Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-22
"REMINISCENCES OF WASHINGTON.

vices were performed at the Capitol. and later
In the DAY there was dinner at Browns
first toast In honor of the Father OF his Country
oy an eloquent speech OF an hour in length. In
tne evening there were two public balls,-one
Ior the gentry at Carusi's saloon, and the other
LOT mechanics and tradeSrnen lat the Masonic
Temple.
! Congress had proposed to pay..signal homage
10 the memory OF Washington on the centen-
NAL anniversary of his birth by remoting his
remains TO the crypt beneath the dome OF the
capitol Mr.. Gusts, the grandson OF MIS-.
Washington, gave his assent; but Mr.. John A.
Washington, then the owner OF Mount Vernon,
declined TO permit the removal OF the remains,
on the ground that Virginia did not wish TO
part with them. but prompted, undoubtedly,
3 desire 10 dispose OF Mount Vernon, to
which they gave additional value, at a high
price.
Congress purchased Rembrandt Peale's por-
trait OF Washington. and the house ordered a
fuIlIepgth picture of him from Fanderlyn. a
celebrated New YORK artist \ commission
was also given 10 H0Taft0 GTeen0ugh for CO.
lOssal statue OF Washington in a sitting pos
ture to Dt placed on high pedestal In the
centre OF the Totunda OF the Capitol. The
Washington National Monument Association
after consultation with men or acknowledge
artist taste, selected from among the numer-
Gus designs submitted a simple obeliSk, five
hJHCgG feet In height. for the erection of
which the American people began at once to
COnIIibrte.
Mr.. SilaS Burrows a wealthy New York
ercbant, offered TO defray the expenses at
tenddnt on the erection of an imposing white
marble monument 10 the memory of Mrs.
Mary Washington. the mother OF George, at
the spot near fredericksburg where her re-
mains had probably been inferred. While
General jackson was on his way TO witness the
laying OF the cornerstone, the steamboat stop
ped for few moments at Alexandria and a
EiTgintan named Randolph, who had just been
ANONYMOUSLY dismissed from the navy be-
cause he would not aid in conceaung the defal-
cations of Purser Undertake, Mrs. EatonS
first husband. came en- board. Making his way
into the cabin, where the general sat smoking
his pipe, he advanced towards him, attempting
at the same time to pull of his right glove.
General Jackson, supposing that the stranger
wished to shake hands with him, said .'Never
mind your glove. sir. Excuse my not rising for
my side pains me-" and he extended his hand.
Randolph had by this time got his glove Off,
and he struck General jackson on one cheek;
but before he could repeat the blow he was
seized, scuffie enSued, and he was escorted on
shore.
General Jackson's blood was UP, but he could
not get at his adversary before he was hurried
away. Had been appri5ed," said he, THAT
Randolph stood before me, should have been
ready for him, and could have defended my
SELL
Sir" said a citizen of Alexandria, who had
come into the cabin. promise TO pardon me in
Case am tried and convicted, and | Will kill
Randolph In less than fifteen minutes
NO, SIR replied General jackson. Il want
no man to stand between me and my as5ail-
ats, nor none TO take revenge on my account
Had been prepared for this cOwardly Villains
approach, can assure you that he would never
pave the temerity TO undertake such a thing
again."
No attempt was made to arrest Randolph.
and lie escaped on horse which was in reaii-
ness General Jackson proceeded TO Freder-
fckSburg. where he was cordially welcomed
and the cornerstone OF the monument was
duly laid. soon after the structure was COM
meneed, however, Mr.; Burrows experienced
pecuDiary reverSeS, and the work On the mon
ument was arrested. 1t remains 10 day In an
unfinished condition.
Another attack IVES made on General Jack
son one afternoon as he was leaving the Capt.
tOl, where he had been to attend the funeral OF
repI eSentat1ye, by JOurneyman painter
named Richard Lawrence. Stepping In front
of the general. Lawrence snapped two loaded
pistols at him, In rapid succession. the per-
CuSsion cap OF each exploding without igniting
the charge. Al investigation proved beyond
doubt that Lawrence was insane, but General
jackson was tempted TO believe that the friends
OF the United states bank had prompted his
assassination.
Personal government was the bane of the
Jackson administration, and an OverWeening
idea OF his OWE Importance was the foundation
OF the old soldiers errors. 1t should be borne
In mind however, that he was surrounded by
nattererS, and that even the government OF
Harvard college paid homage to him. when he
visited Cambridge, by creating him a Doctor OF
Laws, although he could not write a letter
which did not contain errors in photography
and punctuation. 'By the eternal" was a IA
yorite phrase with him when he desired to give
emphasis to an expression, and he became very
profane when he lost his temper; yet he was
slant attendant on the services at the PreSby-
terrain church wherever he happened to be. SO
far as his prejudices and his narrowness OF
judgment permitted he was kind-hearted
nan, nor was he averSe to some or the pleas
Gres which he had enjoyed in his younger
days
The general always liked the physical excite
mort CT hOrse-race, where large aSSomblage
thrills With but one thought from the word
Co. until the winning horse reaches the goal,
and he was always to be seen at the spring
and fall races over the National Course, Just
north OF Washington city. Delegations OF
Sporting men from the Atlantic cities crowded
into The metropolis during the race weeks;
there were jockey-club dinners and Jockey
Cub balls; and the course reSoundcd TO the
Fl otfalls OF noted horses, especially Boston,
Sir Charles, Emily, and Blue Dick. In 1885
General Jackson had lilly of his own raising
brought from the Hermitage and entered for
race oy Major Donelson, his private secretary.
Nor did he conceal his chagrln when the FLY
was beaten by an imported Irish col, named
LaDgford, owned by Captain Stockton OF the
navy, and he had 10 pay lost wagers amount
iIg TO nearly thousand dollars, while Mr..
Van Buren, and other devoted adherents who
had let on the filly were also losers.
gentlemen would often go from dinner
parties 10 the theatre in an intoxicated con-
d1tiOn. and one night the Hon. James Blair,
then representative in Congress from South
Carolina who was on what was denOmlnatei
a spree" took offenSe at a remark by one OF
the actors which he imagined was meant for
him. and drawing pistol nred at the uncOn-
SsiOus offender. The ball passed just above
Miss Jenersons head and the actors left the
stage without ceremony. Mr.. Blair was per-
Suaded by his friends 70 leave the house. and
then Mr.. IngerSoll, the stage manager, ap-
peared. looking very pale. Ladies' and gen.
tiemen." said he. If there is 10 be shooting at
the actors on the stage, it will be impossible
for the performance TO go on About three
weeks afterwards Mr.. Blair ia lit OF delirium
tremens blew out his own brains with pistol
at his lodgings on Capitol Hill.
The first society letters" as they are cllle1,
written from Washington. were by Nathaniel
7. Willis 10 the New York Mirror. Willis
was al that time foppiSh, Slender young man.
with profuston or long light hair, who al
ways dressed In the height or fashion. He
had. While travelling III Europe mingled with
the ari5tOcratic classes, and he affected ID look
down upon the masses: but with all his SuOb-
biShnesS he had a wonderful faculty for en-
downing thrilling occurrences with interest and
his letters have never been surpassed. He
POSSESSED sunny nature, fulla poetry. enthu-
slasm, and cheerfulneSS,-alwayS willing to
say pleasant word for those who treated him
kindly, and never seeking TO retaliate on those
who SDeeTed at and maligned him.
Wills first introduced steel pens at Wash
ingtOn, having brought over from England
some Of those made by Joseph elliott at BirIn-
fngham- Before this, goOSe-quill pens had
been exclusively used and there was In each
house OF Congress ana Ia each department q
penman who made pens Another new invea-
ton OF that epoch was the lucifer matchbox
which superseded the large tin tinder-boX,
With its flint and steel.
The mayor or Washington. during the clio Sing
years OF the Jackson administration. was Peter
d 0ah Rfsr4Or of -yxn H1s1