The National tribune., 1898-03-17
t. -,hHLSTORlC HOMES Of
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~. FFHssth SS#Es4 Noted Men ond Women Who Have
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court dress OF blue, decorated with several
| Orders and precious stones. and SILVER
lace of great depth. The foreign Ministers
| of his train wore their uniforms.
This marriage at once lifted Madame de
BodiscO To the highest round in the social
! ladder, while his vast wealth was used To
give his wifely Jewel the most costly set
| ting. From over the sea came the flash
| ing gems that had adorned the persons OF
! a hundred generations of Bodisc0. Rus
slams; diamonds eclipsed only by those OF
world wide fame the same that Mrs. Tyler
| mentions in a letter written in 1872:
| II very seldom go To parties, but, OF
| course, ] could not refuse Madame DO
| disco's invitation. Her ball was expected
To be the grandest affair of the season.
| Madame Bodisco looked lovely and was
| attired in pink satin with lace. flowers and
| such splendid diamonds, Stomacher, ear
| rings, breastpin Bracelets never saw
| such beautiful diamonds. Most of the
| furniture was of European make, and the
| house was filled with a variety of curioS.
| brio -brac and works of art, the china
! service unsurpassed, the plate magnIfl-
| cent
Articles from this mansion are yet to be
seen in some of the homes and find way
| into loan collections from time to time.
The most superb fete ever given in the
| District il is said. was given in this
| house in honor of the birthday OF the En-
| peror Nicholas, when 500 guests were IN
vited. Music cnlivened the brilliant
scene. All the foreign Ministers were i'll
attendance with their attaches, in court
dress.
The supper was served at | O'Clock. A
commodious apartment in the second
story was set apart To accommodate the
ladies'. The table was covered with gold
and mirror plateauS. candelabraS, oTna-
mental dishes gold forks, etc. The gentle
ah ed N
ladies being waited upon by servants.
The gentleman'S supper room was in the
third story.
The Gar Of Russia was represented by
one of the most popular Ministers of the
Diplomatic Corps. None compared IN
popularity with Nj. Bodisco. Courtesies
extended and entertainments given are
often found to be the golden chain that
binds nations together.
In those primitive days the working
people used TO line the roadway to see
Madame Bodisco pass from her mansion TO
the White House. on occasions OF recep-
tons or levees. If the weather permitted
she was visible TO all in her open carriage,
far more beautiful than the famous Eu-
genie, and with the same superior tact and
grace. Creamy white satin and costly Old
lace was the faVorite costume. and when
adorned with Jewels worth more than half
a million, mounted policemen followed in
her train.
The people said. "OId Bodisco is afraid
someone will steal his wife hut he was
simply protecting her after the Russian
fashion But this American girl was
something more than a figure to be adorned
with stones. With that superb tact which
only a Josephine Knew how To practice,
she united the contending social elements.
She t!lawed the frozen ocean OF diplomatic
ceremony and babe the foreign fortress
open its doors to her countrywonlen as well
iS
at her right hand. the incompatible
Harriet Lane Of the White House. History
rarely records the fact that distinguished
ladies are beautiful, but popular accla-
nation gave both these women the falrest
crown.
Alike in style and type, both blondes,
almost perfect in form and feature, with
Titian-tinted flesh and golden hair such
as the masters gave their beloved Madon-
mas. they held their enlblemS OF power
with firmer grasp than did Mare An
toinette, a woman OF the same mold.
There is no place where the sacred rites
Of hospitality were more Tigldly observed
than on the flights OF Georgetown, and at
no period OF history was TINS more Gener-
ously carried out than Immediately alter
the Revolutionary war.
One of The Generals Of that war was
Uriah Forrest a member OF an aristocratic
Maryland family. During the struggle Tor
independence he served in The Maryland
Line and lost a leg al the battle OF Brandy
wine; he was again wounded at the battle
OF Germantown. from the effects Of which
he never recovered.
He was as distinguished in civil as he
was in military affairs. During the years
1861 he was a Delegate from Maryland
To the Continental Congress. and Repre-
sentative in the Councils from 1893 To 1884,
when he resigned.
Whom q District nf f'DlIfnllia WAS coded
to the United States by the States Of Mary
land and Virginia. Gen Forrest resided ON
his estate 'ifosedale. near Georgetown
then portion Of Montgomery County, tut
being within the 10 miles sCUaIc, ii Re
came a part Of the District, ard Gen.
Forrest thus became literally one Of the
first families Of the District OF Columbia.
He married Rebecca Platter, Of Roushy
Hall" Maryland, daughter OF GEORGE
Platter. Mrs. Forrest was remarkable Tor
her beauty; she was once toasted in Ing
land as "one Of Americas great Leautes."