, 1885-12-16
sooIA. Nc q oANlgL Mgesrgn.
A. the old Marsh Market"-Invitation
to Dinner oddy and Cards.


A. The ola Marsh market'-Invitation
to Dinner Toddy and Cards.
Daniel Webster passed many hapT.
years Of his life at Washington City, an
IL was his declared intention when he la
lott there, never. alas, to return, to pa
his at Franklin, N. H., m
Marshheld, and to make Washington l..
winter home. He was anxious, he SAID
4to round up the integrity Of his life s
tkat his countrymen could see what hi
purposes were" but he had fully decided
to retire absolutely from public life, neve
TO make another political speech, and c
devote himself to the practice OF law
the supreme court. 1t would have bee
we'll for his fame had he arrived at u
determination ten years sooner, befoi
the presidential maggot had begun :
gnaw his brain, and had forced him &
seek southern support at the sacrifice o..
his northern convictions.
Ihave in a previous reminiscence d
scribed Mr.. Webster in debate, weariI
the blue and buff OF the revolutionRr
Wings, with a stalwart frame. a digni
1ed manner a harmonious elegance &
style, and a full. sonorous voice, while bi
open and commanding countenance, IN,
OF intellect and passion, mirrored all I'll
glow his eloquence could express.
FILLING THE MARKET AsKET
The next morning after one OF thosi
wonderful speeches in the senate cham
Der, Mr.. Webster might nave been seeni
the old "Marsh Market" atsan early houf
for he was no sluggard. With hin
would be a servant carrying a huge mar
ket basket, and he would go from stall {,
stall, ofteu stopping to talk to a butcher
or a fishmonger or a huckster, and de
lighting them with the knowledge he dis
played about meats, Ash and vegetables.
Selecting with care a supply of provision
for two days, as the market was held only
on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Mr.. Webster would return to his house
next to the Unitarian church, and see thai
the meat was properly hung up mt the
vegetables put away.
On his way to the capitol, or there, ht
would meet a friend and say Of his tabl,
were not already fulD; Come and din,
with me today. nav a noble hauncl
of venison which | bought a fortnight
since, and have kept hanging until 1t Is
exactly fit to be eaten or Il nave re.
ceived a fine salmon from the Kennebec
come to-day and help me eat it, A gue1'
knew exactly what to expect, and thos,
carefully selected dinners, cooked by al
old colored woman named Monica; were
better than a menu served at Weicker's
or at Wormley's.
Fishing was Mr.. Webster's favorite rec
r%eation, and he was a frequent visitor OF
the fishing grounds at the falls Of the Pc.
tomac, above Georgetown. Izaak Walton
has never u a more enthusiastic dis
cipline IN this continent than the ~Ex-
FOUNDER Of the Constitution
AMosT SUCCESSFUL cHowDRR.
- IL l. ---Nl - IL c..
day parties of congressman and officials
who used to go down the Potomac on the
old steamer "Salem" to the fishing
grounds, and enjoy freshly-caught shad,
opened, nailed on oaken boards, and
cooked before large wood fires. On one
of these occasions Mr.. Webster had OBJ.
tanned from Boston some rock cod, crack
ers and salt pork, and he made a chowder.
He had a large kettle, and having friei
his scraps, he deposited the successive lay
ers Of fish, crackers and potatoes AMI
onions over and over until there was IL.
more room Then pouring in a half gal
Ion Of milk he rubbed his hands, exclaim
ing; Now for the fire. As Mrs. Mac
beth said: If It's TO be done, when ii.
done, then It's well itwere done quickly
l quote from memory, but l shall new
forget his joyous expression Of unite
dnCt anu luc merry LNlnKle OF MS deep
set, black eyes. The chowder was a sue.
cess and 5 o was a medicinal preparation
Of Santa Cruz rum, brandy, a dash OF ar
rack, loaf sugar, lemons and strong iced
tea. No one who ever drank "Marshheld
Punch forgot Its seductive excellence.
but some one found to their sorrow that
1t had a fearful kick.
Mr.. Webster grew up at a time wher
almost every nan took his daily glass OF
toddy, when decanters OF brandy were on
the tables of frst-class hotels, and wheI
wines and liquors were genuine. moi
manufactured from poisonous ingredi
ents. Towards the close OF his life, when
stricken by domestic sorrow and deserted
by some whose fortunes he had helped tc
make, he may at times have sought 1,
drown care. But he was not habitually
lntemperate, and what he did drink was
taken without disguise or hypocritical
concealnent.
He never gambled, although at tina.
time gambling was another open ano
fashionable vice in Washington. DC.
,%asionally he would play a game OF whist
with friends, but he played very badly
and he enjoyed a bout at "~seven-up.r Blu;
he never bet a cent on the result of 8
game, and he was entirely unacquaintef
with checkers, backgammon, chess, bill
lards or tenpins Ben; Perley Poore a.
Boston Budget.