The Washington herald., 1909-04-26
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Nv THE SPECTATOR.

For nearly half a century WiiIam NJ
Stewart. who died on Friday, was a
conspicuous and picturesque figure in
Washington. His shrewd. good-natured
face, his bright. keen eyes. his shock Of
white hair. and long white beard. made
him seem the persOnifcatiOn OF santa
Claus. That was pseudorym by which
he was often known, and well deserved
pseudonym, for he was quite as Jolly.
quite as merry, and quite as good
natured as the chiIdren's patron saint.
Senator Stewart had the pioneer instinct
fully developed. He was one Of the
forty-niners in California. and when the
Improvements In Washington began
under the board OF public works he.
was a pioneer in the West End. building
at the junction OF Massachusetts and
Connecticut avenues. on what was then
the pasture land. a large and pretentious
mansion. modelled partly after 4 castle
on the Rhine. which had pleased Mrs
Stewards fancy. It was adorned with
medieval turrets and towers succeed TO
resemble stone, and topped by a maHssrd
roof. a style popular at that time. and
used on the British Embassy. which dates
from the same period. The windows were
large, with single panes Of plate glass.
just then beginning to be used, an incon-
gruOus structure truly. and its mixed
architectural its muddled design could
be so charscterized-and situation, almost
in the country earned for Il the name
cf "Stewart's Folly.
When the SteWaTts occupied this house
Il was the scene OF lavish hospitality. and
the dinners, suppers. and balls given there
were the talk 0f the day Mrs. Stewart
was a large, handsome. gray-haired wO-
man. with a big heart and cordial man
ners, who delighted to entertain. and she
had two able cOadjutors IN her daugh
teTs, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Hooker. The lat
ter sIill lives iB Washington, and Is the
mother OF Capt Richard s Hooker. OF
the Marine Corps The magnificent scale
on which they lived soon dissipated the
large fortune Mr. Stewart had made as
counsel for the owners OF the Comstock
mine. and with his retirement from the
Senate the Stewsrts left Washington for
their home IN tis S-est. where the Sen
ator soon amassed another fortune, and
was again elected TO the Senate.
During a part Of the twelve years OF
their absence from Washington Stew
arts Folly" hal been occupied by the
Chinese legation. and vas the scene Of
the Aladdin-like entertainments given b.
Chang Yen Hoon. o. Huan. as his name
was sometimes written; entertainments
which have never been equaied. Delica-
cies were ordered from China for the
turned into a bower o. flowers. and every
body who was anybody was Invited.
M HoOn was 2 real beau IA dress and
manner His costumes were made from
stuffs Of priceless value. and he wore
jewels such as Western ewes rarely look
upon. n fact. he was known as the
dandy of the Orient" and It Is said il
required 10 boxes 10 hold his belongings
when he came 20 America He was a
devotee Of society. TOO. never refusing a
single invitation Il vas possible for him
TO accept But II this picturesque ngure
was "Ihe dandy Of the Orient. he was also
one OF It's most astute statesmen. and
he obtained valuable concessions in this
country for China from which she is stu
benedunE. He awakened interest in her
resources. induced United States capital
lists 90 build railroads there and develop
her vas. wealth. Many of his projects
came 10 nothing but some that he in
spired turned out brilliantly. Il was Mr.
HOOn who carried back 70 the Celestial
Kingdom news Of the greatness OF the
United States and the importance OF
China making and keeping he- as
friend. and when the Boxer revolution
broke out q was he who stood ID In its
Tsung Il Yamen and told his associates
how unwise il was 20 endeavOT 70 do
anything against the United States and
the other foreigners IN China. FOR
such a course would be inevitably their
own undOing; but he spoke 10 deaf ears,
and his defense OF TIE foreigners. his
wisdom so elOquentIy expressed. and his
patriotism cost him his life. for he was
beheaded with other patriots before PekIn
was relieved BY the allied armies.
But as picturesque and interesting as
were the Chinese tenants OF stewards
Folly" ;hey had not become accustomed
10 Occidental methods, and after several
wears occupancy they left 1t IN such
condition that the Senator was compelled
10 refnish and refgrnish the interior az
an expense that cost him nearly as much
as the rent he had received from the
Chinese government and even after the
house was renovated Il never seemed
quite the same rs iu the DAYS OF It's fiTst
magnifcelce. Nor was the second period
Of the Stewards residence here as brill
liant as their first for the times had
changed IN ;he decade or their absence,
many Cld friends had disappeared. Mrs.
Fox and Mrs. Hooker TO longer lived
with their parents. and while the latch
string OF "Stewart's Folly" was always
out. the noted old castle was marked by
quito different atmosphere.
Until he was stricken with MS last i'll
ness Senator Stewart was an athletic
man, and at seventy-hve could win bout
with men half his age. One day in the
cloak room OF the Senate a little Eroup
OF solons were discussing the physical
strength OF men At various periods. and
some one regretted that strength deteri-
grated so with increasing age Senator
Stewart passed Just as this remark was
made
DO you think so7' he asked jocoseiy.
DO you think. for instance. that YOU,
who are twenty years my junior. are
stronger than I am? Well. see here. -
And with that he picked up the speaker
and threw him over his shoulder.
HIS Object
From the 1ndepenicut.
Most OF Us are acquainted with the