Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-26

| N
1902, Mr.. Cutler relates an extraordinary
story. He says that pm the Thursday
evening previous, about 10 o'clock, Gen.
Dayton of Elzabethtown. N. j., upon
going to bed pulled off pair of silk
stockings and laid them on his slippers
at the bedside He perceived some sparks
as he pulled them off. In the morning
both stockings were burned to cinder,
threads appearing to lie in their position
in a coil; slippers burned to a crisp; car
pet burnt through, ana the floor to
coal. so as to cause the residents to run
resin; lay near the bed and near the cur
tains. BY electric fluid. Many gentle
men noted the sparkling Of their stock
ings as they went to bed 1 wore silk
stockings that day, but did not notice
sparks. The clock or figured work Of one
of the stockings, which was stretched
out, was to be seen. Garter under the
stocking and out: was not burnt"
A letter written by DR.. Mitchell. an
at the same place, gave few more de-
tails, as follows: "A very singular occur
renee has happened to Gen. Dayton of
EliZabethtowp, one of the New Jersey
senators. He pulled off his stockings of
silk, under which were another pair of
wooden gauze, just as he was going to
bed. The former were dropped on the
small carpet by the bedside. and the lat
ter were thrown to some distance near
its foot Electric snaps and sparks were
observed by him to be unusually preva-
lent when he took off his stockings. He
slept until morning, when the silk stock
ings were found to be converted to coal.
having the semblance of sticks and
thread, but falling to pieces on being
touched. There was not the least cohe-
sion. One of the slippers. which lay I'M
der the stockings. was considerably
burned One of the wooden garters was
also burned to pieces. The carpet was
burned through to the floor. and the floor
itself was scorched to charcoal 1t was
case of spontaneous combustion-the
candle having been carefully put out, and
there being very little fire on the hear,.,.
and both of them being eight or more
feet from the stockings"
The Dandified Diplomat.
In the diary of his daily life as men,
Der of Congress from 1901 to 1905, Mr..
Cutler gives us charming glimpses of
Washington society and official entertain
ments in those days. He tells a good
deal about the French minister, Gen.
Taureau. who had occupied a conspicuous
position in France for several years be-
fore coming to Washington in 1904: "Of
obscure birth, but handsome and clever,
he made his way up and became an aid
to Napoleon Bonaparte. In the rapid
changes of popular favor, he was con-
demned to death-his door marked with
the fatal guide to the bloody guillotiners.
servant girl employed about the jail
rubbed out the mark and so saved his
life. in return for which he married her.
ha a q of tn ha
most unhappy one, ending in separa-
ton at the time he was representing his
country in Washington
While calling at the White House on
New Year day. 1902 Mr.; Cutler saw Gen.
Taureau for the first time, and in his
diary says: I'VE met him at the door
covered with lace almost from head to
foot, and very much powdered. Walked
with his hat off. though it was rather
misty. His secretary and one aid and
called at the legation in Georgetown and
says: I'VE proposed in our family Gas he
always refers to his fellow-congressmen
at the boarding house on Capitol HID to
who had left his card for us. Six of US
went in a coach to his house. AS he was
at home we went in and were conducted
u. a large hall up one pair of stairs.
Found him disposed to be quite social,
though he speaks very little English. One
of his aides-de-camp assisted in the con-
versation. We tarried about an hour and
retired. We then went to the English
minister's, and left our cards without get
ting out of our coaches"
Party at the British Legation.
Tuesday, February II, Mr.. Cutler dined
at the British legation and makes this
record in his dairy: This day, in COM
pliance with card received eight or ten
days ago, dined with his excellency, Mr..
Merry. envoy extraordinary and minister
| plenipotentiary to his Britannia majesty.
Company, twenty-eight; thirteen members
of Congress. Table superb with plate in
| center, and in the last service the knives,
| forks and spoons were gold. Six double
branch candlesticks with candles lighted
| Very pleasing entertainment. Coffee in
| drawing room Immediately after dining.
| Retired about Q. Six from our family
| went in coach and returned upon foot u
Mr.. Cutler seems to have become quite
intimate at the British legation, for he
| dined there again the following week, and
| attended card party there few days
later. His diary for February rs con-
| tains this entry: This evening at Brit
| ish minister's by invitation to tea and
cards. The company very large. About
| thirty-five members of both houses OF
Congress. all the heads of departments,
| their ladies and daughters, many gentle
men and ladies of the city of George
| town. and many strangers. 1 presume the
number $50 or 300" And again, March 2,
he writes: Walked fifteen miles. Dined
| at Mr.. Merry's by Mrs. Merry's invita-
ton. She came twice to invite me. Present
| ed me with Darwin. There are frequent
references in his diary after that date to
| the British minister and Mrs Merry and
their common interest in botany
Sunday. February II, 1905 he described
the religious services which were held
each Sabbath in the Hall of Representa-
tives. where two pieces of Psalmody
were performed by the band of the Ma
rine Corps In uniform: about SO or 100"
SO that 1t would seem that more than a
hundred years ago the Marine Band was
even larger than 1t is now.