The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-13
IN PRESIDENT VAN BUREN's TIME.
How Distinguished Men Lived Forty
Years Ago.
From the Washington Journal.

From the Washington Journal
Forty years. said Mr.. Johnson Gray to
a reporter, few days since, "makes much
difference in the personnel of fashionable
| society at the capital as well as in custom
may say continued Mr.. Gray, that
have been connected with society people for
| nearly half a century. | was born in 1929,
and when ten years old entered the service
Of the Austrian minister, who lived in the
Morocco house, on l street, between
Twentieth and Twenty first streets
That was my introduction to the
society people as houseboy
lived with him till the fall of 1910. and had
the good fortune to obtain employment at
the white house. VIM. ingram, a colored
man, was President Van Buren's private
messenger, and when / left the Austrian
minister ! went to him to ask for something
to do. He at once engaged me and took
me to the white house, where l was re
garded as houseboy, and my principal
duties were to wait on Maj. Abraham Van
Buren,, the Presidents son and private sec
rotary. The President was a widower,
and the majors wife was the mistress of
the mansion. The family consisted Of the
President, Major and Madame Van Buren,,
and sometimes John and Smith Van Buren,
the sons, would come on from New York
and make stay Of a few days or weeks.
WHITE HOUSE RECEPTIONS.
The white house was then as it is now
the scene of receptions or levees, but prob
ably none of them were attended by one
fourth the members which attend them
now. On New Years day the President
not only received but entertained, and
after the visitors paid their respects they
found their way to the dining-room where
there were refreshments, including egg-nogg
and apple jack, roast pig and roast turkey,
with bread and pickles. Then once a week
in the winter season the President would
hold reception at night, and Madame
Van Buren, would hold weekly day recep-
ton. During the season state dinners
would be given once n week, the supreme
court, diplomatic corps, cabinet and
other prominent officials, members of con
gress, and distinguished citizens in turn
being the invited guests. These dinners
were given in the state dining room and the
menu included soup, fish, boiled ham and
turkey, with macaroni bouillon Of beef
with tomatoes, just then coming in use, tur
nips, carrots and potatoes madesinto
sauce; saddle of venson with currant jelly,
canvas-b back duck, plum or cabinet pud-
ding with cream sauce. ice cream and cake,
fruits and nuts, champagne, sherry and
madeira. This dinner was served
IN THE ENGLISH STYLE,
the carving bcing done by the head walters
on the side tables and the other walters
serving the table. | do not remember OF
cigars being passed as at present. This
dinner occupied about three and one-half
hours, and by 10 o'clock most Of the guests
had departed.
OF course the President had his party
friends, but meu fall parties felt at home
within the walls Of the white house, and
around the festive board all political aspir-
atoms were forgotten.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
Among those who were frequently at the
dinners and receptions were Daniel Web
ster. Henry Clay, John G. Calhoun, Chief
Justice fancy, Major Gen Wool, DR.. Law
son, surgeon general Of the army; Senators
Benton, Of Missouri CritteDden, of Ken
lucky; Mason, of Virginia; Butler, Of South
Carolina, and the cabinet officers"
Were the guests simple in their fastest"
aske the reporter
"Yes. SIR answered the veteran; "but
at state dinner, or when dining out, they
were not apt 10 show IL. II was expected
that each course should be discussed. Take
MIR Webster, for instance. A fitch Of
bacon calves liver and corn grits made up
the best part Of his breakfast. At dinner
pork aud beans Ia Ia Boston,, roast turkey
and cranberry jelly were his standard
dishes. He was exceedingly fond OF frog
legs, and usually took glass Of wine and
fell asleep IN his chair. He entertained
royalty, and the dishes AZ his table would
tempt the most caprlcious appetite.
PLAIN LiyERs
Mr. Crittenden. who lived on II street, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets, was a very
plain liver. A. breakfast his fty0rits dishes
we're ham and eggs, pork steak and h0miny;
and at dinner roast beef mutton, with
vegetables All smoked l3Ni with sprouts or
Clay boarded the mge Of w tiae, but ofleu