Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-04-14
COL. BOB. INGERSOLL.
The SundayEvening Gathering at His HoI
in Washington.

The SundayEvening Gathering at His Home
in Washington.
Letter to St Louis Globe-Democrat
Among permanent residents added to the
city within the past few years, and over
which fact all save the preachers congratu-
late themselves, is Col. Ingerson and his
family. This prince of pagans occupies
handsome residence on Lafayette square,
adjoining the house where President Mad
ison and his pretty Dolly lived long years
ago. On Sunday evenings the Ingerso1
home is open to their friends, and these
Sabbath symposiums are most enjoyable of
all the weekly round of social affairs that
any season can offer. Ease and hospitality
liven the air from the square tiled hall into
which the vestibuie opens to the reno
test sanctium.
Before the church bells have ceased toll
ing the faithful to evening service, people be-
gin dropping into this charming home, and
the smooth face and round he ad of the host
appears to the visitor in the hall with I'M
hackneyed and cordial greetings. Added to
his own social attractiveness Col. Ingerson
has a delightful family to make it n ore in
viting to his guests. Mrs. Ingerson is
bright faced and handsome matron on
whom the cares of life have sat lightly, and
whose clear cut and animated countenance
is perpetual study with its quick play and
change of expression. The two daughters
are pretty and charmingyoung girls, with
quiet ease and modesty of demeanor that
quickly render them delightful entertainers.
1t is the boast of their proud parent that
these twoidaughters never went to school,
but there is the patent fact back of this that
to know Bob Ingerson is liberal educa-
ton, and to have been a member of his
family for a score of years insures high
degree of culture.
The Ingersoll parlors were pleasantly
filed last Sunday night. The house is ad-
mirably fiLted for entertaining, with its
three rooms opening into one another and
the dining room beyond. The guests sat
and stood in groups about the rooms, and
the host was everywhere to see that every
one knew every one else and was being en-
tertained. For wit, eloquence and repartee
Col. Ingersoll finds no superior, and with
room full of friends about him his bon
mots and erigrams, are incessant.
| At 10 o'clock the dining room doors slide
back and bountiful supper served. The
table was proof of the domestic genius of
Mrs. Ingersoll, and differed vastly from the
Caterers repasts that generally grace such
affairs. A huge and exquisitely decorated
punch bowl crowned one end of the table,
over which the host presided, and as the
crimson tide fell within the bowl, bottles
of champagne went kissing into it or claret
gurgled out its ruby richness, and mine
host stirred the ladle and kept up the run
ming fire of his speech. With the ladies
seated and the gentlemen standing and
moving around, the greatest sociability pre-
vailed, and seldom is an evening marked
by so many bright people and brilliant
sayings.
| A score and more of celebrities, beauties
and intereresting people were. gathered
there that evening, and the hearty good
nights and courteous urgings to come again
were not the least pleasant features of the
occasion. Col. Ingersoll the royal host
sped each parting guest with some bonmot,
and were they of the male persuasion,
! lighted their homeward from the box
es of pet cigars that graced the table of the