Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
WASHINGTON IN 1905.
Notes From Letters Written by Col.
Cecil Clay's Grandfather.
a NEW YEAR RECEPTION.
Indian Deputies Who Took . Glass Of Wine
With the President The Washington
Boarding House-Matters Before Congress
BY Stage to Philadelphia

not know. but certain II IS that he was elected
TO Congress and served as a member Of the
House in the Eighth. Ninth and Tenth Con-
gre-ses. resigning before the close of his last
terra to attend TO his private affairs.
In September, 1905. just before his second
term IN Congress, he married in Christ
Church, Philadelphia. to Miss Mary Ash
mead of that city. and thereafter, whenever in
Washington, wrote to his wife regularly and
frequently. Recalling in The STAR an account
OF the doings here on New Year day and an ar
ticle on Washington in 1891 reminded me that
had lot of these old letters OF 1905 and after,
and go; them ont to see if could find therein
something that might. by comparison with
what goes on nowadays, be interesting or amuse-
ing.
The value OF any observation depends upon
the qualifications and capacity of the observer.
IL Is not amiss, therefore. before quoting from
his correspondence. 10 say that Mr.. Clay a
man Of marked ability. He was indefatiga-
Die student and an especially good mathemati-
cian. organizing with several others mathe-
maticsl society within the philosophical soci-
ETY. OF which he was member. In his obituary
Che died II August i5il, aged fOrty-txo years it
l. stated that he, by early and patient study,
lard up large stock of knowledge in Ian
EUsce-. mathematics. natural philosophy,
chemistry. history and politics, by which he be-
CANE not only a useful member OF society but a
I4easIng and instructive CCmUaniOn to uumer-
oIs ard affectiOnate circle OF friends His pro-
fourdanc luminous mind she'd a light upon every
subject upon which he spoke" one thing he
had plenty Of-eOmmOn sense; and. using that
g. direct the employment of his varied acquire
nents. he was doubt an intelligent and re-
liable observer Of what went on in his day.
THE BOARDING HOUSE OF 1905.
Let Us look at some of his letters. Here they
are: december 2, lSO5-After Journey much
more agreeable than had any reason to hope,
We arrived here last evening. and this morning
Doth houses Of Congress met and commenced
their business Tomorrow we suppose that the
President will send his message. which will be
printed" The Washington boarding
house even then flourishing '.we are not
yet settled IL lodgings. The place at which We
al present are Is very uncomfortable, but We
have good promises of Improvement. / wish
they may be fulfilled" So do a lot Of Wash
ingtOn people now, thinking of their own lot
A week later he was better OFF and wrote: DE
eember g.. 1901 am at present fixed in lodg-
ings which / believe will be ultimately very
Comfortable am indeed under some little
tenn OrEry inconvenience, arising solely from
my Own wish TO accommodate friend for a few
DAYS. after the expiration of which shall be
Probably as well situated as any person can be
az this place" This last sentence sounds a
little doubttuL Was 1t that he thought with
Honentary regret Of the little terrapin suppers
az home: They were good livers III those DAYS
some of the old PhiladeIphians.
Congress had grasped the modern method of
not getting down TO work too soon. Con
gress las as Yet done but little. We have been
principally engaged in forming committees
anu organizing and distributing the different
subjects communicated to both houses OF Con-
gress by the President"
There were apparently serious matters to be
Considered The affairs OF our country are in
IA very intricate situation, owing to our dis
Iu;es both with Spain and Great Britain.
Whether we shall be able to avoid a war and TO
preserve a, ina same time our national honor
an not able to fOresee." Presumably the rest
OF the population did as little as Congress-
'lhls place can afford no other topics of cor
reSponIeIee excepting those of a political ma
tCre."
DEBATING RULES OF PROCEEDING.
Al the end of another week we read: 'De-
cember l6. 1905 We are at present en-
gagged in the unin.eresting debate respecting
the rules and order of proceeding in Congress.
There Is nothing in IL important and vet there
are many speeches, as If the concerns Of the ma
ton depended upon it."
Heard we not something like this within the
memory OF a two-year-old babe!
Three days after that things had improved. for
he wrote; december l9. 1906. am
Called on To so 10 meet committee and must
therefore bid you adieu."
There was 10 phonograph in 1906 or we might
have compared the Christmas music at the
8 ''DeCemhTr
%, loO5--1his being the anniversary feast of
the Saylors birth We have had some yery ex-
cellent music at the Capitol There was a yery
large congregation and among others the In
ciah deputies from the Usage and other ma
Tons over the Mississippi river. They were
dressed IN all their inery and painted like GER
tam ladies, both red and white though the
coIors we're not distributed and arranged with
the same taste"
on NEW YEAR DAY.
This is what was done here on New Year day.
1sOs; January 2, 1sO6.-Yesterday being New
Year day, the members Of both houses of Con-
sress and long list of ct cetera paid their Gus
tomary annual visit TO the illustrious chief
magistrate. The concourse of people was very
great Besides the Senators and Representa-
tives and the officers of government there were
great number of ladies, the French minister
and his suite. the Tunisian envoy and Indian
deputies from the Cherokees, 0sages. Paw
nees, Saes and Fox Indians Ii was anus
Ing enough to contemplate the GRO
tesque mixture The Indians had a
t!A IN which they wished their grandfather
the President. many happy returns of that day
which they understood TO be the beginning Of
thu yearwIth their white brethren. They behaved
with great decorum and drank a glass of wine
win apparent pleasure With what little en-
enlargement does even the WHY savage catch
something at least OF the Washington New
Year day method!
in one Of MY former letters endeayored TO
kNe !ou some account OF the dress of one of
their chiefs, but the tinery displayed Yesterday
beggars all description; all the colors of the
RAINBOW. and some which were never seen in
The rainbow. were used to contribute to their
ornameEt-red. white, black brown. green ali
Eada place. One vi them had his cheeks painted
a. red as brlckdust color could make them
with large Sreenlsh white cross. somewhat
HAe an anchor, IN the middle. and one ear
stuffed with the same color. In short they
must have consumed more time in dressing
themselves for the occasion than a city beau
preparing for assembly. After these came the
uAIslan envoy, a venerable Turk with a gray
lsn beard sweeping his breast. His cloak or
bCraou- was scarlet with gold lace, and his tur-
Dan white HIS secrC tarles, two tolerably hand
some men. had their boards shaved. excepting
TIE masiaehio on the upper lip; their turbans
were scarlet with gold lace.
But ia< beyond these shone Gen Turreau.
aAio%ssa1or from bis imperial and royal ma
sN' NlpOieon, emperor OF the French and
hing vi Italy.
His Coat was blue with scarlet facings. but
severed Win such prOIusion OF embroidery
- almost totally to hide the color. Round his
waist ne wore a broad sash Of scarlet and gold
AMI at bis left breast hung dangling the cross
Of ths Legion Of Honor. His pantaloons were
Nhlte, and ms hall boots had a gold stripe
round the top. VITA gold spurs screwed to the
Aeeis- But nat shall say 10 his whiskers? They
stueA OUT, iulI OF powder. on each of his emaci-
Ated checks and looked exactly Ike A connie