The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-09-04

the building, and the principal tables
were in the center of each room. Over
head, in the garnet rooms, trap doors,
each about six feet in length and three
feet in width, had been cut in the floors.
By raising one Of these and lying down
in the opening, Il confederate could look
down through one of several aperaturcs
in the ceiling, and see the cards held by
the victim seated at the table below. At
his side was Il wire, which was ingeni-
ously made to act on Il point which rose
from the floor under the feet of the gam
bier. who would make some excuse for
removing one of his boots or shoes, and
who was thus informed, by a system Of
signals, what cards the victim held Ill
his hand. This system of telegraplly was
older than that patented by Morse, but
virtually the same, and the machinery
was so made that it worked with silence
and precision. The puncture in the cell
ing which gave view of the cards to
the confederate overhead were screened
from view by an ornamental center piece
of green wall paper pasted on the cell
ing, and the small aperture in the floor
through which the point rose was con-
cealed by the carpet. 1t was not to be
wondered at. after an examination of this
machinery, that several successive pro-
prietors of this gambling den had grown
rich. or that many had beggared them
selves by playing there. One foreign
minister lost his outfit, and could not
have gene to the scene of his diplomatic
labors had not the proprietor of the Rock
endorff House loaned him enough money
to defray his expenses.
Lottery Offices were also abundant on
Pennsylvania Avenue in those days. the
establishments of Maury, France, Gre
CORY, and Phalen rivaling one another in
the number of tickets which each sold.
Lottery tickets were also sold at what
were known as exchange offices, where
sold. Some of the largest fortunes in
Washington city at the present time had
their origin in the profits attendant on
the disposal of the chances Of Fortunes
wheel.
The first signs of an attempt to dis
solve the Union were visible during the
brief administration of President Harri-
son in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
That body had been bound together by
4 perfect system of disciple and orsani-
cation; its missionaries had always been
found Oh our frontiers on the verge of
civilization, in advance of the mail car
ricr and of the schoolmaster: and it had
contributed much to evangelize the coun-
try But dark cloud arose, which re-
suited in a division of the church North
and South, and, rs Mr.. Calhoun observed,
lone of the strong cords which bound
together the Union was snapped
After Mr.. Webster became Secretary
Of State, he installed himself in the
Swami House, facing the northwest cor
ner of Lafayette Square, which had been
rented for some years previously by
Baron krudener, the Russian minister.
1t is said that purse was raised i'll Bos-
Ton to enable Mr.. Webster to purchase
this house, but that he expended too
much of it at Marshfied beforehe left
for Washington, and the property passed
into the hands of Mr.. w. w. Corceran,
who now occupies it. Mr. Webster lived
there in princely style during the negoti-
alton of the Ashhurton Treaty, the
British legation occupying the spacious
mansion on the eastern side of st. john
Church, which had been erected by Mat
thew St. Clair Clarke, the Wing clerk of
the House of Representatives.
Mr. Webster was his own purveyor,
and was regular attendant at the Marsh
Market on market mornings. He almost
invariably wore Il large. broad brimmed,
soft felt hat, with his favorite blue coat
and bright buttons. a buff cashmere
waistcoat. and black trousers. Going
from stall to stall. followed by 4 servant
bearing a large basket in which pur-
chases were carried home. he would joke
with the butchers, the tishmongers. and
the green groces with Il grave drollery of
which his biographers, in their anxiety
to defy him. have made no mention. lie
always liked to have friend OF two at
his dinner table. and in inviting them,
sans cercmonie, he would say. in his deep.
CHEEKY voice. "Comc and dine with me
tomorrow. purchased a noble saddle
Of Valley of Virginia mutton in market
last week, and think you will enjoy il"
Or, 81 received some fine cod fish from
Boston to-day, sir: will you dine with
me at ) clock, and taste them - Or,
Il found famous 'possum in market
this morning, sir, and left orders with
Monica, my cook, to have it baked i'll
the real old Virginia style, with a stutling
of chestnuts and surrounded by baked
sweet potatoes. 1t will be dish fit for
the gods. Come and taste it.
President Harrison, who was an early
riser, used to go to market, and he invar-
iably refused to wear an overcoat, al
though the Spring was cold and stormy.
One morning, having gone to the market
thus thinly attired, he was overtaken by
a slight shower and got wet, but refused
to change his clothes, Tho following
day he felt symptoms of indisposition,
which were followed by pneumonia. At
| his Ohio home he had lived plainly and
enjoyed sleep, but at Washington he
had while rising early, rarely retired be-
| fore one o'clock in the morning, and his
physical powers, enteebled by age, had
been overtaXed.
At the same time, the President S men
tai powers had undergone q severe strain,
as was evident when he became some
| what dclerious. Sometimes he would
say, :My dear madam. | did not direct
that your husband should be turned out
| did not know it. tried to prevent it. -
On other occasions he would say in
broken sentences. !'lt is arong-i won t
consent-'tis unjust" "These applica-
tions-wll they never cease The last
time that he spoke was about three hours
before his death, when his physicians
and attendants were standing over him,
having inst administered to Li4 a.n,folt.