The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10

| clerks. The growth Of the country can
be seen by comparing the present masnifi-
| cent quarters of the Postofiice Depart
ment. and its thousands Of employees, with
! the humble offices of the Postoffice De
| partment Of yore
The winter of 1925 was one of the most
brilliant ever known in Washington. 1t
was the period of the exciting election in
/ the House of Representatives when Mt
Adams. Mr.. Clay and General Jackson
were candidates for the Presidency. The
Marquis de Lafayette was in Washington
as the guest of Congress In the last
week of December. 1924. Congress had
voted him the munificent sum Of S2OOOe0
| for his Revolutionary services. a grand
entertainment was given on the evening
! of January L. 1926, by Congress, to the
| Marquis de Lafayette. at Wizards Ho-
| tel. The management of the affair was
| entrusted to Joel r. Poinsett member of
| Congress from South Carolina, and Sec
| cretary of War in Van Buren's Cabinet.
The company assembled at p. m. Two
hundred persons were present. Mr.. Call
| lard, of South Carolina, President OF the
| Senate, presided at one table; Mr.. Clay of
Kentucky, Speaker of the House, at the
other. The President of the United States,
James Monroe, sat on one side of Mr..
GaiIlard. and Lafayette on the other.
The latter was supported by Gen. Samuel
Smith, of Maryland, a hero of the Revo-
luton. and in the immediate vicinity with
Rufus King General Jackson, John Quin-
cy Adams Samuel l.. Southland, Mr. Cal
houn, Senators Chandler Of Maine and
DWolf of Rhode Island, Generals Dear
born, Scott, Macomb, Bernard, and Jes-
sup; Commodores cambridge, Tingley,
tinction.
The dinner was prepared by Joseph
Prospcrc, a celebrated French cook, who
had come on from New York for the pur
pose, and who charged for his services
the modest sum of Slo0. II was the most
elegant and elaborate entertainment that
had ever been given in Washington,
many of the dishes being unique. and ar
t:Stically ornamcnted in a style never pre-
viously witnessed in this country.
In the midst of the dinner, an old SOL
dier OF the Revolution arrived at the ho-
tel from the Shenandoah Valley. He was
eighty years of age and had served urder
Lafayette. Mr.. Poinsett being informed
of his arrival, descended to the reception
room and then escorted him to the dining
hall on the floor above and presented him
to the Marquis.
not remember me. took you off the
field when wounded in the fight at Bran
dyWine
is your name John Near" enQuired
the marquis.
1t is, general" replied the veteran.
whereupon the marquis embraced him
and congratulated him on his healthy
condition and long life John Near also
became the guest OF Congress and re-
nained at Wizards a fortnight, feasting
to his hearts content upon the good cheer
provided for him and retiring to bed eV-
cry night in a comfortable state OF me
briation. When he returned to Virginia,
] Lafayette presented him the munifcent
sum of 81 go. with which he bought a
farm which is now in the possession of
his descendants.
the marquis at this dinner gave the
following toast: Perpetual union among
the States-lt has saved Us in times Of
danger: it will save the world. Mr. Mr.
Clay $ toast was. General Bolivar. the
Washington Of South America. and the
Republic of Colombia
Wizards during those days. was the
rendezvous OF statesmen, soldiers. Jour-
nalists, and the beauX If the Capital, and
James X Polk. on March 1. 1Si5, was in
Quoted into the Presidential office from
the hotel which he had selected as ms
temporary home. His successor, General
Zachary TAYLOR. was inaugurated Mon
day March s. 1919. Prior to his installa-
ton he also. had chosen Willard as his
temporary home. From here he was e5-
Corted to the Senate by an imposing pro-
cessiOn headed by twelve volunteer COM
uanies The new President rode in an
open carriage drawn by four grey horses,
and was joined at the irving House pS
President Polk.
President Willard Fillmore. before his
Inauguration, July 9, 1850, also selected
this hotel as his temporary abode. FRANK,
lin Pierce. on March 4, 1888, was escorted
from Wizards Hotel to the Capitol by
Mr. Fillmore, Jesse D. Bright and Hanni-
bal Hamlin, as a committee OF congress-
and followed by company OF I hlte1
States Flying ARTILLERY, company Oh
United States Marines, and seventeen
Volunteer Military companies --,-,
When Jenny Lind arrived in WaSmng-
ton in November, 1850, sh, made WIZARD
her headquarters. She gave her concert
and sang in the newly-erected, but then
unfinished. hall of the hotel, then the
largest auditorium Of the kind In the city
President Fillmore, on hearing of Jenny
Iind's presence in the city, called, but
finding Jenny out. left his card. Inc
President and his family. and the mem
beers Of his Cabinet. as well as the most
famous personages OF the DAY, were pres
ent at the concert.
1t is related that Daniel Webster was
so much carried away by the renultlon
of a wild mountain song by Jenny mat
he arose and complimentary bowed MS
to the beautiful song
stress on the morning after the concert
Jenny Lind was called upon al tIe l hoteI
by Daniel Webster. Henry Clay, General
Cass. and Colonel Benton, who congratu-
lated her on her success.
THE FIRST JAPANESE MINISTER.
In 1879 the first Japanese Minister to I
this country arrived in Washington. lie |
had a retinue Of 200 attaches, secretaries. |
and servants. and selected Wizards Ho- I
tel 5 his temporary abode. During Pres
ident Buchanan's Administration, Mr.. |
Seward had endeavOred TO introduce Lord |
Napier into Republican society. instead |
Of that which Southerners had made so I
agreeable, and he was mainly instrumen- |
tai in getting up subscription BAH IN |
Napier's honor. There were 300 covers. Ii /
was given at Wizards Hotel in the long 4
dining-room, which was built in 1873. 1t ,
had been decorated for the occasion with /
flags OF all nations, mirrors and chande- /
liers. At one end OF the room, beneath I
portraits Of General Washing |
ton ana Queen Victoria, was a dais on |
which Lord and Lady Napier received |
the company. Supper was served at IL |
o'clock 1t was a bountiful repast. Dane |
ing was kept up until a late hour. a few I
days afterward, Lord Napier embarked I.
on an English warship for his home. his (
Government having received information /
that his recall would not be objected to |
by President buchanan.
Mrs. Robert Anderson passed through /
Washington, January 4, 1861. to join her 1
husband, General Anderson, at Fort sum |
ter. She returned on January ., however, |
and stopped at Wizards Hotel.
ON January 5, 1861, n caucus was held 1
at the hotel by fourteen Senators, who |
formed themselves into a directory TO |
take care Of the affairs Of the South. JEFF
fersOn Davis was one of the participants
In this conference.
On February 4, 1861, the Peace Conven-
ton met at Willard $ Hotel, with John
INler presiding. but finding their gffnyt