National Republican., 1888-05-13
ODDS AND ENDS.
Gossip About Men and Women in Pub
lie and Society.


the Supreme Court lie left it to his
nephew, John A. Washington, who on his
death devised 1t to his son John A. Mr.
Washington was a pure type of the Nir-
gina gentleman. lie was hosptablc, aud
delighted in having the house full Of
guests. lie kept fast horses and was not,
in any sense Of the word, thrifty manager.
In fact, about the year 1858 he became seri-
ously embarrassed, and it was rumored that
be would he compelled to dispose of Mount
Vernon. II then occurred to q number of ladies,
whom the late Mrs. Ogle Tayloe was one,
that II would be very fitting II Mount Yer
non was purchased by an assocn-
tion of ladies and forever kept
as sacred spot, to be Wis
tied by patriotic Americans and curious
strangers. Mr.. Washington was approached
on the subject, and agreed to sell for $780,
eco. How to raise the money was the qucs-
tion, for the time was limited. Finally the
sympathy and the interest of the Hon Ed
ward Everett, of Massachusetts,, was Ell
listed. lie consented to deliver o lecture
upon ".Washington'' throughout the coun-
try, the proceeds to bedevOted to purchasing
Mount Vernon. Nobly did he fulfill his
promise. The lecture was mastery in con-
ception, and delivered with all Of the graces
of soratory which Justly made Mr. Everett
so famous. He visited every large city in
the country, and II was mainly through his
Mount Vernon Association took charge of
the place about the ycHr 1859, and have con-
tinucd to hold II ever since. The ladies have
amply demonstrated the wisdom of turning
over Mount Vernon to their keeping. Each
year the place has become more attractive,
and the finances are managed In most sat.
isfaCtory manner With the opening of
mount Vernon avenuen the home of Wash
ington will become even more accessible
and the increased number of visitors will
enable the ladies to carry out number of
Improvements which have for some time
been IN contemplation. 1t may be of inter
est to state that Mr.. Washington, after sell
ing mount Vernon purchased farm in
jefferson county, Va, now West Virginia,
before the breaking out of the war. He be-
came a member Of the staff of his relative,
Gen. Robert +. Lee, and was killed in West
Virginia early in 1861. He left several chill
dren surviving him, who are now residents
of West Virginia.
Mr.. Thomas f. Miller who has JUS been
nominated for police justice to succeed
Judge Smell, for number Of years was
known by a peculiar designation. There
were two Tom Millers-one Thomas +. and
the other Thomas Jessup. They were both
lawyers and about the same age. Thomas
Jessup was specially noted as real estate
and Thomas F. as criminal lawyer. To
distinguish them the future police judge
was known as "Red Head Tom Miller and
his colleague as "Black Head Tom Miller.n
Mr.. Thomas Jessup Miller died two or three
years since He was man or undoubted
talent, but his conviyal habits intcrfcred
with his usefulness. The next police judge
is a man of great geniality, clear judgment,
and for his knowledge Of criminal law not
eXcelled in the District. He will make
most painstaking, conscientious, and capa-
BILE Judge, and as Mr.. Cleveland was deter
mined to appoint Democrat he could not
have made better selection than Mr.
Miller
mA
The Senate is conservative body, and is
not known to change its employees. Every
one knows that Capt Bassett has been as
sistant doorkeeper for over fifty years, but
how long Col. James /. Christie, Capt Bas-
setts assistant has been in the service Of
| the Senate is not so well ascertained. The
colonel is a bachelor and does not look over
40, but Col. Thomas P. Ochltree remarked
at Chamberlain's the other evening that he
remembers seeing Col. Christie about the
| Senate early in the war, and that he looked
as old then as he did now, although per-
haps not so heavy in weight, which is the
natural result of the many good dinners he
| has eaten since he has spent his winters In
Washington. BE that as it may, Col.
Christieis one of the most popular attaches of
the Senate lie is obliging and invariably
courteous. He Hefaithfully executes any com
| missions intrusted him by senators, and in
consequence enjoys their confidence and re-
gard. The complexion Of the Senate may
| be Republican or Democratic, but slim
Christie" as he is familiarly called, always
is retained. When the Senate adiourns Col.
Christie goes to his home in Dover, n, II.
He has quaint old house there which came
to him from his father, and which is filled
with all sorts of curious things. With him
lives another bachelor brother, and the two
entertain n good deal during the summer
Ladies say that it is shame that, with so
beautiful a home, Col. Christie does not
take unto himself wife. As he seems,
however, to enjoy perennial youth, he may
yet correct this mistake in time.
Gen. Simon Cameron, father of Senator
Don Cameron, has recently been celebrat-
ing his S9th birthday, and, If Gen. Bingham
is correct, he expects to see his Tooth. The
life Of Gen. Cameron reads like n romance,
and must be an incentive to any young,
ambitious man to aspire to the highest
honors In the gift of the people. A poor
printer boy, without influential connections,
Gen. Cameron was for years the ruler Of the
politics of his state. Four times elected
United States senator, despite the most
strenuous opposition, he proved himself as
an organizer unequaled among the men of
his day. In 1857 the late Col. John W.
Fomey expected to be elected senator, and
had conducted the presidential campaign
for his friend, Mr. Buchanan, in 1856, upon
that understanding. When the legislature
met, however, Gen. Cameron was elected,
but resigned from the Senate to accept the
position of Secretary of War under Mr.. Lin
coin, which he left to go to Russia as minis
ter. Gen. Cameron IN 1862 became tired of
diplomatic life, and made up his mind to
return to the Senate as the successor of Mr..
WilmOt After q struggle unparalleled in
the history of the "Keystone State" and In
which Col. Forney took prominent part,
Mr. Buckalew, q Democrat, now a member
of the House, defeated Gen. Cameron by
one vote. Gen Cameron was elected In
1867 and in 1873, resigning in 1S1! in favor of
his son Don. A gentleman who was present
at the dinner given by the Cameron Club,
Of Philadelphia, last week, In honor of the
veteran statesman, asked him how he ac-
counted for his great success In politics, aud
his wonderful health. The general replied :
~ attribute my success in life to the fact that
! never broke promise or forgot friend,
and us to my health, have eaten heartily,
drank temperately, and allowed myself am
pie time for sleep.n A great deal Of wisdom
Is contained in all this and the course which
Gen. Cameron has pursued in his long and
eyentful life may be safely followed by those
who are seeking to climb "the ladder of
iamen and longevity.
Congressional circles are very much
amused now at the eccentricities of the
Hon. William Martin, of Texas, whose late
speech on the "tanGn was so cleverly alb
stracted in last weeks REPUBLICAN. AL
most every Congress has its odd character.