always had Il
story ready to illustrate subject of
conversation, and the dry manner in
which he enlivened his speeches by
pungent witticisms, without 4 smile ON
his own stolld countenauce, was irre-
sistible.
President Van Buren endeavorc,l to
restore the good feeling between the
administration and Washington "soci
ety." which had been ruptured during
the political rule of Gen. Jackson. He
gave numerous entertainments at the
White House, and used to attend those
given by his Cabinet, which was re
garded as an innovation, rs his prede.
cessors had never accepted social invi
tations. Elk President Adams, tie
widow Of President Madison and the
widow of Alexander Hamilton each
formed the center Of "a pleasant coterie,
and the President was open in the ex-
preston Of his desire that the mem beers
of his Cabinet and their principal sub
ordiuates should each give series of
dinner parties and evening receptions
during tho successive sessions Of Con
gress.
Tue dinner parties were very much
alike, aud those who were in succession
guests ut different houses often saw the
same table ornaments and were served
by the same walters, while the fare was
prepared by the same COOK. The guests
used to assemble in the parior, which
Was almost invariably connected with
the dining-room by large folding doors
When the dinner was ready the folding
doors were thrown open, ANA the table
was revealed, covered with dishes and
cut-giass ware. A watery compound
called vegetable soup WAS invariably
served, followed by boiled fish, over
done roast beef or mutton. roast fowl
or game in their season, and u great
variety Of buildings, pies, cake and ice
cream. The fish, meat and fowl were
carved and huiped by the host, while
tho l'dy Ut the house distributed the
vegetables, the pickles and the dessert
Champagne. without ice, was sparingly
supplied III long, slender glasses, but
there WAS no lack of sound claret, and
with tue dessert, several bottles of old
Madeira were generally produced by
the lost, who succinc,ly gave the age
and history Of each. The best M ,deira
was that labeled the Supreme Court"
rs their houors, the justices, used to
nake direct importation every year.
and zip It as they consulted over the
cases before them every day after din
ner. when the cloth had been removed.
Some rare old specimens of this Su-
preme Court wine Can still be found in
Washington wine. cellars.
Al tue evening parties the carpet was
lifted from the room SGT apart for dane
ing. and the floor was chxlked in colors
to protect tue dancers from slipping.
Th~ music was almost Invariably first
aud second violin, with flute aud harp
accompaniments. Light refreshments,
such as water ices, lemonade. negus,
and small Cakes, were handed about on
walters between every two or three
dauces. The GROWING glory of the
entertainment, however, was the sup
per, which had beeu prepared under
the supervision Of the hostess, aided by
some Of her intimate friends, who had
also loaned their china and silverware.
The table WAS covered with beef a Ia
mode. cold roast turkey, ducks and
chickens, fried and stewea oysters,
blanc mango. jeliies. whips, floating
islands, candied oranges and numerous
varieties Of tarts anu cakes. Very often
tho young men. after having csc ,rted.
the ladies to their respective homes,
would meet again at some oyster.
to 60 out on lark, in imitation of the
young English bluods in the play OF
Tom and Jerry" Singing, or rather
shouting popular songs, they would
break windows, wrench off knockers,
call up doctors and transpose sign
boards; nor was there night watch.
man to interfere with their roistering.-
atlantic.