Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10

the stlffening out Of American patriotism on
dress parade. The next day, however, it seemed
as If every man, woman and child in America
had been simultaneously stricken by a violent
influenza. The epidemic was universal and
malignant. My father, who had been particu-
larry exposed the day before, was ill; the MEM
bers Of the cabinet were all i'll; the ladies were
il-lawyers, doctors, editors, clerks, chamber
maids-everybody was ill! What a droll sight
it must have been! Bellies and beauY with red
as hoarse as crows, middle-aged gentlemen and
gray-haired danes, all blowing their noses
violently and vowipg never again to leave the
land Of quinine and cocktails!
Somebody asked wag how he had caught
such cold. He replied he guessed he caught
1t shaking hands with the President and thus
1t was that the sneezing. Wheeling malady be-
came, In popular vernacular, the Tyler grip ="
Who were the most beautiful women in
Washington then?' / inquired. the question
prompted by the allusion to bellies and beaux,
suppose. She reflected moment
Ine two who were to my mind the most
beautiful were Mrs. William G. Preston and
Virginia Undertake. The latter was daugh-
ter OF the famous wit and beauty, Mrs. Eaton,
who married her granddaughter dancing
master, who In his turn ran of with her grand
daughter; but that is not pleasant reminis-
cence, dear. had rather you should forget
it."
Now. did not think it likely that would
forget such an unusual bit of social history, but
l said nothing
"Yes, dear, the women were beautiful in
those good old days and the men were clever.
The word dude had no place in the vocabulary
then and swell gowns, best girls thanks
awfully and other fashionable expressions of
the present period would not have been ad-
missible In good society fifty years ago.
1.-The whole tone of society in Washington was
more dignifed. No rushing to and fro. no
dancing Of germans and the like at the White
House when l was young! Not that 1 know
what they do there now. Polly. am speaking
OF past and gone generation remember 1t was
during the fourteenth administration that Texas
was annexed and that miserable trouble about
United States bank began, which was a source
OF such misery to my father. You see, Polly,
this bank was Mr.. Clays pet hobby, and his in
huence was potent north and south.
my fathers objection to the measure was
/ased upon constitutional grounds, and he de-
termined. in spite of the disapprobation of the
people, for this was the popular issue of the
day, to oppose it TO the last.
CLAWS VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
II remember one afternoon Mr.. Clay came to
the White House in very disturbed condition.
He was rather plain-looking person in spite of
his intellectual gifts, and on this afternoon he
was actually untidy; his linen was very much
crumpled and his clothing disordered. recol-
lect he stayed to tea and afterward sat on the
south porch and talked in a very animated,
brilliant way, as was his won't.
. Let that drop, Clay said nv father, MS
they parted. 'You know my position did
not know then, but knew later what that con-
versatlon meant. The next day the bank bill
was presented to the House. That bill was, as
the world knows, vetoed by my father. who
knew that by so doing he would render himself
extremely unpopular, but who felt there was
no other course to pursue as a man Of honest
conviction and conscientious purpose
well, as a matter Of course. Mr.. Clay was
nominated for presidential candidate by the
whig convention. which met in Baltimore Nav
l. 1874. Twenty-six days later the democratic
convention met in the same city and nominated
Polk and Dallas.
Just before this some very fine plows had
been sent to the White House for my fathers
approval. and they had been set down in the
hall, As the returning delegates passed through
Washington many of them stopped to pay their
respects at the Executive Mansion, and all Of
the gentlemen farmers were greatly interested
In the new agricultural implements which &C.
cupied such an unusual vantage ground
well, said one gentleman as he surveyed the
cumbrous thing critically, this is fine pillow.
no doubt, but 1t will take a better one than this
to turn Clay over, which sally caused great
merriment among the bystanders. 1t seemed
to me, Polly, that all the relations who came 60
call we're ardent wings, but the Virginia delega-
ton was staunch to my father. 1t was the
knowledge of his states loyalty to him that
made all the thorny places easier.
''Who was eected?' queried the old lady
sharply repeating my question with a con-
temptuous glance at me, while felt my checks
color holly and was miseRably conscious of
supine ignorance. "a great many people were
asking that question forty-nine years ago. You
must remember there were only three WAYS Of
getting into Washington then. By the stage
coach line over the National road, by steam
boats coming up Aqua creek and by the rail-
road from Baltimore. You can easily imagine
how eagerly news was looked for when it came
so slowly, and how especially anxious every
body at election times.
my father had at the last moment withdrawn
in order to throw his influence IN Mr.. Folks
favor.
well, my dear, when the 4th Of November
came there were crowds of people all along the
roadside stations waiting to hear the news. On
n great placard swung up in front Of the engine
they read these words MS the train rushed by:
Henry NJ Clay. TO- 900 majority and tho
wings rent the air with triumphant acclama tons.
But curious thing happened now. Just as
the train pulled into Washington. and while
cheer after cheer was going up for Clay, hand
turned the placard and on the reversed side
ran this legend: james X. Polk 20. 900 aheadr
Fancy how chagrIned they were," and the
dear old lady laughed gleefully at the recollec-
ton. 80 democracy was triumphant" l said,
buttoning my macintosh about me, for a driz-
zling rain had begun to fall. "Oh, did he veto
the fiscal bank bill on the mahogany table?
had almost forgotten the dear Old thing
Don't ask too many questions" said my
Cousin Letitia slyly. T. G. r.
Did He Live I'm Vain?
From the Cleveland Plain Lealer.