The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-07-08
WASHINGTON IN VAN svssws TIME

WASHINGTON IN VAN BuREN's TIME
IAN Anonymous Writer in the Ati.ssie.I
Congress has had its comedies aswell
! as its tragedies. aud the leading CONE
dian was Thomas COrwin, a Rcpresen.
tative from Ohio, who was \ type al
early Western culture and born hu.
nlorist. He was middle-sizei, some
what stout man, with pleasing man.
hers, Il line head, sparkling hazel eyes
| and complexion 80 dark that on sey-
1 eral Occ.,siOns-as he used t. narrate
with great glee-he was supposed tn
be of African descent. There is no
need Of my working" said he, "f0r
whenever cannot support myself In
Ohio, all should have tn do would
be to cross the river, give my self up to
Kentucky negro trader, be taken
South and sold for field hand" He
| always had u story ready To illustrate
q subject Of conversation, and the dry
manner i'm which he enlivelied his
speeches by pungent witticislns, with
out smile on his own stOlid cOunte-
nance, was Irresistible.
His greatest effort was a reply which
he ni;,sie to Mr.. Crary, Of Kentucky,
who had undertaken to criticise the
military ability of Gen. Harrison.
John Quincy Adams went over To Mr..
COrwin's desk, and advised him to re-
ply, without success AT first. Csrwin
saying that lac MAS something like
BaIaanl'. ass-he could never speak
unle - kicked into it," The next af-
ternOOn, however. he dill reply, and
his speech, rs a model Of humorous re-
tort, has never since been equalel ut
the Capitol. His description Of Mr..
Crary rs he appeared on parade rs q
militia GENERAL, and after the fatigues
of - muster, when treating his brigade
to watermelOns and whisky ut q cOun-
try grocery store, as the ancient heroes
assuaged their thirst from the skulls
Of their slaughtered enemies, was de-
liciOus piece Of satire. Then, turning
tn the history of Gen. Harrison. Mr..
Corwin gave AN eloquent pictureOf his
patriotic services with convincing
force. No memb r of Congress ever
received such personal discontinue
from COrwin's onslaught. Even at
his home the farmers always offered
wateriieiOns in their season, accom-
panied with quotations. from COrwin's
speech. He retired from public life
an eXtinguished orator.
President Van Buren, endeav0red to
restore the good feeling between the
Administration and Washington $50
ciety," which had been ruptured dur
ing the political rule Of Gen. Jackson.
He gave numerous entertainments ut
the White House, and used to attend
those given by the Cabinet. which WAS
regarded As an innovation, as his Dre-
decessOrs had never accepted social in
vitatiOns. EX-President Adams, the
widow Of President Madison. ana tie
widow of Alexander Hamilton, each
formed the center OF a pleasant cote
rie, and the President Was open in the
expression of his desire that the men,
bers of his Cabinet and their principal
subOrdinates should each give q series
of dinner parties and evening recep-
tons during the successive sessions If
Congress.
The dinner parties Were very much
alike, and those who were in success
sion guests at different houses often
saw the same table ornaments. and
served 10y the same walters, while the
fare was prepared 10y the same e.nk.
The guests used to assemble in the
parlOr, which was almost invariably
connected with the dining-roOin by
large folding doors. When the din
Der was ready the folding door. were
thrown open, and the table WAS re-
vealed, covered with dishes AMI cut
glass ware. A water compound called
vegetable soup was invariably served,
followed by boiled fish, Over,IOne roast
beef or mutton, roast fowl or game in
their season, and great variety of
puddings, pies, cake and ice cream.
The fish, meat and fowl were carved
and helped by the host, while the lady
of the house distributed the vegetables,
pickles and the dessert. Champagne,
without ice, was sparinsly supplied in
long, slender glasses, but there was no
lack of sound claret, and with the des-
sert several bottles of old Madeira were
generally produced by the host, who
each. The best Madeira was that la
beled 1.-The Supreme Court" as their
hOnOrs the justices used to make d.
rect importation every year, and sip il
Us they consulted over the eases before
them, every day after their dinner,
when the cloth had been removed.
Some rare old specimens of this Su-
preme Court wine can still liz found
i'm Washington wine cellars.
At the evening parties the carpet
was lifted from the room set apart for
dancing, and the floor was chalked in
cOlOrs to protect the dancers from slip |
ping. The music was almost invaria- |
bly, first and second violin, with flute |
and harp accomplishments. Light re-