Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
MECCA FOR GREAT men
Was the ntelligencer" Office
in the Old Days.
SEATON AND TO-. GALES
TOGETHER WITH "THE MAJOR"
MADE A STRONG FORCE.
Two Attaches Of the Paper Meet After
Fifty Years and Recall In
teresting Incidents.
SEATON AND TO-. GALES


ago for the first time in over fifty years.
Each had believed the other dead. They
would probably not have met had 1t not
been for story in The Evening Star OF
the presentation of gold medal to Joseph
Decide Of the general post office by his EEL
low clerks and other employees OF that de-
partment on the fiftieth anniversary OF the
day he became one Of their number.
This occurrence sent tottering down TO
the post office building an old friend OF his
boyhood youth to shake his hand once more.
1.-THE changes Of half a century were re-
called wildly by u.s. said this friend OF
Joseph Decide. 1.-The old Intelligencer Oh
flee, at 7th and D streets, is now 5ewelry
store. How well Joe and recalled the olo
headquarters of our respective and respect
ed fathers. The latter's and Col. Seatons
offices were in front on the GROUND nooi,
with entrance In 1th street. everything
was of the plainest, simplest. even monast,c
description. I can see my father stano-
ing at one Of his two desks. He was there
from early morning till late nightfaL. ineIe
Charles Dickens, on his first visit to Amer1-
ca, discovered and studied him. and Seaton.
in the adjoining room to the west, and 20
Gales, in his sanctum overhead. Dickens
mentally photographed and afterwaTd de-
picted the three In his tnimitable emery
Bile Brothers, and their model clerk ana de-
voted confidential friend, Tim LinkinWate
All who knew the originals recognize this
portraiture.
.'The major, my father, was not the only
occupant Of that historical front office
There was his tremendous six-foot-three
clerical assistant. Levi c. Bootes. Col. sea
ton, mayor Of Washington, his next room
neighbor the major loved like brother
Andrew Jackson commissioned MIN ana
Seaton possessed fine presence, almost
as grand as that of his friend and frequent
guest, Gen. Winfield Scott.
"oId Fuss and Feathers"
Scott looked like a Goliath when in full
uniform, especially on New Year day, when
crowned with his chapeau and towering
yellow plumes. 1t was this unfortunate
regulation uniform, especially the tall
plumes which caused him to be called by
his political opponents old Fuss and
Feathers There was nothing at all fussy
about the gallant hero He was lovable
old fellow.
II was present when he made his 'hasty
plate of soup speech, which provoked the
ridicule of his political enemies: 1t was at
a midnight serenade during his campaign
for the presidency, and made from the ball
cony of his residence, called the Chain
buildings. at the left of the New York ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church, between 18th and
14th streets. Gen. Scott was taken by sur
PRISE He had been DANGEROUSLY awakened
from a sound and needed sleep. He was
never good at speechmaking, anyhow. Yet,
with all his plumes, he never in his life
showed the white feather: Rubbing his
eyes and only half awake. he spoke:
my friends he said. I had lain down,
having just taken hasty plate of soup,
when ..- ..-. -..-
HE never finished; that speech finished
him. A howl, Storm of cries, and calls,
and cheers, and derisive laughter went up
from that half or quite intoxicated assem-
blage.
Gen. Scott was disconnected and Disguised
beyond measure at the rudeness of the
mob, and he retired without even bow.
He was dignity itself. His self-respect was
wounded, hurting him far worse than all
his wounds in battle OF course, all the
opposition newspapers rang the changes on
that blunder. which was no stupidity at all.
STATELY and grave as George Washing
tons presence was that of Col Seaton. The
senior great editor, who might have walked
under Seaton's arm, battered along with
short, rapid, nervous, shutting steps, He
was short, stout and fat. His broad, rosy
face wore always an expression of worry
and preoccupation. He had not time, when
at work, to touch bell for a messenger
He always stepped quickly, opened his
door, which no one else dared touch when
he was there, and screamed out from the
head Of the stairs, Thomas That was for
the major. All other sounds ceased, while
the major scrambled up stairs, had a short
conference, slid down and scuttled into his
corner again. A thousand times 1 have
heard that voice, a shrill treble the coun-
terpart of that of another great editor.
Horace Greeley, who sometimes came to
confer with JO Gales, jr.
Gales had hair as thick and short as
a shoe brush He wore mutton-chop En-
glish whiskers. The rest of his face was
clean shaver three times week.
Raphael Jones' Grocery.
ION the southeast corner Of 9Th and D
was notable old Englishman, Raphael
Jones. sort of friend and confidant of
Joseph Gales Jones had run this grocery
there for years before was born, and had
amassed fortune. There were onIy two
or three other grocery stores in town in his
time. When dealt with him as a boy for
figs, raisins, candy, oranges, etc. he was
an old man, with bent back and weak
knees. He was scrupulously honest, kind
hearted, close as a steel trap in business
but ever kind, grandfatherly and liberal to
us youngsters. We bought all our Fourth
of July crackers and pyrotechnics of him.
Raphael Jones Is one Of the historical
characters of Washington, because of his
connection with Gales and Seaton and the
old National Intelligencer. don't know,
but l shrewdly surmise that he lent many
sundry sums Of money to his friend, the
editor, In It's declining days. to pay the
hands and bolster up the paper, which had
been a power. If SO, know he got 1t all
back with interest.
1.-The Capitol. the White House or VIII
lard's during the war could not have drawn
or assembled more illustrious persona ges
L