Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
take you to tho Baltimore pike, which ID fol.
lowed to the right.

take you to tho Baltimore pike, which is fol.
lowed to the right.
THE HALLWAY HOUSE.
The frame house on the south side Of the
pike, few steps west OF where you enter IT.
was the scene Of many a lark in the old days.
1t is the Halfway House. Of story. Although
remodeled few years ago by the present
owner. Mr.. sauntus, the building will be
easily recognized by old timers"
This was favorite resort Of the sports and
statesmen OF old. Being near the Bladensburs
dueling ground. dueling parties were in the
habit OF making 1t their headquarters, and II
was no uncommon occurrence to find both
peiligerents and their friends CHARTERED here In
adjoining rooms on the night before the battle.
Each side often heard the other rehearse for
tomorrow's meeting on the anxious field. This
was notably SO in the case of Mason and
McCarty, In 1919. The former, who was slain,
overheard McCarty and his seconds discuss
their plans for the encounter.
~ n related that Graves stopped here for
refreshments on his return to Washington after
having sent the fatal bullet through Cilley' q
body.
Dayton and Clinton. in 1903, after having
amicably settled their difficulties on yonder
held, retired to a room in the old house and
had jolly good time.
Crocker, who was wounded in the lungs BY
ms antagonist, Gibson, in 1922. had his wounds
crossed here and remained upon his feverish
bed several days.
The house was also favorite retreat for our
Statesmen of old. In the days before railroads
the pike was the great avenue Of travel to and
from the capital city. The celebrities of the
period on horseback and in vehicles, travelled
over 1t; and as they reached the Halfway
house they were quite sure to tarry awhile and
test Its hospitality. Our public men Of old
were noted for their sociability and convivialty,
anu much OF their time was spent in public
houses In social converse. And no place in the
nf fl,ac teal
this old hostelry, where many Of them were in
the habit OF congregating for rest and recre-
alton.
Many scheme was Matched here and many
q political compromise effected.
IL Is SAID that the famous compromise be-
tween Clay and Calhoun on the force and Ia: III
pills OF 1882 Growing out of the South Caro-
lima notification episode) had its inception at
q conference held in this house. And all the
arrangements for the farcical and bloodless
Ciay-handolph duel were completed here by
the seconds. 1t is well known that CLAY pre-
ferred meeting his antagonist on the Bladens-
burg field, but Randolph, under the code, was
allowed the selection oil the grounds. and he,
Ior sentimental reasons preferred fighting on
Virginia soil
HoMEwAED.
Continuing along the pike, Hickey byroad,
which leads to farm houses in the vicinity, il
soon passed on the left.
You are presently in the vicinity OF Mount
Olvet cemetery (Roman Catholic), which con-
tains about seventy acres, and was incorporated
III 1857 Its grounds are attractive. Among
those buried there are Col. Garesche, A. A. G.
on Gen. Rosecrans' staff. who was killed at the
battle OF Murfreesboro'; Mrs. Surratt, one Of
the Lincoln assassination conspirators, who
was hanged in the old arsenal grounds at the
close OF the war; Wirz. the keeper of Ander-
sonville prison, and Father Matthew. one Of
the earliest Roman Catholic clergymen of this
parish.
South OF the cemetery you pass on the right
Ivy City lane. On the south OF the lane are the
large floral establishments of Clark Brothers
ana Straus 4 Co.
On the left as you cross Florida avenue is
Graceland cemetery, which comprises about
forty acres, and was established in 1872.
GEORGE SIMMONS.