The morning call., 1894-06-17

afforded" and the major smacked DIS lips
In remembrance of the meals OF long ago.
"And the whisky, sir. with which the bars
of these old road houses used TO be stocked
1t bTaced and exhIlarated, but left no
headaches behind. There was no rush and
scramble. The wants and wishes of every
guest were looked after, and he literally
took his ease in his inn. There were two
of these hostelrieS located just west of
this place, and at them nearly all of the
famous men of the country stopped at
various times. Monroe. Adams, jackson,
Harrison, Polk. Clay, Benton. Taylor.
Crittenden and Bell were among the most
noted who found Washington pleasant
resting place ON their way TO the larger
city of the same name. One OF the hotels
Democrat, and the other one by an equally
ardent Wing and both of them enter
tanned at one time Or another All the
famous leaders of their party.
although l was only a boy at the time
l remember distinctly President Monroe's
visit here eighty years ago. ne hau as on
officer in the Revolutionary war acquired
a foudness for military dress ana ceremo-
MES which clung to him even after no be-
came President / remember at the recep-
ton rendered him be and the members Oh
his staff appeared in full dress. When
Lafayette made his famous tour through
the country he travelled West over the Va
tional road and was entertained here by
the Freemasons. He impressed me as lne
most courtly gentleman l had eyer seen
and that impression remains 10 the present
day. General Jackson often stopped mere
in Washington. and l recall seeing MN
quite frequently in attendance at the
Pres byterian church in company Win
A. HI. Mcdaniel. warm friend OF
his. The prejudices which /. as
Wing, had imbibed in regard to the
great Democratic leader were badly
shattered by his apparent deVout-
ness on the occasions. Sam Hugnes
kept the Democratic house, and ID tne
course of time sincere friendship sprang
up between him and General Jackson. At
one time Hughes went to Tennessee to
manage the Hermitage, but 1t was not long
before differences arose and Hughes re-
turned to Washington. They used TO Tell
a good story in connection with one OF
Jackson's visits to Hughes hotel. those,
YOU know, were the days of training bands,
and one morning the commander OF our To-
cal battalion called on jackson In all the
glory of his Office, introducing himself
with great dignity and not little vanity
as Major Simon of the militia. sir Jack
son. who was quietly smoking his pipe,
surveyed his visitor with grave delibera-
ton, and then said, / know of your mill
tia, but I'll be id, sir, if l ever heard
of you.' Simon was vaEQulshed at this
rejoInder but it was the most eVentful in
cident of his life.
General Taylor's visit here while on
his way to Washington to take the oath OF
Office was almost as fatal to my own vanity.
A party of Wings went out TO the Rankin
House, a mile west of town, to meet him,
and | as spokesman of the party had ex-
pended much time and care on an address
of welcome. The driver of the coach that
brought Taylor to town was Jack Bayless,
great Democrat, and he, aware of our
Of nial
quarter of mile away. 1t was two hours
before we discovered the President
elects whereabouts, and our chagrin
at the trick that had been played US
was So keen that all thought Of formal
reception was lost sight of. Taylor
was very tall and thin, with shock OF
hair which bore a close resem blance to the
Quills of poTcuplne. On the occasion in
question be shook hands with his left
hand, adding by way of explanation that IN
getting off the steamboat at Wheel
ing he had got into the crowd and had his
hand badly SMASHED. He said that the
series of receptions to which hs had been
forced to submit had worn him completely
out and no doubt contributed in great
measure to his death, which occurred few
months later. He was plain in his dress
and simple in his habits. Here in Wash
ingt0n he was rendered a banquet. The
supper was a sumptuouS affair, but Taylor
u
some bacon, and having secured this deli
cacy he let the others 90 untouched.
a STORY OF HENRY CLAY.
"Henry Clay often stopped here. On
one occasion be reached here in the even
ing and was forced TO remain over night
The Wings could not let the occasion pass
without a speech from him, the dining
room of the Mansion House, where Clay
was stopping. being selected as a hall.
Early in the evening the room was
crowded. but hour after hour passed with
Clay still missing and those who had come
to hear him were forced to accept a travel
ing companion Of his, Kentucky Con-
gresham, as substitute. Meanwhile up
stairs In Clay's room was crowd of
Democrats, who, having bolted ind barred
the door so that escape was impossible,
had engaged Clay in conversation until he
became so interested that he entirely for
got his friends below. Not long after this
an accident occurred to Clay between here
and Monongabela City, which for years
formed one of the stock stories of the
drivers along the road. AS the stage was
going at breAkneck gait down the hill the
wheels encountered rut and Clay was
pitched through the window and into the
mud outside. 1t was some minutes before
he was eXtTlcated from his unfortunate po-
sition. When the driver finally came to
his relief. he simply remarked that that
was the first time he had ever known of
Kentucky clay mixing with Pennsylvania
stones. There is man living in the lower
end of this county. the owner Of fine
farm, who got his first start In life from a
$50 bill given him by Clay. One winter
Clay. on his way from Kentucky to Wash
ington, reached Cincinnati, only to find
the Ohio frozen and no steamers running
to Wheeling. A young man named Eli
Shafer brought him through by private
conveyance. At the end of the trip Clay
presented the driver with crisp new $50
bill. BY wise investment that bill grew in
a few years to what is one of the largest
and most productive farms in Washington
County,"
Much more of interest in regard to the
National road was brought out by Major
Ewing in the course of his conversation.
The old roadhouses have nearly all disap-
Deared, and with them their landlords. A
year or so ago there was reunion of the
old drivers at Uuiontown. About score
of them were there. and the affair was a
most interesting one. The road itself is as
good as it was half a century ago. 1t was
strongly and substantially built, and the
repairs upon it have been constant and
careful.-W Washington (Pa.) letter to st.
Louis Globe-Democrat.