The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-06-21

subsequently in the navy; the dickens
boys, and Parson Laurie's sons, Blair,
Alck, and "Shep," not one of whom
survive.
HERO OF WAR OF 1912.
Opposite the War Department, on
Seventeenth street, yet stands the
house of Gen. Towsen: one of the heroes
of the war of 1912, and afterward pay
master general. The house is not
much changed; the large portico re-
mains and serves to identify it, and
here Sir Gore and Lady Onsley resided
when Sir Gore came as envoy to con-
clude the Ashburton treaty with Mr..
Webster, then Secretary of State.
Lady Ousley Was the daughter of Gov.
Van Ness. They remained several
months, think, and the Towsen house
was the scene of the most generous
hospitality. Dinners and balls and
lunches followed in constant succession.
All around that region were houses
where hospitality reigned-simple,
generous, and refined hospitality. The
lavish display of to-day was impossible
in that period. Here on G street lived
Aaron V. Brown, when Postmaster
General; Jacob Thompson, Secretary
of the Interior, and Jefferson Davis,
when Secretary of War, and others of
like eminence.
All the celebrities of those days are
gone. One of the most remarkable
men of the period was Gen. Bill Nelson,
who was killed by Gen. Jefferson Davis
in the Gait House, Louisville, after
having been struck by Nelson. At
the time speak of Nelson was in the
navy and favorite guest at all the
entertainments of that day. His uni
versal knowledge and experience as a
naval officer had stored his mind, and
his conversational powers rendered
them available and most interesting.
He monopolized generally the conver
sation at his end of the table, and re-
member laughable incident occurring
at dinner at Postmaster General
Browns. who occupied a house where
now the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation building stands. Mrs. Clement
c. Clay, of Alabama, whose converse
tional powers were charming, on this
occasion was unable to display them
in consequence of Gen. Nelson monop-
olzing the conversation. She made
several efforts to do so, and the friend
sitting'next to her gave an expression
of sympathy. Smilingly she replied
to it: "Never mind; he will stop direct
ly to breathe and will get word in
before long"
| GOT THE BEST OF NELSON.
The only time ever saw Gen. Nelson
outwitted was on an occasion Of din
ner given to Mr.. Crttenden on his re.
tirement from the Senate. Gen. Mel
son had got the laugh on Mr.. John
Pickett by some witticism, and Pickett
in return soon afterward proposed Gen.
Nelson's health, saying, 81 propose the
health of our friend, Capt. Nelson (then
in the navy), one Of the most extraor-
binary men l have ever met. His
knowledge is almost universal, and if
he talks upon art you would presume
he had made art study. Upon every
subject upon which he converses he
displays knowledge so profound you
would conclude he had made that
study, and, in TACT, gentlemen, if he
only knew anything about navigation
and seamanship be would be one of the
most remarkable men | ever met"
Mrs. Clay, to whom l have alluded,
was distinguished member of the so
cial life of that day. On the occasion
of the celebrated fancy ball Of Mrs.
Gwin she appeared as Mrs. Partington,
acting the character to perfection and
enlivening the occasion by witticisms
and repartee.
Another of the old honses which is
hut very little changed in these years
of improvements is the residence of the
late Samuel NJ. McKain, opposite the
War Department. Mr.. Mckain was
for years prominent official in the
Treasury Department, having come
here with the government.
Returning to the classic precincts of
+ street, am reminded that where
now the Glover Building stands was
the residence of James Hoban, Sr.
Mr.. Hoban was the architect of the
Presidents house, coming here in l l792, J.,
with letter from Gen. Washington
introducing him to the commissioners
as an architect. He was engaged by
them to erect the Executive Mansion,
and in a letter dated Georgetown, 10Th
of July, 1892, they notified the Presi-
dent that they had contracted with
Mr.. Hoban by the year for his services
at 800 guineas. "His draft and atten-
tion may be confined to the palace or
extended to other objects they may
choose They had that morning gone
with Mr.. Hoban to the site of the pal
ace that he might lay out the founda-
ton, the plan being much less than
Maj. L'Enfant's design. This letter
is signed by Thomas johnson and
Daniel Carroll.
! In one of the brick houses beyond