The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-07


was dated in 1859, short time be-
fore the convention at which the
writer was nominated for the Presi-
dency, but from the reading Of that
letter / Judge he had little thought
such an event would so soon happen
him.
My friend also showed us an old
book of autographs collected by his
grandfather, in which were the auto
graphs of nearly all the prominent
men from 1885 to so. Among the
first is the name of j. G. Adams,
who wrote, John Quincy, MAssAcHU-
sErTs," forgetting or neglecting to
write his last name, and having to
write it above. Henry Clay follows
that of Adams, and we were told
that after obtaining Clay's auto
graph, Mr.. Sargent went to Daniel
Webster, who said, "Whcre shall L
write my name?' On being told he
could write beneath that of Clay, he
replied; mo sir, Henry Clay, never
was above me in anything; lie shall
not be in this and he wrote his
name, opposite on the fly leaf.
Well, l have written nearly enough
for one letter, and am still at the
house of my friend, so I must nee
essarily cut the rest Of our trip short.
First, we visited the Van Ness
mansion, built over so years ago.
and in which have lived severul
prominent men, but the house is no
ted more, perhaps, for its age and
the famous guests who have lodged
beneath its root. 1t was a grand
building for the day it was built.
We were shown II vault under the
house where it is said, that during
the war, conspiracy was formed to
take Lincoln prisoner, and keep him
in that vault until he could be re-
moved to the South, but this plot
was superseded by the one to which
Lincoln fell victim. At the en-
trance to the grounds are the 'por-
ter's lodges" of the olden times, and
within the enclosure stands the house
of David Burns, one of the men who
owned the land on which is built the
city of Washington. The house is
146 years old, and in a fair state Of
preservation. frame with the ole
fashioned chimneys on the outside
at each end. The chimneys are built
of stone and brick, the latter being
shipped from England. Five Or six
trees, near the house, were pointed
out to us as the ones under whose
shade Gen'l Washington bargainet
with ''Davy' Burns tor the land. L
was related to us, that while bar
| gaining, Burns became offended a
Washington and said, George Wash
ington what would you be, if yol
hadn't married that woman over tn,
river? You wouldn't be worth fly,
cents" They say Burns was very
plain, blunt spoken cid man ant
this was characteristic of him.
Nearly all the public buildings
were closed, out of respect to tn
memory. of the dead President
and in order to even get in the Cap
itol, our friend had TO procnrea per
nit from the Architect, EGwarc
Clark, out we had the building near
ly all to ourselves as we met cnl'
two others beside the officials, botl
young men. One Of them was sor
of Senator Ingalls,, Of KANSAS, on
friend introduced us and we had
pleasant time together.
Workmen are busy on west side o
the Capitol building grand stair
way. 1t appears that improvement
to the grand old building will neve
cease, and l, for one. am willin!
they never shall, for | desire 10 Sc
it remain, what it now 18th
grandest building en- earth. No tru
American can gaze On that magnif
cent structure. ard not feel his bC
som throb with pride, as he reflect
that he, as citizen, has a persona
interest in it.
Well, / must save some of thi
gabble for another time, and clos
by reminding your readers that
they should come to Washingto
they will find a few WooGsfeldel
here-there are several could name
and if as you pass up 9th street hc
tween L and T, you may see larg
sign On a nice brick building whic
reads "Allen Z. Hill, Real Estat
Agent &C." and stepping inside 20
will find the same agreeable feilor
. whose face used to be so familiar t
the people of Woodsfeld. Allen
doing well for new beginner, an,
. it is business that will grow. Man
men here have made their fortune
at it. W. F. G.