The Washington critic., 1886-09-29
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


Fred. Phillips was much more i'm
portant right hand for President Ar.
thur than the politician generally
thought. lie was as taciturn, if ncces.
sary, as Lamont, but concealed his
taciturnity under disguise of child
like innocence. Phillips had a diff
cult job in keeping the New York poll
tical bores away from General Arthur,
and he did 1t exceedingly well. He Is
sometimes seen in New York admirng
the art gallery at the Hoffman, but he
still lives in Washington in elegant
bachelor apartments at the Metropoli.
tan Club. Phillips looks with some
amusement and amazement upon Dan
Lamont. He says that Lamont may
help make or unmakc politicians, but
he never will beat the President
shooting alliga,ors or receive Presi
dental compliments for the way
he cooks plankcd shad on the Pu.
tomac. Mr. Phillips used TO be asked
for by ladies who called at the White
House, but he never knew that 1t was
for his handsome eyes, and not because
he was the Presidents private secre.
tary, that they wished to meet him.
General Garfield expected to depend
very much upon his right-band assist
ant, +. NJ. Brown, but for the few
months Brown was in the executive
office he seemed somewhat dazed. He
was the youngest of all the private
secretaries, and the moustache he cul.
tivated was still downy when he en-
tered the office. Brown had been
Garfleld's stenographer, and never ran
smack up against politicians until he
went to the White House. Now and
then he comes TO New York, and may
be seen in the corridor of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel with Tommy Nichol,
who was once one of Garfield's s secre
taries. Brown is now assisting Mrs.
Garfield in the management of her es.
tate.
Says Ben: Perley Poorc in his
"Reminis cences:" After old Baron
Bodisco's marriage to the young and
beautiful Miss Williams, the Russian
Legation at Georgetown became the
tcene of brilliant weekly entertain.
ments, given, it was asserted, by
especial direction of the Emperor
Nicholas, who had special allowance
made for table money. At these en-.
tertainments there were dancing, an
excellent supper, and room devoted
to whist. MIR. Webster, Mr.. Clay,
General Scott, aud several of the Dip.
lomatic Corps were invariably to be
seen handling "fifty.two pieces of
printed paste board" while the old
Baron, though not a good player, rs
the host of the evening. was accuS-
toned to take u hand. One night he
sat down to play with those better ac.
quainted with the game, and he lost
over 81 900. AT the supper table he
made the following announcement, in
a sad tone Ladies' and gentlemens!
1t is my disagreeable duty to make the
announce that these receptions must
have an end, and to declare them at an
end for the present. because why?
The fund for their cXpend, ladies and
gen,lemens, is exhaust, and they must
discontinue"
1t is OF unusual, says "Bystandcr"
in the Philadelphia Neirs, for public
nen at times to talk freely to a news
paper man, and while so doing to say
very iniudicious things or give away
party secrets. When they see their
words In plain type cold sweat breaks
out on them, and they at once deny
the truth of the interview. have
known this to occur dozen times. ]
lnow Republican Ex-Governor of
Ohio, who is very seldom quoted now.
a.dnys, because of his denying propen-
.,t tel, t.,;a
brcakfasted With him one morning az
the Riggs House in Washington
During the meal he talked freely upon
certain subject of general interest,
and said something that knew would
make sensation in type. After the
meal met Billy MacBride. the Wash
Enquirer, and said to him: "If you see
get very interesting talk out of him.
ject." Beyond mentioning the subject
/ gave MacBridc no hint of what the
Governor had said. He took my
pointer" and soon engaged the Gov
ernor in conversation. The next day
The Enquirer contained au interview
with him that | know was true and ac,
curate, A couple of days after.
ward MacBrde came to me and
said; You know that inter
view ] had with the Governor the
other day." Yes" replied. "Well, Z"
said he, "what do you think II tho
skulking son of Il gun didn't come to
me this morning and say, Mac, I'll
have to deny that interview, and you
must not contradict me. It's all right,
aud said what you Published, hut |
was hasly and talked too fast, TN
hurt me politically aud must deny it.
You needn't care. I'll givey you good
item in less than two'weeks that II con,
sole you for what must do, " He did
deny the interview by wire that very
night.
~
Says contributor to the Philiel-
phia Times; No one at the Capital
misses Thurman more than Senator
Edmunds. With the Ohio statesman
these two formed that illustrious co,
terie among which Roscoe COnlSling
and Secretary Bayard loved to lingel
whether it was to discuss affairs OF
State or partake of the fnr.famed Sena.
toiial lea. These gatherings, h Id al.
ways in ono of the committee room 3.
were the delight of all who there IN d
lug, lh,r but beyond those named few
rihrs could obtain admission. thou sh
Il. - ught II In every way. Fdr ~.
D. 1 tlt,,s l. 4 I l..