The National tribune., 1900-03-22

Always NItl 1It GAINS
to the Capital, and the rooms
are shown to-day which it is
said he and Madam Washington oc-
cupied. This house has gone through
many changes since it was built. Stories
have been raised above it, and story
beneath by leveling the bank upon
which it stood. The floor upon which the
Washington rooms are situated is not upon
the same level as in the days of yore. but
there will always remain an atmosphere
about the place that tells many story Of
other days. The house is known today as
the Kennan House.
We have heard many tale of the old
coterie that used to gather here. 1t was
one of the institutions of Washington.
There is hardly room in the old original
building that is not historic by some le-
gend. When we remember that Judge
Marshall met Washington TO talk over the
affairs of State, and their contemporaries
have counselled together within these walls,
as well as the politicians and leaders of a
later day, hallowed atmosphere hangs
over it all, and we long for nearer sight
and hearing of legend and story which en-
velops the history of Washington in those
early days. Many tale could the historic
homes tell, and none of them would be Of
more interest than the old Washington
House on Capitol Hill.
When repairs and additions had changed
the hostelry into house of more formid-
able dimensions, it took the name of ''The
Mills House." and thus it was known until
into the '70's.
In that long, anxious Winter before the
war, when men Of all politics were rushing
to Washington, men Of all ideas and pro-
fessions were seen in all public places.
One of the strong men of the time, one who
for years nodded public sentiment as editor
and proprietor of the Philadelphia Press and
Washington Chronicle, was John W.
ForEey.
The Winter before the war, when Clerk
Of the House of Representatives, he rented
two large chambers on the lower floor of
this house. Sometimes he took possession
of the whole house, but this was when he
called his friends in. which occasion oc-
Cured about once in three months.
These social ceremonies were begun after
the outbreak of the rebellion, and it was
inaugurated to bring men together to create
and cement public opinion.
Mr.. Forney himself has left vivid records
OF some Of these gatherings. He says:
%We had no test but devotion to our coun-
try; we met like band of brothers-the law
yer, the poet, the clergyman. the editor,
the reporter, the painter, the inventor,
the politician, the stranger, the old citi.
zen, the Southerner, the Northerner, the
I'D c+o h. ~
Minister, and last, not least, President
LINCOLN himself. We had speeches and
recitations, vocal and instrumental music
all adding to the same objective point-the
awakening ofan enthusiasm for the assailed
Republic. If leading man reached Wash,
ington on the day of the meeting, he was
at once invited"
How interesting would be a cenimeti,
graph of these symposiums. In review
would pass Thaddeus Stevens, sitting at a
table having game Of whist with the Demo
cratic Representative from Indiana, John
Law. At another William Pitt Fcssenden
and Senator Nesmith, of Oregon. Speaker
Colfax would be seen in the corner with
his inevitable cigar. talking with the Hon.
Samuel j. Randall. In another recess
George l.. Prentice, of the Louisville Jour.
nal, would be seen talking politics with 10.
seph Medill, of the Chicago Tribune. The
great portrait painter, Elliott, would be seen
discussing the art ethics of the shadow
pictures with Brady
What if we could place our ear 10 phono
graph and catch each word that fell from
the lips of these men; history would be re
produced without mistakes.
Mr. Forney relates an incident that took
place on one Of these evenings when the
famous correspondent of the London Times
William 81. Russell, was present The
whole company was singing 'The Stal
Spangled Banner" in which Mr.. Russell
Joined in the chorus, and in loud voics
would sing, America, the land of the free
and the home of THE SLAvEw
There were spirited discussions and va
hed opinions, but no quarreling.
One memorable night most of the Cabi.
net were there. Gen. Cameron was then
Secretary of War. and threw bomb into
the assembly by taking bold stand in
favor OF arming the negroes. Hon. Caleb