The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-19
swALLow.TAIL srArEsnANsHIr.
Early Appearance OF tue Dress Coat In
American pOIItlcs.

American Politics.
Thornton Ttsl's autobiography, Soon 10 Conc from
The prcssor HOughton, NilVia Il Co.
In 1926, while at Washington, | received
an invitation from Mr.. Clay to dinner. The
day after, the porter OF Gadsby's Hotel,
where was staying, said to me IL hope
you will accept Mr.. Clay's invitation, sir"
said, "How did you know l had an invi.
tation from Mr.. Clay?" "0h, sir, the let
ter came through the office, and We all
know Mr.. CIay's handwriting" He re.
peated his hope that would go, and added
"Gentemen sometimes come to Washing
ton on business without bringing their
dress coats with them; possibly you may
have forgotten yours; il you did you will
do me great favor by accepting one that
| haven't worn, and which would lit you
nicely" The porter, who was evidently
an observing and sagacious man, had dl-
yined the truth. | not only had not brought
dress coat, but did not possess one 10
bring, and was really regretting the neCes-
sity OF declining the invitation for that rea.
son. But the porter urged his offer with
such kindness and delicacy that accept
ed both the coat and the invitation.
General Jackson In 1928 succeeded Mr..
Adams as President. From that time un-
til 1910, during the administrations Of
Jackson aud Van Buren,, period Of
twelve years, was not again in Washing
ton. In the latter year, after the election
OF General Harrison, again visited the
city, and in passing through the Treasury
Department l encountered my old friend
Brady, the thoughtful porter whose coat
had worn TO Mr.. Clay's dinner, and with
whom exchanged very hearty greeting.
He informed me that he had received u
clerkship in the department from General
Jackson, but as the "spoils belonged to the
yictors," he now expected to lose his
place. After parting with him l went to
the Secretary Of the Treasury, Mr. Ewing,
and related 10 him the peculiar obligation
under which had formerly placed myself
to the friendly porter, adding what | was
quite sure he would find true, that he was
a very capable and faithful clerk. The Sec
rotary was amused at the nature Of the OBJ
legation had incurred years before, and
cheerfully consented TO retain my friend in
his situation.
In lS43 while again at Washington, the
Hon. D. d. Barnard, our representative
from Albany, invited me to dinner. His
"mess" consisted oil the Hon. John Greig,
OF Canandaigua, the Hon. Henry Van
Rensselaer,, Of 0densburgh, and the Hon.
Jared Ingersoll, OF Philadelphia very
select and refined circle, all being gentle
men OF high social position. When the
dessert was about to be brought on, 1t being
an exceedingly hot day, Mr.. Greig sug.
gested that we should move to the veranda,
where we could enjoy the cool breeze from
the river. In going from the dining room
TO the yeranda, discovered in the person
arranging the table my old friend Brady,
the porter, with whom cordially shook
hands. / learned from the brief questions
| put 10 him, that he was the host Of that
house, and that these members oil Congress
were bis guests. As soon as he retired |
commenced relating the story OF the coat,
which my lastidious friend Mr.. Barnard at.
tempted to interrupt, from a sense Of
horror that q friend whom he had honored
with an invitation 10 dinner should volun-
tarily confess that he had worn porter's
coat 10 dinner with the Secretary OF State.
Mr.. Ingersoll's susCeptibilities seemed also
to be disturbed; but Mr.. Greig. one Of "Na-
lures noblemen," and Me-. Van Renns.
selaer, an accomplished son ,of the old
patron, and son.in law Of the late John A.
King, enjoyed the story immensely, and
insisted upon having Brady called in to
give his version Of the incident My old
friend remained through several admins.
tratiNnR In the Treasury Department, and
died years ago, extensively known and
greatly respected among the citizens OF
Washington.