The National tribune., 1897-12-02
Copyright, 1897. by Mary :. Lock " God.

TRIO OF FAMOUS HOUSES.
r,ctacon Housc-lIousc of Edward Everett
and Something About Its Owner Wir
Mansion Rich i'm Storc, 81 the Past.
Al ,hc corner OF 1Sth street and New
YorL Avenue is the octagUn house.
Thi. house was built about one hun
dred wears ago by Col. John Tayloc, a man
of large fortune and one OF the representa-
tive men uf the time. lie owned a large
estatC at Mt. Airy Va, and divided his
time between that home and the Oclagon
house.
His income WAS princcly. Ills slave roll
WAS 500. and among them lac had artisans
OF every class and calling miners, ship
builders and carpenters. without gong
outside of his own domain he wrought
iron. felled the forests. worked the fields
and built ships
The 0ciacon house stands 10 day hal
lowed monument To departed chiNalry. II
WAS in this house President Madison and
his wf, lived after the White House was
burned by the British ia 1911. The octagon
room over tie hall way ~ the one an which
the treaty ui peace was drawn. In this
house. surrounded 10y all that was bnlii-
AM: 10y scholars, statesmen. hcroS ni the
war. citizens and strangers, Mis-. Madison,
the center of attraction. held The elegant
drawing rooms which have made her
noted. >,
Tic responsive echoes from barren walls
and banquet halls deserted, bring back
faint glimpses oi the brilliant scenes then
enacted; bat mVtnDTIcs still haunt the
great rooms and nl every aIcovc. niche
and staircase with historic rccoilectlons--
some that We Wouid like to forget
For when We pass out OF these cchoing
halls into The grounds. and look upon the
sites Of slave pens. We RENE mber that hu-
man life and tiCrty were made "a sacrifice;
hat n
sold ia tire highest bidders. When wit and
miTih beauty and grace, music ana dane
ing made Ire old halls ring with gladncss,
sorrow sat upon the thrcshold
The etar, goes that the spirits OF the
slaves whom death released from their
chains. visit The old home and announce
their coming by the ringing of bells. vt
least the Oc,agon house has the reputation
oil being haunted.
On the southeast corner Of 18th and G
streets. stands a plain, three story brick
building. with Il long L.. Many people
have occupied this house who, IN different
WAYS. have become noted. This house
was built and occupied by Hon. Edward
Everett when he was Secretary of State
under The Administration Ui Willard Fill
more.
We cannot here. give Il sketch al this
brilliant mans career up 10 the time that
he occupied Il seat i'm the National House
Ui Representatives, which was from l62l to
1884. In 1879 he was made Governor OF
Massachusetts, a position he filled four
years. He then went tO Europe, and while
residing i'm Florence with his family. Was
appointed Minister to England. Upon his
return 10 the United States lac was elected
President Of Harvard COLLEGE.
When Daniel Webster died, the vacancy
made in the Cabinet was flied by PTcsi-
dent Fillmore Icy the appointment oi Mr..
Everett. He had been strongly attached
10 MIR. Webster and had always made him
his confidential friend. II seemed Il fit
ting compliment that he should bc the one
appointed 10 till the place made vacant by
ihc death OF his friend. After the close OF
this administration he represented ihe old
Commonwealth Stale a. Senator.
But these were the days when sectional
strife was entering the wedge Ia civil dis
cord. To = man Of Mr.. EVerett'S tranSccn-
dent PATRIOTISM IL weighed upon him like "a
nightmare. He saw the end from the be
ginning. His anxiety for his country vas
so great That IL made fearful inruadS upon
his health. and ere his Senatorial term
WAS hal oycr he resigned and returned 10
private Tile.
must needs he occupied. lie therefore
prepared a lecture upon Washington which
he delivered i'm all The leading cities 81 lie
Union by his cloqUence he secured SlG0,
600 toward the fund Ia purchase Mount
Vernon from the Washington family: and
United States owe IL. i'm large Part 10 I'd
ward Everett that Mount Vernon - the
property al The people
In 1850, he was nominated by The MON
party as ihcir candidate Tor The Vice PreSi-
iency. John Bell, Of Tennessee, was the
candidate Tor President little later on
he was using his influence, by speeches.
pen and means 10 support, protect and de
lend the liEcriiCs oi his country. he was
The bean ideal of what the American
statesman should be.
The next person occupying thiS house
was jefferson Davis. then Secretary Of
War in The Cabinet al President Pierce
lie had been married twice. His first
wife was the daughter Of OK President
Zachary Taylor She married him against
The wishes of her father who, for years,
never exchanged a word with her husband.
kfteT her death, Mr.. Davis married Mss
Howell, OF New jersey. 1t was after this