National Republican., 1883-06-04
SHE KEPT rnE HOTEL.

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SHE KEPT THE HOTEL,
And Many Great Men and Big Indians
Found St Her House Pleasant Home
RecoIIcctions OF the Late Mrs. Boveridge.
Tho Washington house looms up on tho cor
nerof Third street and Pennsylvania avenue, a
silent but eloquent witness of the stormy po-
litical life ofthe republic in ante.bellum times.
Through its lonely rooms the echoing foot
steps Of the past resound with heavy tread
Down its long corridors rustic the brocades
and tho crinoline of departed fashions, as the
imagination wanders along with the famous
beauties that here in tho olden time made
their home. Here great statesmen, great
soldiers, great beauties formed home circle
around which romance fingers fondly and
tradition weaves her spells. From its por-
tails have gone brides into the highest
social ranks of tho country, and TO its
hospitable walls have the loftiest in
thel Hand come wearilv to die. Tho
magnates of two distinct types Of men have
made IL their favored home, for the American
Indian preferred IL above all other hotels in
Washington, and the American statesmen
selected IL of choice. IL is q house haunted
with memories, and, in fancy tho ghosts of
the dead past troop through it in spectral
ranks. 1t is the Province house of the cap
ital, and needs but some District Hawthorne
to weave its legends in webs of artistic
beauty, unequaled even by those that
hang around Boston's historic mansion.
And the death Of Mrs. Amanda Beveridge a
few days since, vividly rcvivcs the recollec-
tions of this famous hotel over which she
presided. This building, known fifty and
sixty years ago as "Gadsby's hotel" always
enjoyed the highest reputation, but under the
management of Mrs. Beveridge became tho
historic house of Washington. She took
charge of il in 1855 and left il in the spring
of 1880, During this quarter of century,
both before and after the war, it was tho
favorite home of genius and beauty tempo
rarily resident in Washington. To IL came
Henry Wilson, when he was one of
the gallant "Corporal's Guard " that con-
fronted in the name Of liberty the onward tide
of slave aggression and TO it his dead body
was brought after he had fallen, literally in
harm ess to the last, in the capitol. During all
those years as congressman and as vice prcsi-
dent he made the Washington house his home
| all the while ho was in Washington. They
still tell around the house many anecdotes of
his unostentatious generosity, his kindness of
heart, his sterling honesty, his innate and
delicate courtesy to the suffering and the
lowly.
Another and even moro famous guest at
this house was old Ben Wade the coryphRus
|
that he never anywhere else felt so much at
home as under Mrs. Beveridge's hospitablc
roof. During those stormy days In house and
| senate that preceded the actual call to arms
the stalwart old aboltionist, whose head and
heart were alike as sound as the oalA OF
his native reserve found through the
great administrative abilities of Mrs Beyer-
idge the comforts and the rest of a home so
needful to one waging the fierce struggle he
did.
Judge Lawrence, tho first comptroller,
Hon. John A. Bingham, now minister to
Japan, and Gen. Burlington were among the
many prominent guests of the hotel who
for years made 1t their home while in Wash
| ington. Another, and in his time q famous
lawyer and publicist, was Ransom II. Gillett,
for years register OF the treasury. Of this
gentleman William l.. Marcy used to say that
all he wanted was a little personal vanity
to become the most prominent public
Fman in the country. Gillett will be
we'll remembered by all the old resi-
homely humor, the brilliant quickness and
vast range of his intellect, his sturdy, even
uncouth honesty, and his marvellous wealth
n Of requirement, made him peer among the
greatest of his time. Mr.. Gillett didn't think
the ordinary prizes for which men strive so
earnestly were worth tho labor of winning,
and hence, viewing the race as o spectator,
his memory has been overshadowed by scores
of others far inferior to himself. Gillett used
to boast that he knew men and good hotels
by instinct. Like wise man, he obeyed his
instincts and made the Washington house his
home. ...
Sumner and Banks, among others, were
guests here for many years. 1t was the
favorite stopping place of the Indian delega-
tions when they came to Washington. Sioux
from the Mauvaises Terres of the Shyenne,
and Apaches from the sierras of the Gila
Navajos from the canyons of the Colorado, and
Diggers from the Jornada.del Muerte Black
feet chiefs, in their original savagery and
Cherokees learned in the civilization of the
whites all have stopped at this House, until
contract sent them elsewhere. And
even then they rebelled, demanding to be
sent where, from experience, they had found
a home. Adair Boudinot, Porter, Brown,
and Bushyhead, representatives of the civil
lied Indian lived here, and Spotted Tail and
Red Cloud, leaders of the savage Dahcotahs,
always protested against any location else
where. And over all thissgreat establishment
the genius Of one woman presided, under
whose firm will and sagacous, though kind
supervision, every detail ran on as smoothly
as newly oiled wheels.
A feature for many years of the hotel was
the reception given once or twice a winter
by Mrs. Beveridge. These were looked to
with as much interest and expectation as a
few years ago were the presidents levees.
Attendance on them was q guarantee of high
social rank. Admission to them was greatly
coveted, and the right to enter highly priced.
The house originally cost $4,000. Mrs.
Beveridge paid in rent while she was there
$l50,000.