The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05

In reply to William a. Foley's inquiry
IN relation to Cato's. ! was born within
"a quarter of Il mile of Cato's on the
Boston Post road. II was "a house Of
entertainment situated near Fifty-fourth
street. The streets Mt that tiine were
not laid out or marked. Very frequently
localities were named from establish
inents. For instance, a boy would be
asked where he lived, and he would
reply: Near Cato's."
Cato Alexander was a negro at least
he nat negro blood In his veins. My
father knew him we'll. Cato was a
famous man in his day and his was the
fashionable roadhousc. Hc maintained
IL for nearly fifty years. His suppcis
were proverbial for excellence. lie nc
auired wealth and had II daughter.
whose weight in gold he offered to any
respectable white man whom we would
approve who would marry her.
Many references were made to Cato
and his establishment in his period.
Washington Irving mentions him Fitz-
Greene Halleck In the 'Croakers" speaks
Of the entertainment to be had at Ga
to's. while William Dunlap in "The
Memoirs Of a Water Drinker" speaks
OF a quarrel George Frederick Cook had
with an associate over their cups at
Cato's. At that time duelling was In
vogue and a brace OF pistols were NJ
ways at hand al Cato's. There was
much carnestncss on the part OF n;
least one OF the principals on this oc.
casion. but II turned out to he u mock
duel rs The pistols were not loaded.
Cato's name was given to situations
about his roadhouse. As a lad I climbed
Cato's rocks. which were some distance
from the tavern.
Cato died in 1858. in his seventy
seventh year. He was generous to his
patrons. who took advantage OF him BY
borrowing. and he died practically In
poverty. The dolngs at tato's were
handed down for a generation after the
tavern was closed. which was several
years before his death. The late Frank
Work. who lived to an advanced age,
would speak Of some of the Incidents
he was witness to. There are three
gentlemen now living. all over so. who
knew cato and his roadhousc person.
ally. joins u. CEiMMtSs.
Kindly tell IN. IL Roosevelt Hospital
has ever received any contributions
toward it's maintenance from the city
Of New York. T.. r.
Never. says the hospital
The query about the location 81 Catos
supplies the text for quite a dissertation
Cato A~lexander's roadhouse stood on
the Post road AT Fifty-secsnd street.
Mrs. Earle's stage Coach and Tavern
Days' states thai, 1t was bull, In i1l:
but gives no authority for the state
rnent. She relates further that he was
a negro slave who had So mastered
various spec.alties in cooking that he
was able to earn money to buy his free
dom from his South Carolina master.
lie kept the tavern for forty-seven years
and as the contents OF his place were
sold In 1929. he must have entered into
possession abou, 1881. Those who tasted
his okra soup. his terrapin. fried chicken.
curried oysters. roast duck. or drank
his New York brandy punch. his Nir-
ginia eEgnog or South Carolina milk
punch wondered how any one who
owned him ever could sell him even to
himself. Alongside his road house he
built n ballroom which would allow
thirty couples TO swing widely in en-
ergetic reels and Quadrilles. When
Christmas sleighing set In the Knicker-
booker braves and bellies drove out there
10 dance and there was always sleigh
Ing Al Christmas ia old New York-all
octog. .arians will tell YOU so Cato's
eggnoR was mixed in single r.,avs 10y
the barrelful. He knew precisely the
mystic time when the separated white
and yo,k was beaten enough. he knew
the exact modlcum OF sugar. h. could
- 80, a." ~ $50" w. n.y. w.
could top off to exac,n.ss the white
egg foam. All will agree with Mrs
Earle on an examination OF IN. picture
in the manual that at seems but {,
shabby building TO have held SO many
gay scenes"
But there was another side to tho
presentnent. The hors.men of the day
convened here. for Cato was a driver
and Jockey of renown, and at his re-
sort the preliminaries of races. duels,
lights and other sporting events were
either arranged or pulled off, \ col
oreu gentleman OF parts. he well under
stood the handing or other gentlemen
OF IKE procIlNltles. iihsweS saws that
imported val were soid I'VE Tor a
shiihns t.R cents Nc" 'ork cur
rencS'' an" pure prahaS AT siSpehce
'o,t 'ehts' per glass .
.atos u"e'''ne s'""u a Few lte' so"th
vi u' CORNER OF riil! -iour,u street ana
Secu''u aNehue' rsNlis t"''c, " victim
w. - c""'"'S " w r,'"i '"cNso" ol
nlo"%,'" ~ W. nv
M,
90, ae."n :" '"'
Va '' ' :" '" ~
Cato the great has changed his state,
From single 70 hat OF double;
May 4 long If. with d Jackson wife
Attend him void OF trouble
49,. 90. ,.
Ss 20 ~. 49, !. $500.
49, 49, 49, -