The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-24
SELECT LITERATURE.
"REMINISCENCES OF WASHINGTON
The Van Buren, Administration from 1897
to 1871.
CONCLUDED.

From tie .iHontic NoHthip.
Congress had its comedies as well as
its tragedies, and the leading comedian
was Thomas Corwin, Representative
from Ohio, who was type of early
Western culture and born humoriSt
He was a midde-siZcd. somewhat stout
man, with pleasing manners, a fine head,
sparkling hazel eyes, and a complexion
SO dark that on several occasions-as he
used to narrate with great glec-he was
supposed to be Of African Descent
There is no need of my working" said
he, for whenever | cannot support my
self in Ohio. all | should have to do
would be to cross the river, give myself
up to Kentucky negro trader be taken
South, and sold for a field hand" lie
always had story ready to illustrate a
subject of conversation. and the dry man
ner in which he enlivened his speeches
by pungent witticisms, without smile
on his own stolid countenance, was ire
| siStible. His greatest effort was a reply
which he made to Mr.. Crazy, of Ken
lucky. who had undertaken to criticise
the military ability of General Harrison
John Quincy Adams went over to Mr.
Corwin's desk, and advised him to reply;
that he was something like Balaam' $
ass-he could never speak unless kicked
into it. The next afternoon, however,
he did reply, and his speech, as a model
of humorous retort, has never since been
equaled at the Capitol. His description
of Mr. Crazy as he appeared on parade as
a militia general, and after the fatigues
of muster, when treating his brigade
to watermelons and whisky at a country
grocery store, as the ancient heroes as
suaged their thirst from the skulls of
their slaughtered enemies, was a deli
cious piece of satire. Then, turning to
the history of General Harrison, Mr.. Cor
win gave an eloquent picture Of his pa
triotic services with convincing force
No member of Congress ever received
such personal discontinue from speech,
and Mr.. Crazy never recovered from Cor
wins onslaught. Even at his home the
farmers always offered him watermelons,
in their season, accompanied by quota
tons from Corwin's speech. He retired
from public life an extinguished orator
During the Van Buren, administration
Congress undertook to fill the four va
cant panels in the rotunda of the Capitol,
the other four being occupied by Colonel
Trumbull's paintings, representing revo-
lutionary events. Contracts We're en-
tered into with John Nanderlyn, Henry
Inman, Robert Weir, and John G. Chap
man, each of whom was to receive ten
thousand dollars, payable in five INSTALL
mentS. for a picture. Mr.. Inman after
having received six thousand dollars,
died, without having finished his picture,
if, indeed, he ever commenced it. Mr..
Chapman was the first to complete his
work, 1.-THE Baptism of PocohontaS."
which has been generally condemned as
an artistic failure and as libel on his
toric truth. In catering to the pride of
the Indian princess, who outranked the
other first families of Virginia. Mr.. Chap
man had difficulties to contend with,
more depressing, probably, than even
the lack of inspiration which must have
attended the portrayal of an apocryphal
ceremonial.
The spirited bronze statue of jefferson.
by his admirer, the French sculptor,
David d Anglers, which Lieut.. Uriah p.
Levy had presented to Congress, but
which had not been accepted, and had
been denied a position in the Capitol.
was reverentially taken in charge by tive
naturalized Irish citizens, staunch Demo
Gratis, and placed on a small pedestal in
front of the White House. One of them
was the public gardener, Jenny Maher
and the other was John Foy, the keeper
of the restaurant in the basement of the
Capitol. famous for his witty sayings
Prominent among these bon mots was his
encomium Oh Representative Dawson, o.
Louisiana, noted for his intemperatt
habits, the elaborate rutfles of his shirts
and his pompous strut. He came int,
me place." said Foy, land after ateins
a few oysters he flung down Spanisl
| Il . Il,
Mr.. Foy: kape it for YOURSELF All
There's Il paycock of a gentleman TO
you"
An attempt was made to improve til,
condition of Pennsylvania Avenue, b,
giving the roadway coating of tinel
broken stone, then known us macadam
ling after the English inventor, Captain
MacAdam The narrow-rmmed wheel
used in this country failed to consolidat
the pebbles into firm mass. as was don
by the broad tires used in England, AM
the roadway was compared by the wit
to the stony roads of Arabia Petrra an
was only useful as an arsenal for belligel
ent boys. \ few squares on the street
which intersected Pennsylvania Avenu
were covered with buildings. and beyon
. them. northward. were the broad con
mons known as 1.-THE Slashes," wher
Hibernian milk maids kept their COW:
and also reared large tlocks of geese.
President Van Buren, endeavored to T.,
; store the good feeling between the AZ
ministration and Washington - society
which had been ruptured during the p,
litical rule of General jackson. He CAV
numerous entertainments at the Whit
House. and used to attend those give
: by his cabinet, which was regarded as 4
> innovation. as his predecessors had ncvt
accepted social invitations. EXPIRES
dent Adams, the widow of Presidel
Madison. and the widow of Alexand,
Hamilton each formed the center of
! pleasant cotorc and the President W;
open in the expression of his desire til;
the members of his cabinet and the
principal subordinates should each gi'
series of dinner parties and evenil
receptions during the successive session
y of Congress.
The dinner parties were very mul
alike. and those who were in SUGGEST,
guests at different houses often saw Il
same table ornaments, and were serv,
II by the same walters, while the fare W
! ,,.,,,,ra,l bv tho Sama cool, The ,rupS