Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-20


Miss Wctherell OF Maryland. "Quakerr.s;" Mrs.
Ward ana Mrs. Smith OF Washington Swiss
and French Peasants" Miss Sue johnson.
Maid OF Saragossa; Mr.. 1T. Adams as Count
Mntersen. Miss Belle Cas-, af.erward Mad
anne de Limburg. appeared rs French Mar
chioness; the Misses Parker as Liberty and
Swiss Peasant" Mrs. Hughes Of Virginia. nee
ltitchie. as Little Red Riding Hood" Mrs.
Gen Emery as 'Quakeress." Mrs Berg of
New York as an "Indian Princess and Mrs
bridges OF California rs a Sioux Maiden and
Mrs Rogers a. 'Minnehaha;" DIR. Raney of
south America as Prince Rupert" and Mr.. s.
W: Gil!ett as a "Filibuster."
Those of the present day who were among
That delighted throng will need no reminder Of
the lavish hospitality bestowed upon the
guests OF this grand ball, for such IL took
rank, and has never been surpassed In this city,
where OF late years the most expensive enter
tainments have been given.
MEN WHO sHoSE IN THAT DAY.
The mention Of the names Of many OF these
guests will recall to mind so much OF the past
when Washington social life was full of wit and
enioyment, where a reputation for brilliant
repartee and conversational powers ranked be-
fore wealth. Among this brilliant company
the names OF Mrs. Clay and Commander Nelson
bring to my mind that power which they pos
sessed In an eminent degree. Mr.. Nelson had
been IN the navy for years. and had been every
where and had seen everything. aud he re-
scribe it with remarkable facility. He talked
30 Wei that he was generally permitted TO
monopollze the conversation. Mrs. Clay
mad remarkable conversational powers, and
| IL was always pleasure to her to talk. On one
occasion, at a dinner where Mrs. Clay aad Mr.
| Nelson were guests. Mr.. Nelson usurped the
| conversational part ofthe entertainment, some
what to Mrs. Clay's discontinue, aud her
silence was remarked by friend with some
| evidence OF sympathy. Interpreting his looks
ar fht. g.
THANK you; he will stop 70 take breath
directly and will get in q word"
| remember on one occasion when John
BrouSham was at supper with US at the club
Nelson came in and joined US. Up to this time
we had enjoyed Broughams wit and humor
but Nelson was in one OF his talkative moods,
and Brougham sat spellbound at the food Of
| words, which was TO him somewhat remarka-
BILE. He Was content to listen, he said A very
great change came over Mr.. Nelson when he
| assumed his high military rank. From being
| a1ovial genial companion, he became morose
| and overbearing, as l have understood from
those who were with him in the army.
During the last term Of Mr.. Crittenden in
| the Senate saw a good deal of him and al
ways found him delightful companion. He
was at u dinner table, always an acquisition
The only time ever saw him disconnected was
| at dinner given to Mr. Crittenden on the eve
OF his retirement from the Senate. Among the
| guests was the late Col. John T. Pickett q very
| OtLiiiaut man. dnu one VINO was aDle TO hold
his own IN any contest OF wit and repartee. On
this occasion Nelson had got the laugh on
| Pickett, who blded his time and be fore the
close OF the dinner proposed the health of his
| friend, Commander Nelson Of the United States
navy, one OF the most extraordinary men he
| had ever met, and he said his knowledge
was almost universal II you talked with him
on art, you would suppose he had devoted his
| life to its study; on law you would take him
for 1urlst; on mechanics You would conclude
he was an educated engineer, and. in fact II
he only knew something about navigation, his
| knowledge would be universal. The laugh was
upon Nelson. who joined in il a. heartily as any
| of U.S.
How many friends the recollection of this
| grand social event recalls, and there we're
others whose names cannot obtain and can
| not recall, and for the omission must plead
memory far from vigorous after the thirty
| two years which have elapsed
| The many changes wrought by the four years
| OF war. and of which, thank God, SO few traces
remain. have sadly depleted the list of those
who enjoyed that long to- be remembered
night
had the pleasure Of seeing Senator and Mrs.
| Gwin and Miss Carrie Gwin years after in
New York, where they remained nearly the
whole OF the year 1876. The family returned
to California, think in 1877. Senator Gwin,
however, spent good deal Of his time in New
York in the years before his death, engaged in
some large mining operations. I saw him
| almost every day and only the day before
his death / was with him. During that
last visit he showed Inc his correspondence
| with Gen. jackson, which had been main tanned
during the many years of their intimate friend
| ship. The letters, / presume, remain in the
| family. but they would make most interest
ing volume. At another time will tell of a
most remarkable letter the Senator read to me
from the old hero detailing with the most mi
mute particulars his becoming member of the
church in which he died. DIR. Gwin. for almost
| every body called him doctor, oven when in the
| Senate, was one of the cleverest-headed poll
| ticians ever met. will not project politics
into this most charming social "reminiscences,
but speak OF that kindly hospitable nature
which he so delighted to exercise and in which
he was SO cheeriuily sustained by Mrs. Gwin,
| who as hostess had never a superior for kindli-
| ness and grace. How many old friends will be
recalled by those who read these names: Wal
demar Bodisco, Richmond Aulick Jack Saw
age. Gen. Bill Nelson, Phil Barton Key, DIR.
William Ii. Berry, Ben: Perley Poore, Mr.. and
| Mrs. George II. PeDdleton, ammo Dominic"
Banks, Gen. John Magruder, ex-Mayor Ma
gruder, Arson Burliugame, Jonah Hoover,
Maj. Russell, Sylvester Mowry, Ion King
man, Mrs. Danl. Z. Sickles. Mr. Keitt Of South
| Carolina. They will come back to us embalmed
in the pleasant memories Of those past days
MAJOR SMITHS LETTER.
In my article of last week promised &c ex-
hume letter written me by Mai. Thomas L.
Smith, who is SO pleasantly remembered here
and wherever he was known Mai. smith had
for years held high Official positions under many
administrations, coming here, 1 think. with Gen.
Jackson. He was the friend of Mr.. Van Buren,.
and was requested by him to exercise his taste
and judgment in refurnishing the White House.
and 1t was under bis orders the house was fur.
nished and supplied as detailed in Jack Oyles
celebrated gold spoon speech. Maj. Smith was
q gentleman in oil tine relations of life a man
OF culture and the friend and intimate COM
panion OF Mr.. Seaton, MIR. Clay, Mr.. Webster,
Col. Benton and others Of like distinction.
He had been a liberal and genial host and a
guest at the tables Of the most distinguished
men and families in the city. In later years
the major, think one Of the handsomest men
in the city suffered greatly with that enemy of
ali lovers of the good things of this life OF
course he was one OF the first invited to THE
Wake" and late in the day OF the entertain
ment I received from him the note give
below. How he enjoyed reading the descrip-
ton of Pixies brief call on Pluto and the other
witticisms of that occasion.
CoyLE: II you were adyspeptic would ask ron what
right has vinegar-fsced, morbid, splenetic marplot
cursed with the blues indigestion and pills. offend
hospitality with his presence. What can he do Win
company that has wrinkle their brow NO prac-
teal knowledge Of the Of nledcs aud the
nazar; company whose tone OF digestion ID OF the
economy Of the OSTRICH and whose bstons honor the
tnImolt ahty OF Bacchusy What right has the POOR
per cent Of the rshts Of Epicurus aud one SsndrSd
per cent Of the indulences Bacchus take place
where he can be mo participant with those lib