New-York tribune., 1885-01-04
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
WHAT SOCIETY FINDS TO TALK ABOUT.

EX-SENATOR sHARON's PROPERTY.
lFROM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.]
WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.-Did Mrs. Carlisle send
regrets" in reply to the Presidents invitation to
assist at the New-Year reception because she
wished to spend the day in Kentucky. or to avoid
renewal Of the social complication of precedence is
tho question now agitating the official
society at Capital. Everybody remem-
bers the futter pervading the Blue
Room year age, when the President entered with
the wife of the Speaker on his arm, and also that
at Mrs. McElroys drawing room. later on, the wife
of the senior associate Justice Of the Supreme
Court openly rebelled when given second place IN
the line. Mrs. Miller whose courage and indomitabe
pluck fails her. fully to the occasion and
exclaimed in voice loud enough to reach the ears
OF those for whom it was intended: IL will not
stand there. Mary Lincoln, come here by me-" 1t
OvcrpOwered the wOmanly little wife Of the
Secretary Of War. She said nothing and
obeyed The social atmosphere was very
cloudy for some time. and the awful question
of precedence rose above every other. even echps-
ing grave matters Of State Last year the wife Of
Senator Edmunds was absent. This year her pres
ence may add to the social complication Did Mrs.
Carlisle foresce this and withdraw from the con-
test Senator Edmunds is President OF the Senate.
Mr. Carlisle IL Speaker of the House. Does Mrs.
year the question of precedence was between tho
wife of the Secretary of State and the wife Of the
Speaker. On Thursday Mrs. Edmunds. BY reason
of deep mourning and retirement from social
gayety did not maintain her place in the line with
the wives of the Cabinet officers. But suppose she
had chosen to do 80 suppose Mrs. Carlisle had not
preferred eating her turkey in Ken
tucky suppose Mrs. Frelinghuyscn had thought it
best TO be present ~ she fact was, on Thursday
suppose all this say. which one of the three ladies
should have entered with the President and had
the first place on Mrs. McElroy's right All me!
feel not equal To discuss tho question. No doubt II
trihe to you at distance; but IT Ia OF mo-
mentOus importance here. The question OF prece-
dence at State dinners was easily settled last year.
am told, and the decree was accepted, though not
gracefully, "all around" At dinners given to the
Cabinet the wife the Secretary OF State
ladies' when given to the Supreme Court Judges. me
wife of the Chief Justce to Senator'S the wife OF the
President of tho Senate; to the Representatives, OF
the House, the wife OF the Speaker OF course
at dinners given to the Diplomatic Corps,
tho wife af the p~ar ranks ell othorss but 81 re
ceptons 1t Is different and the question Is pretty
one. "It Is subject for Congressional legsla-
tion,r remarked charning little woman slyly be-
hind her fan the other night. think she was
rght-from her point Of view. at least.
Many of your readers no doubt have eaten
scotched salmon. though few, trust, have ever
been witnesses to this brutal mode of preparing
the fish for dinner. II Is quito common In Eng
land but in this country, l am told, it is more
frequently resorted to than 10 generally
thought to be the case. If so, 1t
would bc q proper subject of Investigation
for Mr. Berghs and similar societies. There is here
q set of young men which. even in New-York,
would pass for fast. They spend great deal
of their time devising new means to crafty their
palates One of them. who has recently returned
from Europe had there seen the scotching OF sal
mon. and he forthwith decided to show some Of his
friends hero practical illustration of the process
II requires live fish. To get ii he sent to Canada.
A splendid fellow. weighing about twenty pounds,
was caught for him in the Restigouche River,
backed in Q water-tight tub, and forwarded to
Washington would not dare to say what it cost
10 send the fish here. 1t certainly not
Iess than SIS pound. The most elaborate
preparations had been made to do justice to the
process of cookingIt. dozen or more of the young
mans boon companions were invited to witness the
process. At the proper time all assembled in the
Kitchen. into which the tub containing the salmon
had been carried On the range stood copper
boiler imported from England for the purpose. Its
inner sides were lined at regular intervals with
blades of steel sharp as knives. The young man at
once assumed direction Of matters Cold water
WINS put by his orders into the boiler the range.
and the salmOn's quarters changed from the tuD TO
the boiler 1t took three men to manage the salmon.
Az soon as this was done fires built under the
range. and the fish was slowly boiled to death.
OF course as tho water got warmer ana warmer, nc
movement he made his body would come into con-
tact with the knives and be ripped open. II was
nearly three-quarters Of an hour before !ne nsn
<,,tl hnnr hpfnP
served. One Of tho young men in relating the story
70 me said: 1T was disgusting sight, tell you
made me almost emG nad refused TO
of the dish. 1t was though. the best salmon ever
tasted. You 500 the scotching takes out all the |
milk which Is so objectSnanis IN nsn h Wnen h ,ess
makes It fight. and you get at tho same time
ali the good qualities inherent in fresh fsh; lt
looks when done almost ike pSp-corn nsst nc a%ae&
provided for people who delight In such cruelty for
The sake Of gratifying their stomach. The line |
gssS to ss Of Ss eel: but samon
will admit Is worse than either"
Tn. Sharon scandal is making trouble even here
The ex-senator 10 tho owner OF real estate III the
section Of the city OF considerable
value. He acquired IL by pnIcnasS ,ao" ,s M, foy oca
agent secured purchaser for part Oh the properly
Tho legal papers wero prepared ana ABOUT 10 DC
action one of whom happened to be Secretary |
onrts had rendered decision in favor
CplcsnHn M,s Hi against Sharon to be his
lawful T wife The buyers of tho Washington property
now decline to complete tho sale until they can
.srr whether Mr. sharon able to give clear title
to tho property.
Judre Rockwood Hoar Of Massachusetts,, has
rsat wsv of saving sharp things and ct tho proper
time, tooa gilt not possessed BELIEVE ,Soi Dy aS nIs
W Waah,m gton Guicker il seems, than they travel
about al ~ Isl in dignided, BustOq; He was met met
friend q hi: n.Is simUdhss' %htn nearly S a
9Sy or bad turned out to do honor to the dead
drator no..Ur WHAT exclaimed his friend. you
here. SSJ Judge, and Mr.. Philippe funeral taking
p'aaGTed dor,t object. / am sure," remarked Judge
Hoar' ss he walked quietly on, without saying