The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-30
CAPT. BAssETT AT HIS POST.

Mr. DOugids was 5llli uiVthn. mon
used 10 be rather cross The trouble
with Mr. Webster and Mr. Douglas was
they visited the Hole in the Wall too
often"
"Ten me about that hole in the wall "
"Well. il was one Of the famous insti-
tutions Of our carly days. I'll give you
a full history Of it-sOmething that has
never been told in print. Il had ITS
origin in ham and bread One Of the
senator's suggested to John Beall. who
was scrccant-at-arms away back In the
thirties. that It would be q good thing 20
have a little luncheon set near by To
tho hall. where hungry senators could
run out and get bite to eat. 50 Bealis
wife boiled hams and made bread
and Beal brought them down and SET
them up in q little circular room just
north Of the rotunda and on the east side
Of the corridor Soon he added pickles.
nuts, salads and such little dehcacles,
and tho place became very popular.
Then somebody suggested TO Beall that
there ought TO be 4 bottle OF whisky
there, and after the whisky had been
procured there came a demand Tor GIN,
rum. brandy, wine and all sorts OF
things. In little while the place
became q regular saloon. There was
no bar, of course. not even n sidebOard,
the bottles and demijohns being set in
rows on the shelves. For a long time
the senator's used 20 90 in there and help
themselves 10 whatever they wanted,
and the expense was run in under the
contingent account as horse hire or some
thing Ike that. After a time the stock
got so large and popular that it was nc
uncommon thing to see a dozen senators
and their friends In there drinking and
having good times. The little room. not
more than twelve or fifteen feet IN diam
eter, and taking it's name from he tact
that it was simply hole in the wall,
lighted by only one window, was often
badly crowded and a good deal Of confu-
sion resulted in the arrangement Of the
stock. so that the senator who had
fayorite brand Of liquor had much trouble
IN finding it. Thus it became necessary
to put man ia charge, and after q time
the expense became so great that It was
not easy TO work it off IN the contingent
account. Then the senators were re-
CURED to pay for what they got, and
lftcr this was done the popularity of the
Hole in the Wall fell OF very rapidly.
But it was kept up till some years after
the senate moved into its present cham
Der in 1859 IL is good thing, I'm
thinking, that the walls Of that dark lit
tie room are dumb"
Here Capt Bassett drew from his
pocket a gold snuffbox, which the sen
ators presented him on the lftieth ami
gersary Of his appointment as page.
81 learned snuiiing." he said, from
Henry Clay. In handling the snuff box
for him fell into the habit OF taking
pinch now and then. and have never
quit. Dir Clay was an myetcrato snuH
ta.er. Dozens Of times o day lac used 10
motion TO me 10 get the snuff box which
we then kept on little stand near the
vice PRESIDENT desk More than once
did he stop in the midst OF n speech and
beckon to me for the box, not continuing
till he had taken a good pinch IN his
leisurely way. have seen him pause In
4 speech, walk down tho aisle, which,
perhaps, was so crowded that ladies
would have 10 get up TO let him pass, 60
to the little stand, get his pinch Of snuff,
and then return 10 his seat before resum.
ing his speech One day / asked him:
"'Mr. Clay, why don't you bring your
own snuff box
I'm tell you why" lie replied. If !
were TO bring my box here I'd have il Oh
The desk IN front Of me all the time, and
being thus tempted I'd take too much
snuff. Now / can't get it without troub-
ling you boys, and, % / don't Ike to do
that, you SO use it in moderation