Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

might frequently keep their little ones
with them as they journeyed from cit!
to city.
j. X
Surely the reputation of the author had
preceded him across the sea. During
Dickens brief stay in Washington such
men as John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay,
John c. Calhoun and others of prom
inence called to gay their respe cts to the
genius of the renowned writer. 1t is said
that these distinguished Americans were
struck with the authors freedom from
airs and assumption. They were pleased
with his cordial and unpretentious man.
ner and charmed with the frankness and
brilliancy of his conversation.
During Dickens stay in the city he
made many visits to the Capitol, where
he spent great deal of time in the halls
of the legislature. then the scenes OF
great excitement. What the wings would
have the democrats were sure to oppose
and what the democrats would have all
but sacrificed their lives for the wings
denounced with verbal fire and blood. On
some occasions differences in the House
had been settled later at the old Bladens-
burg dueling ground. A distinguished
man of that time said that the odd char
acters in Washington numbered so many
s more p proi}lS field u for Writing his Books
than he did in England.
Henry Clay, the tall, keen-eyed gentle
man from Tennessee, was just firing his
last shells in political cannon before re-
firing in the spring of 1912. His courtly
manner, and his ability to be at ease at
all times and places, and his persuasive
SMILE that added force to his eloquent
speeches. held the attention Of thousands.
OF him Dickens wrote: CLAY is perfect
ly enchanting; an irresistible man." Dan
iel Webster, at that time Secretary of
State. was residing at the old Swami
House. known in later years as the Cor
coran House. Nothing pleased this New
England orator more than his daily visits
to the old Marsh market.
x
On such occasions he donned a broad
brimmed felt hat, a bright-buttoned coat.
buff waistcoat and black trousers. His
hospitality and love Of company were
factors which filled his dinner table al
most constantly, but Old Monica, who
cooked the way they did down in "Old
Virginia. certainly played her part.
When Webster said Come and dine with
me tomorrow, for I have just received
some canvasback ducks from Delaware, -
there were usually no regrets made nor
any previous engagements spoken of.
John Quincy Adams. then over seventy
five years old, was the recognized leader
of the House. This gnarled old oak, with
palsied tremblings, withstood a four-day
storm Numbered upon him by his ad.
versaries, overcoming the elements one
by one, and then pouring out the wrath
which he had nursed for half a century
Dickens wrote of him: Adams is a fine
fellow, seventy-six years old. but with
most surprising vigor. memory, readiness
and pluck" This comment Of the au-
thor can best be appreciated when it is
remembered that Mr.. Pickwick, a type
of his day. was pictured as an old man
Surely the friendships which Dickens
made in Washington must have produced
a favorable impression upon the author
for he spoke Of the legislators as a re-
markedly able lot of men.
If the newspapers Of 1912 had publish
ed the social doings of the times no doubt
many an ambitious hostess would have
made a striving to have had a printed
account of her, Inequalities in receiving
the eminent writer and his wife. but in
those days the dailies were like Con
gressional Records, and no such thing as
social column was in existence. The pres