Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
POOR ANNE ROYAL
Her Career With 1.-THE Hun
tress" in Washington.
PECULIAR CHARACTER
EDITORS AND MINISTERS AT GIN
TELLIGENCER" OFFICE.
More Recollections Of the Paper That
Was Once Power at
National Capital.
PECULIAR CHARACTER

office.
II have there met, spoken and shaken
hands with Andrew Jackson, John Quincy
Adams. Martin Van Buren,, William Henry
Harrison, John Tyler, Jas. K. Polk, James
Buchanan. Abraham Lincoln. Clay, Web
ster, Calhoun, Tom Benton, Amos Kendall,
Caleb Gushing, William H. Seward, James
G. Blaine, Stephen A. Douglas, Sam Ran
dali, Tom Corwin, Roscoe Conkling, Ar
thur German, nearly all the senators.
speakers Of the House and representatives
in their day and generation.
"Of editors and great writers, besides
Horace Greeley, there were Blair and Rives,
Father Ritchie, George D. Prentice, Murat
Halstead, John w. Forney, Henry Waiter
son, DR.. Bailie, John Savage. Tom Flor
ence, Don Piatt, Stanley Waterloo, Doug
not least, Mrs. Anne Royal, editress Of The
Huntress. who interested me most Of ALL
She was a character for a Dickens or q
Tha ckeray to delineate. What q stir Mrs.
was made known, especially among lot
of representatives, her sharp, strident
voice cutting the atmosphere like a knife.
She wore thick, gray, worsted mitts,
through which her claws protruded, and
grasped green cotton umbrella, bundle
Of newspapers. subscription book Of The
Huntress. Her soul was in arms and
she was always eager for the fray, Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, Lieut.. Gen. Scott.
Jno. G. Calhoun and lesser lights who In
rested Congress and newspaper offices fell
over each other in vain efforts to escape.
They all failed, and were held up one by
one and compelled to subscribe Let any
one dare to refuse, or become delinquent,
and the next edition Of her paper would
erupt such stream of venom and abuse,
with the mention OF names. as would nut
the lava flow Of Vesuvius or Peelee to
shame. Both houses Of Congress bowed
down to and feared her.
Anne Royal came from the west She
was left childless widow and came on to
Washington to push a claim for pension
or damages. Failing in that, she was un-
dtsmayed. She surveyed the wide field of
literature and entered 1t. Congress felt
weight lifted when she died Poor soul;
she was good-hearted and harmless. She
wore green calash in summer II any one
doesn't know what a calash Is let him AJAX
ms grandmother. In winter she was bum
died up In several shabby, dark shawls or
maybe short cloak. with the hood closely
covering her head. Her face was swarthy
and raWboned and was traversed by a
thousand wrinkles. It was said that her
father was an Indian agent Of the United
states and her mother an Indian maiden.
The Huntress was a little IL by 16 sheet.
imperfectly printed on cheap and infer,or
paper; contained no advertisements. except
OF the enterprise of the editress.
Distinguished Clergymen.
MANY distinguished clerRymen have
seen in the Office Of the old Intellieencer.
There was the Rev. George G. Goodman.
chaplain Of Congress. who persisted. along
with the famous and lamented Irish come
dian, Tyrone Power. In the Inflated Presi-
dent. The vessel left New York for Eu-
rope In the 4Os. I think, and was never
heard OF. I knew Mr.. Goodman, his wife
and his two sons. Alfred and George init
mately In my boyhood and up to the time
Of their death. Henry Ward Beecher, be-
fore and after his celebrated trial, might
OFTEN have been seen there going in or out
with book or books under his arm. I
have also met him at the White House with
Mr.. Lincoln. Then there were the Rev.
John Newland Mofitt and Elder Knapp,
madge did not put in an appearance in
Washington until long after the death of
the 1ntelltgencer and its honored and la
mot long after the succession of John
Tyler he entered the majors office. and
had to wait there, for some sufficient rea-
son. quite time.
Il was sitting near the little cast-iron
box stove. My father came forward to
where was. the President with him. I
arose and bowed. very much fluttered. also
fattered was presented to President
Tyler. who shook my hand, then patted me
on the head.
my lad. your father tells me you wish
to be sailor, to enter the navy. How
the word, my boy, and you shall have your
wish
"If my mother is willing, SIR I replied.
oh, 1 thank you. sir. so much. l will see
her now and be back in a moment
"'Well said, my boy. Give your mother
my compliments and ask her consent
You're good boy
II ran the two short squares from the
office to my home in less than no time and
burst into the room where mother, brother
and sister were. breathless with the news
and proud hope Of my future. Alas. she
poured cold water on my burning ambition
and completely enveloped me in the wet
blanket OF her answer. Thus was a great,
heroic admiral and rival Of Dewey and
Schley lost to the United States navy. 1
could have wept tears Of bitter disappoint-
ment as I tried to hurry back, with a heavy
heart, and report to the President. To lose
the glittering prize at that time was all the
more grievous to me, from the circum-
stances that my schoolfellows, Todd Lee
and Todd Walker, nephews of Mr.. Gales
had just been appointed midshipmen, and
were dazzling all the school, with the dis
play Of their golden anchors on coat col
lar and cap. and bright rows Of navy but
tens, and, to cap the climax the short
dirk or dagger worn by all officers. Oh, all
boys, whose wish is manhood can you not
sympathize and conceive my inconsolable
sorrow? Copeland Jones of Maryland, also
a schoolfellow, was commissioned about the
same time, and is now a rear admiral.
al Lie OlQ OuCS.
In the brightest, palmiest days of the
old lntelligencer, when 1t was most pros
porous and power. indeed in the land, 1t
had the public printing and tens Of thou
sands Of southern and northern subscribers
and advertisers. This patronage was all
Withdrawn or cut off by the outbreak of
the great civil war. and thousands of dol
lars was lost by arrearages chiefly from
that cause. When Gales and Seaton had the
printing Of Congress everything was rush.
ing and roaring at white heat. The bindery
employed from 100 to 200 girls and matrons.
stitching books in the long hall, the space
now occupied by Harris jewelry store. Up
stairs, mid bales Of paper and smell of
leather and paste and whirring Of betting
and machinery. small army Of shirt -sleev-
ed men and boys, worked like Turks day
and night. The ungainly cylinders Of the
presses revolved steadily. throwing out from
each side the fresh. damp printed sheet to
be folded by other scores of hands and
mailed. George Grouard, I believe, and
Capt. Moore. the father Of my dearest
friend. Major William G. Moore, chief of
metropolitan police. presided over this i'm
portant department.
Among the compositors. whom love to
this day, were Edward Cation and John
Norris, who one day threw down the type
and Ink roller and sought their bread and
pie elsewhere. They both entered st. Mary's
College. Nd. to study for the Roman Cath
1 ~y4 49,