Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-05

M LIE C., .IUESUA1,- IN
Written for TEE Rvzxma srAn.
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
The Canvas Back Club, its Members
and Guests.
F0RTNI6HTLr BANQUET AND A UNIQUE MENU
THE ROMANCE or CONGRESSMAN M'cREARY's
MAn.-How HE BROUGHT ABOUT HAPPY WE'D
DNG-rHE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY.
In this city ofeood dining and good winine
there Ia small but select cotsrie Of men who
are past-ma sters Ia the art of living and who
cit down every two weeks during the winter to
repast ~ unique as II IL excellent. 1.-The
Canvas Back club" il famous Organization In
It's way, and although 1t has been In existence
some sixteen years DOUBT II there are . hun
dred people who know anything about It, and
to nv knowledge it has never been 'written
up" before. From this you infer that the can
vas-oackers are q somewhat exclusive and Sc
elusive crowd.
A famous gastronome once observed that the
guests at dinner table should never be less
than the graces or more than the muses. Bear
ing tsis advice In mind the participants in
canvas-back club banquet consist Of exactly
eight men. never more or less, the seven MEM
bers OF the club and one invited guest The
names of the seven gentlemen who Keen up this
| unique organization are Gen. Nicholas Ander-
son, Dr. f. B. LOring, Paymaster Bacon, Of the
navy; Jesse Brown, Maj. Thomas B. Ferguson,
Representative Edward Burnett, of Massachu-
sets, and Calderon Carlisle. The constitution
and bylaws of the club are very simple. They
merely provide that the club shall meet once in
two weeks at Chamberlain's. Every member
| Is allowed the privilege Of bringing guest to
the feast once during the winter, so that there
are always eight men present at the table.
There are no formal speeches or toasts but
stories, anecdotes, repartee, and bright remarks
flash about the board. And now having in
troduced the hosts let me give you the bill Of
fare, which never varies. 4... s-..
Half-past seven is the time and John Chamber
lain's the scene. That famous purveyor knows
that he is catering to men of fine aud discrimi-
mating taste and must be watchful OF his reputa-
ton. The table Is a picture. The glass, china,
and slverware-all the property OF the club--is
OF the very finest quality and four of the most
expert walters are there to look after the clubs
creature comforts A dozen oysters on She half
shell form the prelude to the piece de resistance,
which is half canvas-back duck, shot at Hayre
de Grace, and personally inspected by Chamber
lain before going into the hands Of the Chef,
done to turn and resting on bed of hominy.
The hominy absorbs the juices of the duck. and
l am told no one can really appreciate the
beauties of that succulent bird unless it is
served In this way ..-
After the duck has been disposed of one Of
the members mixes salad. To be able to COM
pound salad the like Of which was never tasted
before Is the altitude which ali eany as-backers
seek to attain, and while many strive few sue
coed. 1t is with GREATNESS interest they watch
the admiXture OF the vinegar and the OIL the
salt and the pepper, and solemn hush beftting
the occasion pervades the table. The latest
gastronomic connection having been discussed
aud Its merits passed upon. crackers and cheese
are brought on and then black coffee. That's
all. and yet its a banquet of which Lucullus
might have been proud. Don't imagine that
canvas-back mea are total abstainers. They
know good wine when they see it, and John
Chamberlain knows it, too. ,-
Bon vivants-the men who spend their lives
between dinner-plate and the bOtte-are as
proud to be the guests Of honor as the average
statesman few DAYS ago was to be invited to
indianapolis. To give list of the guests would
include the names of Observation-Disclosures Nor
ton. the late President Arthur. Cornelius Van
derbllt. Tom Reed Tom Ochtree. General Sher-
idan, and Others equally as well known and
as famous. Ii you know the members you know
that the champagne isn't more sparklin than the
bon mots, or the duck more juicy than some Of
the stories. At IL o'clock the diners disperse
and the china goes back into its closet for another
two weeks.
congressman's mail is an interesting study.
II isn't entirely made up of requests for indorse-
ments. applications for public documents, and
demands for free seeds. Now and then there is
romance concealed in it. Big-hearted Cover
nor McCreary. of Kentucky, has just been the
means OF making three people very happy. 1t
came about Ia this way: -
Not long ago he received letter from a lady
In New Jersey. The writer was evidently
woman of refinement and good education. She
told the Congressman that Kentucky lady had
recently been visiting her and happening to
/ Governor McCrparyfa oha had
taken the liberty to write to him. McCreary's
correspondent was widow with one son. so
was her visitor, and learning that the governor
mad only one son she was inclined to think ne
would all the more gladly listen to her appeal
Her boy. the writer went on to say. was engaged
TO be married to very Charming girl. The en-
gagement was sanctioned by both families and
as the boys mother was comfortably well OF,
she looked forward with great pleasure to her
son marrying and settling down. But the
young people had lovers tiff the engagement
was broken of, and in fit of pique and mad
ness he enlisted as private In the army. The
girl was heart-broken, and the mother was dis
tracted at the thought OF the hardships her boy
would have to endure, and would Mr.. McCreary
use his influence to have her son discharged?
The governor went over to the War depart
ment and laid the case before Adult. Gen. Drum
That functionary wasn't disposed to do anything
In the matter. OF course the adjutsnt general
couldn't be expected to take q very lively inter-
est In the woes Of mere ordinary, every day
private. Gen. Drum got behind roll OF red
tape and copy Of the Revised Statutes and
showed that 1t couldn't be done. But Mr. Nc
Creary told the general that the keystone of the
arch wouldn't fall If the strength of the United
States army was reduced by one man, that the
happiness of three people depended on his de-
cision. and that It would be good deal better
to discharge the foolish young man, who heartily
regretted his folly, than to keep him an unwii-
ing prisoner with the chances against his ever
making good soldier. These arguments were
too much for the general and he gracefully
capituated Secretary Endicott ALWAYS will
ing to do kind action, heartily approved of the
generals action, and Gov McCreary had the
satisfaction of being able to write his New Jer-
sey correspondent that her son would be dis
charged as soon as the necessary papers could
be made out ''@ '.'
'Later-Governor McCreary has Just received
an invitation to attend we dding in New Jer-
sey, to take place In the near future. II the
work OF the extra session permits it he will
attend. ;,,..-., - 60 -, II
Representative-elect Charles E. Belknap, OF
the fifth Michigan district. was probably the
youngest man In the Union army to hold can
tains commission. He enlisted In the 2ist
Michigan infantry when only lft cen years old
and scarcely more than two years later he was
wearing the shoulder straps of company COM
mander. There was good deal OF opposition
on account Of his, tender age against his, re-
cpVin0 his commission hut ba hod rr,,