The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-10-05

Fitz John Porter. In short he had made
himself ridiculous, and when people
began to laugh at him his day was over
~
Conversing with New York Trj)uHo
reporter on finance the other day, Gen.
Butler spoke Of the general misconcep-
ton Of the old Roman census amongmod-
crn readers. "Tho average applicant for
q place before Mr.. Eaton's commission
would tell you that the census was
taken every tenth year to ascertain the
plumber of fighting men" said the Gen
eral. "Then why did they take the
enumeration of all the inhabitants,
men, women and children? The
women and children could not fight.
But ! will tell you what they could do.
They could use money and IL was to
ascertain the amount of money that
was needed for the interchange of com.
moditics that the Roman census was
taken. The Lord only knows what our
census is taken for Probably to give
the compilcrs something to do, for It is
never published until it IS time TO take
another
s"a
GI'' nday, If the wcathcris fine,
says It Virginia correspondent of the
Baltimore sun, some Charlottesville
pastor rides across the mountain to
preach at little dollhouse just be-
You'd the old Jefferson home, which
bears the historic name of Cole. This
was fine old estate on the eastern
slope of Monticello, ana adjoinod the
home Of Jefferson A mile south Is
the old Monroe homestead, while n
like distance northwardis Edge Hill, the
home of Governor Thomas Mann
Randolph. Not many miles separate
Monticello and Cole from the ancestral
homes of the Gilmcrs, Lewiscs, Rivcscs,
Walkers and Nicholascs Cole was pur
chased in 1913 by Phillip Mazzci, an
Italian of wealth and education, who
came hither to introduce the culture of
olives, grapes and the other fruits of
his native Tuscany. lie brought with
him number of Italian vine dressers
and pursued his undertaking with some
success for three years, organizing
company, of which Jefferson and other
distinguished gentlemen of that time
were members, TO manufacture wine.
In three years, however, the term of
service of the Italian laborcrs expired,
and, as they refused longer to reman
in his employment, and the W + break
ing out, prevented his procuring others
from Italy, the enterprise had to be re-
linquished for the time. In 1888 he re-
turned TO Europe on secret mission
for the State OF Virginia and Cole
was rented to the Baron de Rcidesel
one of the Saratoga Convention prison
crs sent to Charlottesville, whose horses
finished Mazzei' S vineyard in less than
a week. This attempt at grape-grow-
ing, probably the FIRST in Albemarlc,
was not repeated very soon, although
the Tuscan returned to this country in
1885. He busted himself then with the
collection of data upon which he based
his researches in the political history of
America, published in France in 1888.
W.
Speaking of antique furniture in
Washington the Cleveland Leader'S
correspondent says it is still very much
sought after among the more fashion
able of people The rage for it, how.
ever, has passed away, and only really
choice bits command high prices,
There are three establishments devoted
to this business in Washington, one
in Georgetown and one. in Alexandria.
In these you may often find some very
fine pieces. This is one of the oldest
parts of the United States, and in early
times ii contained a very wealthy popu-
lation. Much of the furniture of CO.
lonial days was imported from Franco
or England, and ii isno an uncommon
| thing to run across relic of Washing
ton or Jefferson in one of these anti
| guilty shops. In one of the furniture
stores Of Alexandria, which was no.
tel in Washington's day, they have for
sale bed in which it is said Washing
ton used to sleep. was offered once
for %35 the desk which Thaddeus
Stevens used while he was in Congress,
and | know of houses in this city in
which pieces of the furniture of Thomas
Jefferson are in daily use. Calling
npon General Tyler, the gray-haired
son of the President, last night, took
my seat upon high, straight backed
old-f0shioncd chair, which, upon my
noticing, the General told me was over
two hundred and fifty years old. II
was brought by his ancestors to this
country in sixteen hundred and some.
thing and had been in the family even
since. 1t is of English oak, now
turned by age to the color of tho
darkest Of black walnut, and was SC
well made that not crack or joint
showed. Father Bassett, who for fifty
years has been in the employ of tn,
United States Senate, has some of thu
finest old relics in Washington. Among
them is an oId-fashioned lamp which
lighted the Senate in the days of V0i
Buren's Vice-P Presidency, and which
for years sat on the Vice President
desk. Father Bassett prizes ii highly
and he would not sell it for the pref
tiest thing of to-day in porcelain o
brass.
Huu EGWn-esp!pGE GTD.