Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
An Old Mans "Reminiscences of the
Capital.

T. the E,litor Of The EvEsIso STAR:
During visit at this comparatively quiet
watering place last summer it surprised me to
find how much OF a iayorite it is with represen-
tstves OF the d,ace7a regime. Among the names
are some which recall Washington well nigh
forgotten, for in my day its present winter
watering place features were unknown. We
djued then at 4. or. at the latest. o'clock. Our
Invitations were enyelOpeles1; We sealed the
folded paper upon which they were written.
The p nted invitations TO the White House and
z few private houses were of the rudest kind of
Workmanship. At O'Clock we had tea. Snch
Choice spirits a. met at that hour ut the simple
repasti Tea in those days INFANT tea. Heals
of legation STAYED longer with Us then, and
were more one with us than now. We knew
them better. and they knew in the ntima-
macIes of home life. Huls mann, Gerot
SDloyus-how entirely they belonged To our
family gatherings.
The Supreme Court then brought to
Washington the most elegant men of the
day. as well as tine most learned.
No dinner was considered complete without the
cultivation. and dignity and high breeding
which It's members afforded. A fancy. a Mar
shall. what flow OF sour the names avoke,
In the supreme Court Of the United States
goOdly sight it was that line OF noble men,
each bearing the mark of blended refinement
and strength OF intellect. An old mans gar
rulity is proyerbial, Let me now 90 back to
the subject which brought the old days to mind.
From your city there holOred name
that of Mrs. Thomas Swami Mercer. the widow
OF a son of Col. Mercer. of Cedar Park.
Maryland. How the very name of that noble
estate of the MERGERS brings to mind the fes
tive DAYS spent under its hOSpitable rOof-the
deer which named the park-the hunting par
ties which sailed forth from its gates. There
Is a portrait of Col. Mercer in Washington
which was painted by Leslie in London i'm 1878.
which we'll represents the lOrdy owner Of that
mans on. which dates back TO colonial days. The
colonel wears in the painting his military dress,
being at the time on Gen. SCOTS staff, with
whom ne was travelling in Europe The papers
lately have given the name of Lord ElphinstOne
as among distinguished Englshmen who are
visiting our country. which wcals the account
Col Mercer gave of meeting by appointment,
his cousin, Lord Elphinstone. who Joined the
party. and that the two near of kim but
Fever before having met, were so much alike
Is to be taken for brothers.
The father of Mrs t. s. Mercer %. D. Bar
nard), Will be well remembered b. the older
Readers of The STAR. as worthy of the place he
held in the small but brilliant society of Wash
ingtOn in days gone by. when the word society
lad meaning it since has lost. 1t was q circle
which included such names as Carroll. Cults,
SeatOn, Munro, Swami. Wilkes, TaylOe. Blair,
! an Ness. In the Congress of those DAYS his
words had weight with those of Clay, Adams
Webster. winthrop. On her mothers side Mrs.
Mercer Il 4 descendant of the LiyngstOnS of
Livingston Manor" on the Hudson, family
from which came the Chancellor, whose statue.
ly Palmer, is among the worthless Of the Capitol.
Quietly settled in a cosy cottage found Mrs.
SCHUYLER Crosby nee Van Rensselaer, OF the
manor OF that name at Albany. Skilfuy hand
Ing the ribbons. her ph9tOn was. often seen
joining in the afternoon drive Her uncle. Gen.
Henry Van Rensselaer, and his beautiful wife IA
dLnGhter of Gov John A. King. granddaughter
of Rufus King. will be well remembered during
his congressional days.
From the south found a notable family, the
Ringers. including Mrs. Alien lard, of Charles
ton. whose husband was fine specimen of
ohivalry and culture. Miss McCallister. too.
Of high descent. And the Misses Fisher (cous-
lis of Mrs. Ricketts,. of Washin-ton). whose
mother, a sister OF Admiral Palmer. was enc OF
the most brilliant women of her day.
The old .'CTugcr mansion" is a few miles
from the springs. the view from which is I'M
surpassed in extent and variety. 1t is presided
over by Mrs. Douglas Robinson. niece of Mrs.
CruGer. another name which bore its part in the
fOCial life of ''lOng ago"
Perhaps some WashingtOnian will whisper
tas Tong ego had muddy streets. minus street
cars Quite true Georgetown, the 1avorite
Residence OF the diplomatic corps. separated
from Washington by a sea of mud. Many story
Is told 10y those who attempted to get through it
at night. on the way to entertainments.-Of
wheels stuck fast. horses spent. and the getting
out Of carriages in ball attire by the roadside to
await the repair of damares Lafayette square
was bog But around it were homes of ele-
Cance- Mr. Swami. the maternal grandfather
of Thomas Swami Mercer. dispensed note
worthy hospitality at his house on the square,
now owned by Mr.. w. ". COrcoran; while near
lay. in the house which We old people treasure
as landmark, his friend. Benz. Ogie TaylOe,
lived in all the transformations luxury of a south
ern gentlemans home of the period.
Thus Mr. Editor. / found myself in that pretty
village of Richfield Springs. dreaming dreams
OF WaShlngtons past. as these names. which are
as household words" conjured up before my
old eyes the stately FORMS high-bred manners,
and cultured speech of all Olden time.
NIEHLARD.
Richfield Springs, n. Y, October, 1855.