The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-30
congressman Who Rntertaia.

washington Corr. Philadelphia Press
Congress is certainly no place for a poor
man. If he has family he can hardly make
both ends meet, even though he does not
entertain. Indeed, very few congressman
entertain" in the sense in which the word
is used. David Davis, who was six years in
the Senate and 10 years on the supreme
bench, always lived at second-class hotel
here and saved money on his salary. He is
several times a millionaire, and for many
years before he left Washington he had no
family. He was beyond doubt, considering
his great wealth, the closest man ever in
public life. He would dispute with the
woman at the pie-stand in the hall of the
Senate over the price of an apple. During
the last session of his presidency Of the Sem
ate, however, he branched out little, and
every Saturday night gave big dinner at
Welcker's How he must have groaned in
secret over the great expenditure! Another
very close man in the Senate was poor, great
big, ,baby-sweet-tempered McCreary, of Ken-
tucky, now dead. He lived in the cheapest
place he could find in Georgetown, three or
four miles distant from the capitol, and had
pass on the street-cars. On the occasion
of late session of the Senate, when the
street cars had stopped, he would walk tha
whole distance at, any time between IL
o'clock and daybreak, no matter how the
weather was, rather than pay so cents for a
carriage. For luncheon he would eat a
stick of candy, unless some one asked him
tO IOiO in aOnQthinO ouhe L.. a..
Senate restaurant. at such times his appe-
tite was most healthy.
cannot recall dozen members of the
Senate who entertain" l remember Sena-
tor Morton, always on crutches or walking
on two canes-one of the greatest men, as /
think, ever in public life-and never free
from pain, who was sought on every hand
He had close work to keep even with his
creditors. He had to keep a carriage on
account of his infirmity, and he had to live
at hotel, because be required so much at
tention. He never gave dinner or a recep-
tion in all his senatorial life here, yet he
was sought for on every social occasion, One
OF his sons was in college, and / know it
was hard for the senator to pay his quarterly
bills. Bat Morton was a giant and nobody
inquired how he lived, and nobody expected
him to return social obligations Who ever
heard Of Tbad Stevens giving a dinner or
reception? And yet no man in public life in
Washington created such sensation when
ever he went into society, which was very
rare except at dinners. Mr.. Boutwell,, when
senator, and when secretary of the treasury
lived at boarding-house. The family of
member of the cabinet is obliged to receive
callers on what is known as 'cabinet DAYS."
namely, the day in each week set aside for
calls on cabinet ladies'" Well, Boutwelps
family received in the bOarding-house parlor.
and Let m toll Uon ROufualI ala ,,nt a,,n,,6
his income any year he was in office here.
But he was somewhat criticised, because {
was known he could have afforded to enter
tain.
OF the senators cannot name dozen, as
have said, who give entertainments Mr..
Bayard of Delaware lives in his own house.
and Invites friends home 10 dinner as a pri.
vate citizen does. He gives no dinners or
parties Mr.. Don Cameron has, next to
Blaine's, the biggest residence in Washing
son He gives large dinner parties and en-
tertains very expensively, though not osten-
tatiously. Fair of Nevada, gives a great
many dlnner-parties, but they represent
money, nothing else. The very flowers saw:
Look at us. We cost $780," But the best
people go to Fairs dinners, but not on Fairs
account. He can't talk, and does not know
what good, or rather a fine, dinner is. Ha
leaves it to his caterer, and pays the bill.
Eugene Hale Of Maine entertained great
deal last winter. He took Levi p. Morton's
house when that gentleman was sent to
France. Morton entertained most lavishlv
and Hale, though behind, is not very far be.
hind him. Mrs. Hale, the daughter of the
late Zach Chandler, is very rich, The house
in which the Hales liIe is historic. II was
owned by Sam Hooper, so long in Congress-
from Boston, very wealthy man, who, in
his time, gave the best dinners in Washing.
ton. He was great friend of Charles Sum
ner, and the friendship of the two was not
broken except by death. II was the widow
of Hooper's son whom Mr.. Sumner married.
and from whom he was divorced. What a
story there is behind that marriage and that
divorce! 1t will never be told in print.
know something of It, but not ali. Presi-
dent johnson occupied the house for fort
night or more after Mr.. Lincoln's death.
Senator Hill of Colorado occupies one OF
the finest houses in Washington, and for it.
in rental alone, he pays more than his sala.
ry lie gives dinners, and his wife pives
very handsome parties and musicales. Ha
occupies the house Mr.. Evarts had while
Secretary of State. John F. Miller, Senator
from California, entertains at great cost
in very handsome rented bonse
He is very rich and has a pretty danobte,.
and an ambitious wife-his only family
DE made his money on the street In San
francisco and in the Alaska fur seal COM
pany. He is very able man and an elo-
quent speaker. Senator Pendleton has one
Oh the loveliest houses here, but its architec-
lure IS In the miserable Queen Anne style,
which must surely go in few years. PEN
dleton is very hospitable, and everything in
his house is very dainty. His family is ex-
exclusive. His pet dissipation is In giving
elegant dinners.
Thus have mentioned about all the Sem
ators who "entertain." Perhaps twice tho
number may be found in the House, NOT
more, although the House is about fouF
times as large as the Senate.