The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
THE SUN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1eo4.

IHE
leetle fun for leetle Mees Patti" Mr.. Palmer
opened the evenings rnerrimsnt BY an
exhibition OF legerdematn. After Witness
ing some other performances, the Clays
were about to withdraw, when the Cheva-
lier Bertinatti. with enthusiasm, begged
them to stay. .You mustl' he DRIED. "Ze
elephant is coming. assure you zero ees
not hees equal for 10 funi" Even as no spoke,
the doors opened, and Palmer bounded
In as q gorgeously got up ringmaster.
'Ladies and gentlemen" he began, grand
iloquently. II have the honor to present to
your astonished eyes the grand elephant
Hannibal, costing to import twenty thou
sand dollars. and weighing six thousand
pounds. He II marvellous animal, ladies
and gentlemen, warranted to be a. intrepid
as his namesake. He has been called q
vicious creature, but In the present COM
pany he intends to prove himself 90 docile
as tho ladies' themselves. Advance, Han
nibal!' He threw himself prone upon the
floor as the Wide doors were swung open,
and Hannibal numbered In. deliberately
wagging his trunk from side to side In
manner startlingly nkelike. Arrived at
the PROSTATE nngmaster, the elephant
put out one shapeless leg cat the bottom
Of which appeared handsomely shod
mans foot) and touched the prone ono
lightly, as II fearful Of hurting him. The
animal advanced and reoeded several
times. wagging his trunk the while,
until at last, at the urgings Of the
recumbent hero, 1t stepped clean over him.
Thereupon, with a gesture Of triumph,
Palmer sprang up, and, leaping lightly
upon the back OF his colossal steed. was
borne by the latter at a mad gallop around
the room and through the door. amid
screams OF laughter. IN the hurried exit.
however the mystery Of the elephant was
revealed. for his hide. the rubber cover
Of Mrs Riggs piano, slipped from the
shoulders Of the hilarious young men who
supported 1t, and Hannibal disappeared
in confusion Of opera cloaks, black coats,
fleeing patent feathers. and trailing piano
cover.
The "mess" at Browns Hotel, to which
the Clays and their most intimate friends
belonged, became shortly 80 well known
because OF the interest attaching to many
vi 40 ihcilDelb tlldJ Iuo pHVpuloIcco vi
what afterwsrd became the Ebbitt House
endeavored with tempting terms to lure them
to her newer establishment. Browns
Hotel 1t seems, was q rendezvous Of South
ern members Of Congress, and for thirty
five years had been frequented by dis
tinguished persons. So long ago al 1920
Thomas H. Benton had met there repre-
sentatives OF the rich fur trader, John
Jacob Aston, who had been sent to
the Federal capital to procure the
assistance Of Congress In perfecting great
scheme that should secure to the United
States the trade Of Asia, as well as the ooou-
patton Of the Columbia River. The founda-
ton Of the hotels reputation had been
laid while 1t was yet the Indian Queens
Tavern, renowned for Its juleps and bitters.
1t was an unimposing structure, even for
Pennsylvania avenue, then but a ragged
but the cuisine Of Browns
Hotel, as until a few years ago the house
continued to be known, was excellent. In
Mrs, Clay's day the presence Of Mrs. Brown,
the hostess, and OF her daughter Rose.
who married Mr.. Wallaoh, ono Of Wash
ington's well known citizens, and afterward
In tho mansion that became
famous as the residence Of MIRA Stephen A.
Douglas, added much to tho attractions
OF the old house. Nevertheless. the induce
ments offered by the Ebbitt House tempted
the members Of Mrs Clay's "mess, 50 that
they went thither In body and spent there
one or two gay winters; but, the Ebbitt
becoming more and moro heterogeneous,
and therefore less congeniA to strictly
legislative circles, they retraoed their steps
and resumed their former quarters at
The author Of these memoirs recalls that
when the wife Of Senator Pugh Of Ohio
Joined Mrs. Cay's "mess," her precedence
over the bellies OF the capital was already
reign had begun year or two previous to
her marriage to the young Senator from
Ohio. Our author was not present. she
says, when the Austrian Minister. the
Chevalier Hulseman. paid his long re-
membered compliment to Miss Chalfant,
but soon thereafter it was repeated to her.
The incident occurred at ball thronged
with pretty women. As the Minister'S
gaze rested on Miss Chalfant his eyes ex-
banded with admiration Approaching, he
knelt suddenly before her, exo'aiming:
4Madamel have from my Empress . pieoe
Of precious lace and he fumbled but,
alas! vsinly, In his pockets as he spoke,
which her Majesty has commanded me
10 present to the most beautiful woman In
Washington. You--you are more-the
most beautiful In the world I have not
with me the lace, but viii send II II you
viii permit me-" He kept his word
Mrs. Clay says that, after Mrs.. Pugh,
Miss CUTS, afterward Mrs. Douglas, Mrs.
pendleton and Mrs. Roger A Pryor were
next in order Of beauty. Mrs.
Pryor might then almost Be described a.
the child wife" Of the young diplomat
who had won general appreciation for his
SUCCESS In conducting . mission to Greece.
Dur author says that she and two Of the
adies mentioned formed very harmonious
rio, Mrs. Pugh being perfect brunette,
Mrs. Douglas blonde and Mrs.. Pryor .
lighter brunette. with soft brown hair and
,yes. The latter, we are told. carried her
head oharmingly, and. though 20 young,
y az already notable for her intellectually.
Mrs. Clay says that her memories Of |