The herald., 1897-04-25
Washington Residence OF
Vice-President Hobart
ROMANTIC "REMINISCENCES
STORY OF COMMODORE DECA-
TUR AND MISS WHEELER
And His Fatal Duel With Commodore
Barron--Other Old Mansions
Of Historic Interest


WASHINGTON, April 1s.--It was an
nounced some weeks ago that Vice
President Hobart had leased Belmont
the handsome gray stone house stand
ing in extensive grounds at the head OF
Fourteenth street, but it seems that
some hitch occurred in the final arrange
ments and the nearly completed bar
gain was declared off. There is no
doubt about this present arrangement.
however, for the lease has just been
signed which puts the Hobarts in posses
sion for term of years of ex-senator
Don Cameron's longtime residence on
Lafayette square. No hous$ in Wash
ingtor is better adapted to the needs
OF the ice-president' family and the
great amount of entertaining which
naturally devolves upon them. Within
a stones throw of the White House and
almost exactly in the center of the city,
1t is much more conveniently situated
than Belmont" and equally desirable as
residence, the beautiful, wellkept park
in front amply compersating for its lack
of "gounds."
IF WALLS COULD SPEAK
For over eighty years the Cam
erop house has been famous in the
social annals of the capital. Built soon
after the war of 1912 by the late Ogle
Taylor who occupied high positions
under the government and whose wife
was a leader in society in the days of
Dolly Madison, its reputation as CEN
ter of all that is brightest and best in the
highest circle of Washington's society
has never been dimmed. In the half
century between the days of the Tay-
lors and the Camerons many brave men
and beautiful women have found q
home under its roof. The lovely Lily
Hamersley, now Lady Churchill and
formerly Duchess of Marlborough
was born in it, and Commodore Price,
of the navy, during his many years
residence there gave many banquets
as astonishing In their way as the Brad
ley-Martin ball. The Camerons have al
ways been lavish entertainers, the Sec
ond Mrs. Cameron having been belle,
both before and after her marriage to
the senator from Pennsylvania. She Is
a daughter OF the late Judge Charles
Sherman of Cleveland, and niece of the
two more celebrated brothers. General
w. L. Sherman and the new secretary
of state. Much of her girlhood was spent
and there she met Don Cameron, Wild
over twice her age, and their marriage,
some twenty years ago, was one of the
most brilliant events of the time. By the
way, 1t is said that the senator's retire.
ment from public life is a great disap-
poirtment to his wife, as it removes her
from the life she loves to the stock
farm, near Lochiel, Pa, where they are
going to reside. The house they have
leased to the Hobarts is large and light
colored, with big rooms and plenty of
them, where large functions may be
given without crowding.
HISTORIC SITES
Close by, on one side of 1t, the
elegant new opera house occu-
pies the site of the old Blaine
mansion; and in the old-fashioned red
brick on the other side, Colonel Robert
G. Ingersoll lived for several years,
where his weekly Saturday evening re-
ceptions We're the largest and most in
teresting ever held by an unofficial resi-
dent of Washington. Indeed, every inch
of Lafayette square Is historic ground,
and most of its dwellings are among the
oldest in the district. No doubt visi-
tors wonder at the antique structures in
this ultra-fashionable locality, without
guessing the traditions tina t lurk in their
shadows. 1t was right here that the
pioneers of Washington aristocracy laid
the cornerstone of their grandeur and
nearly everybody who was great or
distinguished in the early political or
social circles has at some time been
numbered among its residents. One
whole side of the park, with it's labyrinth
of walks and grand old trees is faced by
the White House and it's grounds; in
fact, 1t originally belonged to the execu-
tive mansion domain, or was so intended
by the munificent designer. Tradition
says that the matter came to the notice
OF Mr.. Jefferson, the second president
who occupied the White House, and, ac-
cording to his notion of Republican
simplicity" such vast stretch of door
yard was objectionable extravaganza.
SO the portion which now comprises La
fayette square-named from the eques-
trian Staue of Lafayette in the mid
dle-was cut off from the presidential
enclosure and became the nucleus of an
a-1ashionable neighborhood, as we'll
as a most delightful retereat in the
heart of the city. Just 100 years ago
Q797) an oval shaped race course oc-
cupied the west angle Of he square and |
thence proceeded across the avenue
where the magnificent state, war and |
navy building now stands, to Twentieth |
street. Late in 1912 the square was an
unsightly common, given over to cows
and militia musters
THD OLD WHITE HOUSD
The White House, the first build |
In the neighborhood had them been |
atanding a dozen years or more, |
and Mr.. Taylor was making up his |
mind whether to build in that compare |
lively lonely spot or over in more fash |
lonable Georgetown. During the ad- |
of Adams. Jefferson and |
Madison, up to the period of its destruc- |
ton by the British. the executive man
Iior remained unfinished, a fence of |
wooden posts and rails enclosing the |
grounds, the whole establishment look
Ing as If 1t were the outgrowth of great
expectation and lin te d.means. Happily.
British incendiarism swept 1t out Of |
sight, and with it's rebuilding, other
sdiflces more filing the aspiring burg
sprang up around the square The de-
sotional element of the new community
shaped itself in the little brown church
1t the northwest corner of the park.
that stretched its spire far above the
ordinary architecture of the day. 1t is
rnown as st. Johns and Is still the most |
exclusive church in the Dis
rict of Columbia, from which Christ
limself would surely be excluded 10 he
,ame in the clothes he used to wear.
Here the Taylors, the Madisons. the
donroes worsh1ped, but none of the later
presidents, believe, except the acci-
lent OF fate, Chester A. Arthur. Bluff
I'D Commodore Decatur. the naval hero,
vhosereeidencs across the square ddago-
ally opposite, was among the first to
'e builc In the neighborhood, refused to