Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-31

1t Was u City of DesOlateness in the
Fifties.

1t Was "a City of DesoIateness in the
Fifties.
From the Saturday Evening Post.
washington in 1851 said Representa-
tive Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania,
was but promise of the noble city of to-
day. Though it then had a population OF
10000, 1t presented much of the appear
ance of an overgrown village. Its houses,
a rule. were built of wood and destitute
Of architectural pretensions. Many of Its
avenues and walks were unpaved and i'll
kept. and there were few squares or
shades, or places of public resort Not a
street was lighted except Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. Southeastern Washington was cut off
from the rest of the city by wide, shall
low canal which extended from the Poto-
mac nearly to Capitol HILL and was a re-
ceptacle for the citys filth and refuse.
There was not a sewer in the city: weeds
grew in the parks and commons; the pres
ent departments and the Capitol were I'M
finished, and stables, wooden fences and
patches of bare earth surrounded the White
House.
washington social life, however has
never been more animated and delightful
than it was during my first years in Con-
gress. The receptions of President Fill
more, stalwart man of fifty, with broad.
ford features, shrewd gray eyes and with
dignified speech and bearing, were always
well attended, and so were the occasional
minister, Sir John Champion, a splendid
specimen of the old-time English gentle
man. with hair prenfa tureiy whitened.
There were also frequent dancing and din
ner parties, and a constant round of house
gatherings to which were invited those In
political sympathy with the host of the
evening. One of the most popular houses
In Washington at that period was that OF
Senator Dickinson of New York whose ac-
compiished wife was acknowledged by all
as a social leader. Her husband was de-
voted to her; and when, while senator. he
visited the little town where she had been
educated, he said to the directors of the
academy that though he had never studied
at their institution, he had carried off its
greatest prize
Jenny Lind visited Washington during
the winter of 1851, and sang in concert to
a delighted audience. 1t CHANGED that on
the evening of her appearance several
members of the cabinet and Senate were
the guests at dinner of Bodisco, the Rus
sian minister. and the concert was half
over when Webster and the other men,
bers of the party entered the hall After
the applause which greeted their appear
aflce had subsidized the second part of the
concert was opened by Miss Lind with
Hail, Columbia" Webster, deeply moved
by this patriotic air, arose at the close of
the first verse. and added his rich, sonorous
voice to the chorus. Without avail, his
wife. who sat behind him, pulled at his
coat-tail to make him sit down or stop
singing. The volunteer basso Joined in at
the close of each verse, and none could tell
whether Lind. Webster or the audience
was most delighted. AS the last notes of
the song died away Webster arose, hat in
hand. and made profound bow to the
singer. Jenny Lind blushng at the honor,
courtesied to the floor, while the audience
outdone in politeness, bowed again: Lind
recourtesied: the house again appIauded;
and this was repeated nine times.
After Jenny Lind came Louis Kossuth.
har
and the first of the succeeding month, the
former governor of Hungary was in Wash
ington as the guest of the nation. He came
upon an invft ition from Congress, and was
honored with every possible mark of re-
spect and admiration. The Senate and. the
House welcomed him in joint assembly
and he was given public banquet. at
which Senator King presided, with the ia
nous Hungarian and the Speaker of the
House On his right and Webster on his left
NO foreigner except Lafayette has received
such a welcome In the United States. and
kossuth was worthy of all the honor that
was heaped upon him. His handsome
presence. the marble-like paeness of his
complexion. caused by hardship while in
prison; ana the picturesqueness of his for
eign dress captivated the popular fancy;
While more than ALL his wonderful elo-
quence and the fervOr with which he plead
ed his country's cause left an influence
upon the hearts Of those who heard him
that nothing could Destroy"
Mr.. Grow entered Congress as a demo-
crat. but from the first he was a stanch
and outspoken opponent of the extension of
slavery. When Congress repealed the Mis-
souri, compromise he publicly and perma-
nent!y broke with his old party associates
and became the congressional leader of the
newly formed republican party He was
once Its caucus candidate for Speaker, and
finally the presiding officer of the first war
Congress. This last was not, however. be-
fore he had become the trusted friend. or
Abraham Lincoln.
1t was in 1851. said he that l first
met the future President-an awkward I'M
mistakabie figure that remains forever
stamped upon my memory. When l first
met him he did not impress me as being a
great man. His greatness was then. in a
measure. still dormant. The war developed
and brought out the latent qualities of lead
ership within him that would never have
become manifest save under such trying
conditions. AS a judge of men and as a
gauger of public opinion and sentiment he
was almost infallible. His gifts in this re-
spect were truly marvellous, and have
never. to my knowledge. been equaled
Every time l met him land for two years 1
was with him several times each weekly L
was deeply impressed by the grandeur OF
his character. brought into strong relief by
the lights and shadows Of the war"