The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-15


near to care a rap whether aristocracy had
a Rotton Row or any other sort OF a row III
Washington, all of which goes TO show
that the so called aristOcracy OF Amer1ca
is having some difficulty in establishing
itself as an institution We don't object
To aristocrats We like fine horses and
handsome carriages, and when we see them
I'm the ordinary routine Of life are willing
to accord them due appreciation and adj
miration. but a set parade Of equipages,
show day and show place appointed Tor the
purpose Of swelling, admiring and being
admired. strikes the average American
citizen as being in about as good taste as
would diamond night at the theater, on
which all fortunate possessors OF jewels
were invited TO display them in a sort OF
competitive examination. Therefore am
glad that the Rotton Row project has met
with disaster.
1t is difficult TO keep quorum IN the
house or senate these fine days There are
races and ball games, beautiful cool drives
in the country, and, better than all, re-
fresbing excursions on the Potomac. just
now it is the panked shad which seduces
many statesmen away from their laDors
and often leaves the house looking as
empty as a haymow after long, nara
winter. Marshall Hall is the home OF The
planked shad. 1t is about twelve miles
down the Potomac, opposite Mount yer
non and was for many years the home OF
Chief Justice Marshall. The old mansion
is as picturesque as anything that can be
found in all Virginia or Maryland, and
the grounds are delightfully."- situated on
the banks of the river and rich IN shade,
in flowers. plants and walks. But the
sbad is king of Marshall Hall Every
Sunday the capital-senators, representa-
tives. cabinet officers, officials OF all grades
and sorts-sail down the river with Their
mouths yearning for the planked shad
which Colonel McKibben has in readiness
for them. Baking shad on a plank be-
fore an open fire outdoors Is an art OF
which there are few masters but Colonel
NcKibben is one of them. This old forty
miner has for partner Captain Blake, an
other forty-niner, and perhaps there are
no two men in Washington who enjoy
greater popularity. Rather odd, IL strikes
me that two adventurous spirits who
went 70 the gold fields to seek their for
tune third Of a century ago should now
be found here within the shadow Of the
Capitol finding fortune by running a
steamboat 10 the Marshall home and there
selling roasted shad to the government
Colonel McKibben attends 10 the shad
while Captain Blake runs the steamboats,,
and "a great pair they are.
Our artist giycS you sketch Of them
presiding over one Of their own inimitable
outdoor shad feasts. Go down there any
Sunday and you will find them surrounded
by statesmen, judges, men ambitious OF
the presidency, department clerks, even
common newspaper men. The pla8ked
shad is a great leveler Of rank. Within a
week or so we shall see at Marshall Hall
the supreme court of the United States
and the Judges Of all the other courts in
Washington eating shad and drinking ale
under the branches Of Chief Justice Mar
shalPs homestead trees. Every year. in
early May, they meet there with all the law
vers Of the capital, and the occasion is one
Of the most pleasant incidents Of thespring
season in Washington.
ROBERT GRAVES.