The Washington herald., 1909-05-05
WASHINGTON CHAT.
B. THE sPECTAToR.

sens n connection with the unveiling o.
the Shepherd monument OF Monday was
Mrs. Shepherd. who sat on the speakers
stand listening TO the eulogies on her
husband looking scarcely older than she
cid thirty years ago. when she and her
husband turned their back on Washington
to make a new home and a new fortune
in Mexico
Later. when she received her old friends
IN her home in Connecticut avenue. both
her appearance and her manner made
one feel il was only yesterday that she
vas the hostess Of the beautiful home
tnat her husband built in K street. Oppo-
site Farrsgut Square. which is now owned
by Gen. Draper Like her husband. Mrs,
Shepherd Is a native OF Washington, and
was a Miss Young. Her sister. Susan.
known 70 her intimates as sue. married
the late Judge Andrew Bradley.
Mrs Shepherd and Mrs. Bradley are
much alike. both handsome women.
Mrs. Shepherd has never been handsomer
than now. with a face, refined and spir-
itualized by suffering-for she has suffer
ed this widow OF a much abused and
much misunderstood man-frsmed in its
beautiful white hair. The home Of the
Shepherds, before they built the house in
X street. was an old-fashioned double
house, with a manssrd roof. situated en-
the corner OF L street and Connecticut
avenue. torn down some years back TO
make room for that great modern apart
nent house Stoneleigh Court. that nov
occupies a part Of its site.
There were wonderful parties given in
this hospiJable old mansion. and those Tor
the children were the best OF ali. for
Ike all big men. Mr.. Shepherd dotted on
children. and both he and Mrs Shepherd
never tired OF catering 20 their pleasure.
TIE Shepherd exercises brought all the
cave dwellers out. and the assembly at
this important function resembled a
gathering Of thirty years back, except
that the people. some OF them. looked
older and whiter than they did az that
date. a notable figure was that Of NJ
Solomons. who, despite his more than
four score years. IS still very active, and
as interested in all that goes on as he
ever was. He rather surprised the look
ers-on by climbing over the fence which
separated him from his seat. with an
agility that a man halt his years might
envy.
Another white hair participant was
John J. Joyce. VINO claims 10 be the orig
inal optimist- he looks il. fCr while there
IS not black hair in his head, his face
is unwriEkled. his eyes are as keen and
smiling as ever.
Mai LoefFier was also an interesting
listener al the Shepherd exercises. or. AZ
least. he endeavored 70 hear. but the wind
was so strong that not word reached
those who were more than few feet
away from the speakers stand For
more than forty years the major was on
the White House staff. d0orkeeper al the
main entrance. and has only recently
been put on the retired list He knows.
therefore. every public man OF pTomi-
nence that has figured In the last four
decades. and should he ever De per
suaded % write them. his reninisCenCe
viii be fun OF interest.
After so long an experience he nat
orally became an adept IN classifying
people. and he knew in a second who OF
the daily callers 70 give access 20 the
President and who 20 refuse In fact his
power Of discrimination amounted almost
to genius. and in all the years he served
az the front door OF the Executive Man
sion he can be credited with hardly A
mistake. In Arthur's sdministra ton. for
whose memory Maj Loefier. like all
.-oza - -e-a II ~,----- --s+r- .Lr-
charming and agreeable man. has a deep
admiration and warm affection. a vacant
clerkshlp was 10 be awarded IN the
Executive Office. and the major. anxious
20 relinquish his post az the door and be
promoted 10 2 position al a desk. pre-
feTred a request through the President 5
secretary. Mr.. Phillips. 70 be appointed
10 H. The message had hardly been de-
ivered when he was summoned 10 Mr.
Arthur's presence
7 understand you want 70 be appointed
20 this vacant cIerkship.- said Mr. Ar
thur.
Maj LoeHer admitted that that was
his mission
''yery WE'LL said the President, smii-
ing. I viii appoint you 20 the cierkship,
but I VIII not change your duties. We
need you AZ the door. and there YOU must
stay. and there MAJ LOefier stayed.
where he had been IN the administration
Of Grant. Hayes. Garfield. Arthur. and
where he remained while Cleveland. Har-
risen. Mckinley. and Roosevelt were IN
Office. serving altogether under eight
Presidents
Brainard H Warner. who formally pre-