Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-26
: "REMINISCENCES or WASH !
= INoToN LIFE.
= BY
= JULIA RANDOLPH sPoFFoRp !

Il
; JULIA RANDOLPH sPoFFoRD :
: = y y = = = = = = = :
At one time the family hotel in
was the place where peo-
pie who were fond Of society could get |
more than their moneys worth than |
living In any other way. One In par
ticular. which was very popular. was !
kept-or should say. presided over
BY Madam r.. for she never ssq1E
Cd other than presiding genius.
Madam R. had combined three
old aristocratic mansions into one
large fashionable boarding house. The
reception room. or drawing ROOM"
~ she called 1t. was long salon, with
windows reaching down to the floor.
and II had two handsome mantels,
upon which rested large mirrors heav-
lily framed IN giit. The room was pro-,
vided with old colonial furniture, and
rich tapestry hansings. while inside
Of the heavy brocade window drap-
cries hung rare old lace curtains. A
second parlor was fitted up - card
room. whore almost every evening
were gather the whist fends' and
other lovers Of games: while still an
other long room was used exclusively
for dancing. having placed around it,
walls comfortable chairs Or more COM
Portable touches hsapsd with sofa pill
lows.
II win be seen that Madam R.
provided for al kinds Of innocent en-
tertainment Tor the boarders, or
quests - she called them, though
this Distinction never made any diff
ference to the board bills. Her draw
ing room was the scene Of many bril-
liant receptions ana It homes given
BY the "consressionai ladies''-as the
wives Of the members Of the twu
branches Of congress were calied--aa
well - BY other ladies prominent in
Washington society. On these coca
sions the madam seemed to be the
hostess, though the ladies' entertain.
Ing stood in line to receive the visitors
for she mingled with the callers, in.
troduced one to another, chatfed gail,
and entertainingly with all. while shs
was ever most careful to see that thu
strangers especially were given !
hearty welcome.
4 Some people were unkind enough Il
call Madam r. base fiatterer. be.
1cause should you meet her a doxer
times q day she would welcome yo,
with smile ana complimentary greet
ing. It was: How lovely you lool
today, dear. be sure to come down t.
the drawing room this evening. I de
I sire you to meet General So and s,
from the West--a most charmin,
man. or perhaps she accosted som
gentleman Willingly dear Mr.. So an,
So You have such an agreeable wa,
with the ladies', hope you viii ioi,
us In the drawing room this eyenjn,
so as to meet some Of our love,
ladies'" and the stransest thing ahou
Y was nearly every one swallowed he
compliments wholly because IN
madam was never known to later de
tract from her honeyed phrases, an
ner greetings seemed merely expires
sions of her good will. / never baar
Madam r. say anything uncompli
mentary about any one. she was "a
too high bred and refined for crit,
cssm, and her example had a s,lencin
effect upon the tongues of would h
| critics.
= Ma'asn e. had housed and be
come intimate with many Of the polit
icai' social and literary lights {
! washington, and she knew how to MI
the secret wires which undermine III
schemes Of many ambitious me,
: Consequently some Of the shrewde.
) d'plomats and politicians were nc
above seeking her aid to bring abo,
4 certain strategic results In diplomac
: and politics.
u Again the madam was believed ,
toe very clever match maker nm
many maneuvering mothers hav
sought her advice and help for the
ma'tally inclined daughters, and
think this clever woman never seem
ca quite so happy as when she WA
/ scnemins to bring eligibles to y
nymeneal altar. She had an innocer
way OF purposeiy bringing people ia
se'her' and then she calmly watche
, propinquity do its deadly work !
} tnat time there were 10000 more wor
) en- IN Washington than men a.