The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-03-06

. W ii' tN''t ~ jun tftI w HI
ter Us far south as Savannah, performing
in the intermediate cities as they went
and returned. The JcflierSonS. the War
rens. and the Burkcs belonged to this
company, i'll which their children were
trained for histrionic fame, and President
Adams first saw the elder Booth when
| that tragedian accompanied one of these
dramatic expeditions as its brightest star.
! On another occasion he saw Edwin For
rest, then unknown to fame. and enjoyed
the finished acting of Cooper as Charles
/ Surface. in the School for Scandal. The
! popular performance at that time was
/ Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, and
the flash sayings OF Corntilian Tom and
Bob Logic We're quoted even in Congress
s!onal debates.
Card playing was then 4 fashionable
and popular amusement, and the Guelphs
and the GhibelncS who withstood each
other in debate would meet fratcrnally
ut whist tables, cnlivened by their keen
encounter of wits Grave political
| questions were often discussed while the
shutting and dealing was going on, by
| that class Of Congressman who hoped
that by rubbing their opinions together
| a light might be struck at last. Refresh
mcnts We're usually served at nine o clock
and midnight seldom found the players
| out OF bed.
Sunday was rcligiously observed ut
Washington. The prominent denomna-
tons had. by collections taken up
throughout the country, raised funds for
| the erection of churches dedicated to
| their respective creeds. and the Unitari-
ans had been especially Well cared for
by their New England brethren who had
not only aided them literally in the cree
ton of their place Of worship. but had
| given them fine toned bell. During the
sessions; OF Congress, there was some di-
vine service on Sunday mornings in the
| hall of the House, the chaplains of the
two bodies officiating alternately. sun.
day afternoon was favorite time for din
| ncr parties, followed by political confer
ences. How to elect or how to defeat
General lackaon was the subject of pro-
longed discussion among those interested
on the one side or the other.
Washington was also favored once
| year with a discourse, generally in the
| open air. by that celebrated itinerant.
|
Lorenzo Dow. The style of his impaS-
stoned oratory was as singular as the
matter of his sermons and his personal
appearance. He was then a middle-aged
man, tall and well formed. with remark
! ably pale and emaciated features, long
| black hair. and 4 heavy black beard -
| He spoke with great carnestncss, and
many who came to scot remained to
pray
Christmas was then observed in the
| District of Columbia as a high dag and
| holy day. The descendants of the gal
liant Episcopal cavaliers of Virginia. of
the sturdy Presbyterians Of Scotland,
and Of the deyout Romanists of Mary
! lfttltt tHItc'i =" IN tllC lltS ~ dTTlNcu I'M
| migrants from New England in making
Christmas Il merry day for all. Glad
peals of swinging bells ushcred in the
morning. while young and old, bond and
| free rcjoiccd that the sacred birthday
had come again. The yulc-Iog hazed
on ample heartils: huge punch bowls
were filled with apple teddy or egg nng;
! dining rooms were green with holly and
cedar: bands of young masqucradcrs
went about with jokes and gambols: and
as the night came on fair maiens were
kissed under the mistlctoc boughs. while
| the happy negroes sang III rude style an
| equivalent for the carols OF Old L l.land
| When the old year was rung out and the
new year was rung in. there was Il visit
| ing observance of the day which Prcsi
dent Washington bad inaugurated when
the Federal government was located at
New York; but Christmas was the fav-
orte holiday.
Newspaper Organs formed an i'm
portant feature of the early political ma
chinery at Washington. Railroads as
we'll as the magnetic telegraph were then
| unknown, and it took two days or more
| for the transmission OF intelligence be-
| tween the Federal metropolis and New
| \ ork. while it was IL week or two in
reaching Portland. st. Louis. New Or
| leans, or Savannah. This made it adj
viSdbc for each successive administra-
| Washington, which would reliably i'll
| form tie subordinate officials what was
being done, and keep alive a sympathy
between them and the President. The
"outS " and prominent aspirants for the
| presidency also had their organs. t. keep
their partisans advised Of what was
| going on. and to secure uniformity of
action.
The Notiono' MtcdiJcHrer WAS never
| devoted to Mr.. Adams. as its proprietor s
| had a kind regard for Mr.. Clay. but it
was always hostile to the election of
General Jackson. Mr.. Joseph Gales. its
editor. wrote ponderous leaders on the
| political questions of the day. and occa-
Sionaly reported, in short hand, the
speeches of Congressional magrates.-
His partner. Mr.. W. W. Seaton. attended
| to the business of the establishment. and
by hospitahle attentions to congressman
secured the public printing and several
lucrative typographical jobs. During
Mr. Adams administration these matters
were investigated by committee of the
House of Representatives. but there was
no evidence of any intention to deiraud
the government.
The National Journal had been estab-
lshcd As :, Calhoun organ, with John
Ayy. an Engli>hman Of great ability, as
its editor, and Richard IIoughtun. after
wards the popular editor of the Boston
Atlas as its Congressional reporter. In
| 1925, the paper was purchased by Peter
| Force afterwards noted as Il bbliolosist)
and became the hand organ of all the
elements of opposition Of General Jack
ous remarks as the digniticd National
| MtcUigcHcer would not publish appeared
in the columns of the Nntioaol Journal
Some of these articles, which reflected
upon the character of Mrs. jackson. gave
| ,rre1t pfIruSe q her husband who WAS