The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-30

unlike most epscures. hss appetite vas
small. and hts visits - the maraat w<re
generally for the ourpcse Of obta1nisar
some unusual dish Virginia cookery Was
his delight. and chine and towi appeared
frequently upon his table One morutnr
se evidently regarded hio pilsrtnags .
especially fruitful. n he found Z fne sea
turtle, which he imnediateiy purean sd
Upon his return home the solSowfng nee
was dispatched 10 his old friend. Il. Ode
Taylor. OF Washington:
May n. 1sfs-My Dear SIR: I have
made the sudden acquisition Of . me
green turtle, and beg you WIN jcsn ne II
hassy plate OF soup sooay at o'clock.
Yours faathfuily.-Wfndeid Scott
In the early part OF the Mexican war
On. Scott wrote IN informal note % the
secretary Of war. william Ia Marcy, be-
ginning with the words after a hassyG
plate Of SOUP" etc. which that adrofs ofKi-
cial at once construed into An Official dis
patch. The Polk administration did not
regard with favor any asp.rant Tor the
approaching nomination for the presi-
dency. and Marcy seized this opportunity
to place Scott before the public il Z ride
uious Hight. The gallant general. however.
was OF too proud a natur. to admit Of
defeat from such . trivial cAase. and often
In after years. in inviting q friend 10 dine
as Ia the case Of Mr.. Taylor. ne quoted
irons his unfortunate dispatch. The Rev
DR.. Smith Pyne. Tor many years rector 81
St. Johns church. was a frequent guest At
en-. SCOTS hosGpitable board. On one oc-
caslon when dining with him some allu-
sion was made 10 the "hasty plate Of
soup" episode. when DR.. Pyne. with his
usual viva0touz manner, said, Pardon
me. general. IL ! address you a. Marshal
Turrene.'s
Many Of DIR. Pyne's wfticisms are stin
remembered by old residents of Washing
ton. One evening. Il 10 related. he attend
ed concert given by Ole Bull. and after
listening with rapt attention TO one of the
wonderful solos, he enthusiastically ex-
iaimed that 30 honorary degrees were
given to musicians. that Of Fiddle D. d.
would surely be conferred upon Ole Bull"
During the administration OF Presidents
Monroe the best boarding houses In Wash
ington charged about 81 week for FIRST
class board. Living was exceedingly
cheap. Gadsby's hotel. on Pennsylvania
avenue. west Of Twenty-hrst street. just
beyond the seven bui:dings, Was . pOpu-
lar resort. The fare was abundant. the
food well cooked. and It was the GER
eraf custom In those good Old days 20
place decanters Of brandy. rum. gin ana
other liquors upon the table for the free
use 81 guests. These liquors were pure
and were principally imported 10 this
country by fanny Co.. Of Alexandria,
Senior Pomar. the Spanish consul at Nor
fox. and Holmes. OF Baltimore. Cham
payne WAS introduced into Washington
just before the war OF 1872 but id not
come into general use Tor many years
later.
The Indian Queen. now the Metropolitan
hotel, which vas always appropriately
designated by painted sign Of an Indian
queen. Was another popular hotel. and WAS
kept by tbs prince OF landlords. Jesse
Brown. Tha price OF board charged at
these hotels was $l-5o day. and this in
cluded excellent attendance. But this II
not remarkable when II Is taken into con-
sideration that the best cuts OF beef cost
from eight to ten cents q pound, whHe
mutton could be purchased as low as six
centa Oysters sold from twenty-five to
thirty-fave cents bushel IN the shell. and
fine turkeys cost from fifty to seventy-nve
cents apiece. Partr.dges and the othee
game were abundant in season, while good
fish were plentiful. Flour was sold at from
S to Sc a barrel and wood brought from
- TO s cord. A good servant could be
obtained for 81 month. Small houses
rented for from $50 to 500 year. while
possibly the largest mansion In Washing
ton could have been obtained for less than
$500 But most persons owned their own
homes. and department clerks felt but
little apprehension about being turned
out.
II was customary in Washington In the
early portion Of the century 10 breakfast
ut o'clock. dine at and drink tel at g.
In private families there was a great deal
or informal visiting In the evening, when
tea and biscuits or thin slices Of bread and
butter were served. IL guest came by
special invitation cake was generally add
ed to the simple repast. The dinners were
most elaborate and always included wines
Ice cream was introduced just about this
time ard pastry and buildings were decd
edly out OF date. r. was the custom to go
to parties about o'ciock. and 70 leave
between 10 and II. Dancing was usual
The homes OF cur grandparents were fur
nlshed In tho most simple style Hair
cloth furniture was fashionable and many,
wsli-to-do people did not own sofas. as
they were regarded as iuxuries. Trunks
about that period. in 1874 were dimnut.ve.
and the exterior was generally covered
with untanne3 calf. horse or cow hide
with Aie hair left on. Brass nails were
added in abundance for ornamental pur-
poses. and some Of these small, old-fssh-
icned trunks standing In many attics to-
day defy wear and tear Bandhoxes IN
varabiy were the accompaniment of a
woman upon a Journey. and were the re-
ceptaeles for hats and sundry articles
nowadays carried In a handbag Women
did not. however. travel IN those days as
a. the presen, time II was usual for sen
ssors and MEMBER Of congress 70 20 10
Washington for the session without their
wives. and Il ia through come OF the many
letters written by early statesmen TO the
women at home that many p,eas,ng
gssmpses Of life at the national capital IN
the early portion OF the century have been
obtains d.-New York Sun.
Election Amenities IN v.onAou