Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05
DINING WITH WEBSTER
Incidents Told by Josiah Quincy, Jr.,
Of Washington in 1926.
JUDGE STORY ON THE STAGE.
Notable Ride From Boston-rhe Charm OF
the Great Orators Story Telling-Why RAN
doIph Did Not Want to Die Here-Gen
Jackson's Visit to Boston.
Written for The Evening Star.

tells OF his visit to Washington as early as $50,
with his father, who was at that early date .
member of Congress. II dimly remembe
Washington" he says. ''but the gentlemen 1,
powdered hair and pig tails do remember
Tho city itself presented forlorn appearance
Blocks Of houses had been commenced, tn,
spectators had failed and unfinished buildings
without door or windows, were in every street
L recall all this very distinctly, because there
was print of the Ruins of Palmyra which
pointed out to my parents on our way home
with the exclamation: Why, thero's q pictur,
Of Washington
| Nineteen years after that, 1896, I made The
journey to Washington with Judge Story. The
stages ran regularly between New York ant
Boston. They left the city at 8 o'clock in thu
morning and at o'clock o man was sent round
| to the houses of those who were booked for
passage. His instructions were to knock, pull
| the bell, shout and disturb the neighborhood
| as much as possible in order that the person
who was to take the stage might be IN and
dressed. Light sleepers in the vicinity were
made painfully aware when the stage was ex.
pected. This invitation from Judge Story did
| not imply any promise of attention after we
arrived in that city, as the judge was careful tc
point out The fact is, said he can do
very little for you there, as we judges
take no part in the society Of the place. We
dine once year with the President, and that
| Is all. On other days we take dinner together
and discuss at table the questions which are
argued before US. We are great ascetics, and
even deny ourselves wine, except in wet
weather. Here the judge paused as if think
ing that the act of modification he had men
| TONED placed too severe q tax on human
credulity and presently added: what l say
| about wine, sir. gives you our rule: but it does
| sometimes happen that the chief Justice will
d fha lott in a..
Story. step to the window and see IL it does
not look like rain.' And il tell him the sun
is shining brightly Judge Marshall will some
times reply: "All the better. for our jurisdic-
tlon extends over 30 large territory that the
doctrine of chances makes il certain that il must
be raining somewhere" Youknow the chief was
brought up upon federalism and Madeira, and
ne Is not the man to outgrow his early pre-
l9dices: Mr. Quincy says the sun revealed
his fellow passengers, who were Mr.. and Mrs.
McCobb OF Maine, who were escorting to WASH
lngton the Misses Cleaves, two young ladies
VINO were heiresses and were to make their
debut in Washington society.
JUDGE STORY A GREAT TALKER
Judge Story was one Of the great takers ut q
period when conversation was considered a
sort OF second profession. At dinners. when
time was limited and other distinguished men
were present, he sometimes talked too much
but In the coach he could not pour himself out
too abundantly for the pleasure of his listen
ers. There was only one thing he did not talk
about and that was law. 81 can give no better
idea of the intimate relations developed in the
old stage COACH he continues, than by men,
tlonlng that before night the judge was favor.
ing us with recitations Of original poetry Sub
sequently Judge Story came to the conclusion
that the masses were not favorable TO his invo-
cations and actually bought up and burned all
attainable copies of a poem called Power of
Solitude which he once committed to the
press He had a knack Of rhyming
with ease. and it is said that he would some,
times beguile the hours Of a tedious argument,
to which he was compelled to listen, by making
his notes in verse; The first night Of our iour.
pey was spent at Ashford, Conn. The bills of
local banks did not circulate bevond the town
in which they were issued, and when Judge
Story. who had failed to provide himself with
Salem bill in payment for supper he stared at
1t and said: This is not good and think you
must know
II know it is good retorted the Judge
testify, and III tell you how know it, made
it myself
I'VE reached New York on Monday evening.
having left Boston on Friday morning."
Mr. Quincy tells how they journeyed to Wash
lngton by the way OF Lancaster, Pa. where they
took up Mr.. Buchanan, and they then had as
passengers Langdon Cheves, Mr.. Henry
Wheaton, the authority on International law.
and Mr.. Henry, member of Congress from Ken.
lucky, and reached Baltimore at IL o'clock at
night, very much fatigued but he says: Bar
mum, who was great friend of Judge Story.
and knew him when he, Barnum, kept the Elk,
change Coffee House In Boston, would keep us
up for canvas-backs and bottle of capital
wine" They left Baltimore at in the morn
ing and reached Washington about in the
afternoon, and at the recommendation of Mr.
Cheves MIR. Quincy accompanied him to Miss
Hyers' on Capitol Hill-east side New Jer-
old
met Thomas Adds Emmett. David b. Ogden.
Rufus Amory, Capt COMMODORE Stockton of
the navy and Capt. Zantzinger. MIR. Quincy
left his card and letter from his father for
Mr.. Randolph at Dowson's, Capitol Hil and
soon had a note requesting him to waive cere-
mony and call on him either before the meet
ing of the Senate or between its adjournment
and o'clock in the evening, which hour he
was careful TO mention was his bedtime.
JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE
Mr.. Quincy found in Mr.. Randolph q most
entertaining friend. He spoke of the death of
Mr.. Gaillard of South Carolina and the
eulogism of his colleague, Mr.. Hayere, in an
nouncing it to the Senate. "Gailiard was our
Oldest Senator" said Mr.. Randolph, land is
greatly gre S...n to b. be aP i,iednte be ptied
died in this place. have been iii
here and have feared death, feared it because
would not die in Washington, be eulogized by
men despise and buried in the Congressional
burying ground. The idea of lying by the
side of-Ah that adds q new horror to death
have done what l could to guard against this
calamity by directions to my executors, but
who knows what may happen?''
Mr.. Quincy left Washington on the day he
received q note from Mr.. Randolph bidding
him to come and dine with him at O confec.
toners shop near the Seven buildings. don't
lind it In my directory, but it seems to me that
was Favier's restaurant, the Seven buildings
on goth street opposite.
The Capt Stockton Mr.. Quincy met at Miss
Hyers was Commodore Stockton. the father of
Senator John 2. stockton, 80 kindly remem-
bered here, and was himself Senator of the
United States and commanded the steamship
Princeton, and was the inventor of the gun.
1.-THE Peacemaker," which exploded with such
interesting incidents of the duels in which he
was engaged and adventures in nearly all parts
Of the world.
MIR. Quincy tells Of an incident which ham
pened to his father, who was ona visit to Judge
Washington Mt Mount Vernon in 1906, when he
was put in the chamber to sleep where Gen.
Washington had died The host as he bid him
good night mentioned the rumor that an inter-
view with Washington had been granted to
some OF its former occupants. during the
night he did see Washing ton, and this is all I
have to say about it. His assurance in this
matter was perfect" The most interestinp
case Mr.. Quincy relates as being decided by the
Supreme Court, and which was argued by Mr.
Webster, Mr.. Blake and Mr.. Thomas Adds
Emmit, was a case where Lieut.. Stockton, COM
handing the United States schooner Alligator.
had captured the Portuguese vessel Marianne