The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-28
sroRTEs oFrRE Dxw
Whist People In WssAAsgtsa Are sevine
and Doing.

Washington hotel keepers are prepar
ing to reap a rich harvest at inauguration
time, and judging from the rates some
J Of them are asking they will not be
disappointed. The first class hotels, such
as the Arlington, where Chairman Han
ma and other notables will have their
headquarters; the Shoreham and the
Ebbitt. where the president and his par.
ty will stop, are reasonable enough, and
are disposed, moreover, to be accommo-
dating and courteous to all their guests.
With regard to some of the smaller
places, the case is different.
| A conversation that took place the
other day between the keeper Of . small
| hotel ON Fifteenth street that was ia
nous for many years, but which has
| sadly deteriOrated of late, and gentle
man seeking accommodations for two
friends at Inauguration timo well illus
trates the truth of this statement:
II called" said the gentleman, "to
see about some rooms for Inauguration
week"
"What sort Of rooms do you want?''
asked the clerk
"Well, probably one good sized bed
room, with two beds, q sitting room and
bathroom would do, the gentleman re-
piled.
II don't think we are making any
more Inauguration contracts" said the
clerk, "but here is the proprietor. Let s
ask him."
How many rooms do you want?''
quickly blurted out the lordly proprie-
tor, with the manner Of purse proud
aristocrat talking to a street beggar.
"a bedroom, sitting room and bath
room, as / just told the clerk, I" timidly
said the intruder.
''Well, l can't do anything less than
$25 a day." was the reply in an 1
guess that will settle you tone.
But didn't ask the price, +" suggest
ed the gentleman. II wanted to secure
the rooms first"
"All right" snapped the landlord,
with an imperious wave of the hand.
eff you don't want to talk business
I've no time to waste" and he disap-
peared through a side door.
1t will cost 81 to get supper at the in
augural ball in addition to the S5 that
must be paid by everybody except Presi-
dent Mckinley or Vice President Ho-
bart and the ladies of their families for
a ticket of admission. The contracts for
furnishing the supper has been given
TO q Philadelphia caterer, who pays the
inaugural committee percentage of his
gross receipts. This as we'll as the re-
ceipts from the sale of ball tickets, will
be devoted to the payment of the ex-
penses of the inauguration. A guarantee
fund of $50, 900 is subscribed by the cit
izens Of Washington, and the cash IS
paid in, in order that all bills for the
preparations for inaugural day may be
met promptly. Then the receipts of the
ball are divided among the subscribers
to the guarantee fund as far as they
will 60. -Four years ago the expenses Of
the inauguration were about $50, 900,
which was all covered by the receipts
at the ball, and little over was given
to the charities of the city. This year
the arrangements are on larger scale,
and it is intended to expend about $780,
900.
Every few days noted and venerable
character from Maryland drops into
the house restaurant to take ''nip"
and have u chat with congressman and
other chance acquaintances. He is
Washington Bonifant, who was United
States marshal for Maryland during
Lincoln's second term and was reap
pointed by Johnson. Mr.. Bonifant will
be SO years of age ON March IL, but is
SO spry and well preserved that he does
not look any older than the average
man of 20. Noticing that he could get
away with an unusually large slug of
firewater, one of the congressman asked
him if he had taken very much spirits
in his life.
Enough to float this capitol" I" was
his answer. Il never tasted liquor un-
til I was "a years Of age and have
never used tobacco in my life. / tried
one chew once. 1t was bad stuff, and
gave it up used to indulge in snuff
and have taken many a pinch with
Henry Clay and other noted men who
were in congress before some of you
were born. l had to get a nice snuff
box, because it seemed then to be the
fashion. Mr.. Clay would take pinch,
too, out Of my box
Then Mr.. Bonifant got to talking
about men and things IN the Silver
Spring portion Of Montgomery county.
not many miles from the city, and
whore he has lived all his life.
Perhaps you did not know that
whisky saved Washington city from be-
ing captured by Jubal Early during the
WARP" he inquired. well, it did.
had great many barrels Of it in my
cellar at that time. Early's rebel sol
diers heard of it, and 30 many Of them
stopped at my place and got tight ON
that liquor that they did not get into
| Washington when most everybody
| fhorUhf fhev had a vrJaoJ,d ,ls.,~oo a.,