The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-22
rARLY DAYS AT THE CAPITAL.


An Old Balumorean's Recollections from
the Days OF Monroe.
Nfr ]. H. Boss. Of 2O7 Barclay street.
who has passed the seventy-sixth mile
post Of life, is possessed OF an Interest,"
ing fund Of anecdote and "reminiscences OF
ai,te-bellum days in Washington, and was
personally acquainted with all the .presi-
dents Of the United States from the days
OF Monroe TO those of Buchanan. His
father moved to Washington from Alex
andria when he was three years old.
When Mr.. Boss was sixteen years old ne
was postal messenger boy. and his duty
was to carry the mail from the post Of
flee to the White House. This was dur
ing President Andrew Jaekson's admin
istration- Mr.. Boss considers President
Jackson decidedly one Of the most demo-
cratic OF presidents. He would frequently
come to the White House door to receive
his own mall. Wearing n dingy office suit
and slipshod slippers. On one occasion on
a cold winters morning. jackson invited
the messenger In. saying: Come In and
warm your toes. for they must be cold
The doorkeeper Of the White House was
an Irishman. who was most devoted to
the president. This doorkeeper once said
that he considered President Jackson his
second mother. for he owed all the COM
fort and success be had in life TO the
president. One characteristics OF Jackson
is furnished by the following fact; A
lady. whose husband bad died when IN
government service. was forced TO do fine
laundry work In order 10 support her
family. A clerk In enc ~ the Depart
ments failed TO pay the laun&ry bal OF
his family. so the lanns1ress cane TO Jack
son and asked him II there was any way
In which he eoaba assist her 10 eelses htF
bin The pressasut sent az eHes tor the
clerk. and teh1 him bIfmeAnteay u pay
the laundry hal or hand hn bis rssiSua-
ton The hiit was Pai,t promPeiS,
chief Jaetice Chase was n school esaee-
er In Washington eihr IN 1lr. EslEs' bog
hood days. and be had tiiif hanor % go
ing to school TO tina distairgsttlshed gtrtss,
fnancier and stasesrnir
MIR. Boss also raiiiisRs an iirrirsstng N
ebient eonneecash with Erssiiiltrh Jsnh
QUINCY Albums, administration. INA see1l
annual exuanaas az nm gusarnmare uid,fr
&ttAilt WtEt LtAaF NNsfsff t'SFsE 'f>~t'st%t'tt -
trast Co the snssnnts azpsanhitira I'd ens
prsseut graah rsnuiliin AiIsfna wtis 1acsd
for his efforts az asOpnuuly in slhnilTistra-
tion. ami hash D apttics lNcstet In dsl tas
deparmnants requiring TIM niisilt aiisriss 10
be more economical In tina usaH 1f e'lneies.
and tal SCR ti1at, they waIse Rapn snlfred. 50
as to- prevant a lDss 1ff Gantibs by having
too lnrge . iinma. IN those days govern
ment clerlls. di,E not worR sishs hours. but
just as long as the serrtes demanded. in
busy season often working at their desks
late at night.
Mr.. Boss remembers well the bloody
election riot In washihGton city in June,
1857. 1t was known as Bloody Monday"
The Empire club and the PIus Ugly club.
OF Baltimore. went over and took part in
the trouble. Mr.. BsaB waa a Judge Of
election on that day. and be relates that
pistol balls Ehiz1ed ras1 the table at
which he sat Presadent Buchanan was
forced to call out the district militia to
suppress the riot.-Baltimore American.