National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-08
A MEMORIAL DESTROYED.
"Mr. Hudson Taylor's Bookstorc"-The Meet
Ing Place Of Great Men Giving Place TO
NanA.... I...--........I.

"Mr. Hudson Tnylor's BOokstore'-The Meet
Ing Place Of Great Men Giving Place to
Modern improvements.
Fifty years ago when clubs and club res
taurants were unknown here. when hotels
were "tayerns' and inns" and senators and
representatives troopcd in small colonies in
dozen wcll-known boarding houses distributed
along the dreary road from the capitol to
Georgetown, two Washington stores were the
leading places Of resort for leading men and
diplomatcs, when not engaged ut faro and
kindred intellectual amusements One OF
these places was "Mr. Joseph shillington's
bookstore" and the other "Mr. Hudson Tay-
lor's bookstore" ms the signs then read. Mr.
TaylOrs store was ut what iS now No. vWo
Pennsylvania avenue, and has remained IN,
tact until recently and is now being extended
and the front modCrnized.
The store was on the first floor, occupying
two rooms, which were connected by II wide
orchway, the floor of the back room being
raised few inches above the other III tins
rear room Mr.. TAYLOR had his writing table,
aud here ailcr congress had adjourned nnd
the departments were closed, would gather
groups OF men whose names are part oil inc
cOuntrys history to spend pleasant hour III
chatting over the merits OF new books, re.
ceived-boOks were not so plentiful In inc days
before steam succeeded to the slow manlpula-
lions of the franklin hand press-aud 10 cN-
Nllhllkt shlllts Oh WIZ ItllulltC " iioNNh W
the good stories of Mr.. Taylor, who was
famous recOnntcur even among Y circle That
numbered PruntiS, Tom COrwin, webster ana
I'LL the host Of intellectual giants of those Days
among It's members. Clay, Calhoun, buchanan,
Seward, Cas- Benton, Commodore Stockton
Fierce, and the whole galaxy of wits and
statesmen were Ofthc circle TINT gathered new
blood us the mutations of party or thu. hand of
death removed one or another. MIR. Taylor,
who never owned the building he made
famous, remained in business until the close
of the rebellion and then retired to u bcuuti-
ftl home on the Hudson, near pOughkcepsie,
where he still lives in Il ripe old age
The house itself nearly flfty years ago be-
came the property of DIR. James g, Hull, who
| occupied the upper portion as an Office; and
about half Il dozen years ugo. lie too was II
famous character whose memory Is well be.
loved aud respected by all who had the honor
of his friendship. man OF tall, spare figure.
by the sharp, clcar-cut outlines of his faco and
head, US well u by his figure and carriage, he
! bore Il remarkable resemblance to the great
Maine senator, William Pitt fessendei.
When Mr.. Taylor retired he turned his bust
ness over to his long time clerks, Philip and
solomon, who conducted II for several years in
the same place, and then removed tO larger
quarters. Both these gentleman are well
known to Neutrality-suspicious..
After the death Of Dr. Hall, Messrs. b. Rob
iilson * Co., the youths clothing firm, secured
u lease from the heirs of the estate and have,
as stated, begun an improvement which VIII
| leave but little outward resemblance to the old
| house. The upper stories viii be let, while
the store front will he improved by large uud
handsome low French plate glass windows in
modern style The inferior archway Is cut
| away and trl,ssod, while the whole of the
large lot in the rear to the alley WALL $50 feet
! In depth, will he covered with the extended
store room, having two high stories above 1t.
| The firm is now occupying Mtchells old store
! but expect to be III their renewed house by
| Sept. |. The cost of the Improvement will be
about $1,000 and the lease has eight years yet
! to run,