The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-02-15
WASHINGTON CHARACTERS. "

Wrltng OF the death OF COl. EDWARDS,
the last of the characters" at the Ma
tional Capital. correspondent of the
New York Times says: 1.-The Old Wash.
ington is no more. 1t may have seemed
an insignificant thing when Shoomaker's
disappeared from Pennsylvania avenue
and Hancock's closed its doors, but those
things were symbols, like Grape on the
door," Shoomaker's, a wholesale and
retail wine and liquor store, was never
on Pennsylvania avenue. 1t was on E.
street between 18th and 18th streets
Hancocks was restaurant and bar on
the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
and was favorite resort of Daniel Web
ster and his associates. 1t was noted for
its cuisine and for its mint juleps. ETC.,
concocted by colored man who Was
called "Dick" for short and who grew
gray in the service and finally departed
for the spirit land. The p, ace passed from
father to son and then to other hands. 1t
was regular museum, and on its walls
were curios which attracted many visit
ors to the National Capital whose Call
was not prompted by hunger or thirst.
Its terrapin, deviled crabs, fried oysters
and many other Southern dishes could
not be exceled.
Writing of the death of "Charley"
Edw ards, a comparatively new conner at
the National Capital, the Times CORE
spondent speaks of few of the other
characters" AID among them, "CoI.
John A. Joyce, with his military soft
hat ard his name of white hair, rolling
down on his shoulders; he who used to
drive Ella Wheeler Wilcox into spasms
of Indignation at stated times by assert
ing with solemnity that he had written
he. poem, Laugh and the World Laughs
With You Col. Joyce published sew
eral Books, one entitled "Jewels of Mem
ory," containing both prose and poetry.
Among the poems is Decoration Day
Poem" MAY 80, 1880 in which mention
is made of the noted persons buried in
Oak Hill cemetery and from which we
quote the following lines:
Here lies the bright Blaine, in sunshine and
rain,
Who left his imprint on the nation.
A keen. brany mind, devoted and kind,
Well fitted to fill great station.
No shaft marks his grave to tell traveller or
slave
Where that proud loyal heart lowly lies;
Yet the tall pines of Maine sigh in sorrow for
Blaine
AS they toss their green heads to the skies.
The Times writer does not get hack to
the real old timers, of whom perhaps
"Beau" Hickman was most noted in his
day. Contemporary with him was Sam
Ward, known as the King of the Lobby,
which he Latinjzed nto Vestibuli Rex.
He was brother of Julia Ward Howe,
a highly educated man, a bon vivant and
a connoisseur Then there was George
H. Butler, the scapegrace nephew of
Ben Butler, brilliant writer but dissi-
pated and irresponsible. There were
many OtuSlS WIN NC opohSll VI GS
characters, though in a different
sense. DR.. Mary Walker, probably the
first woman to wear the pants-openly
and Belva Lockwood, the woman's
rights advocate and the only woman to
be nominated for the Presidency. Walt
Whitman was conspicuous figure as he
walked down Pennsylvania avenue, vest
less, shirt open at the neck, his full
beard and abundant hair silvered by
time. Then there was Albert Pike. high
up in Masonry, seldom seen without his
pipe, the bowl as large as a tea cup and
the stem so long that he held the bowl in
his hand as he walked. Col. Tom. Ochil
tree of Texas and Col. Dick Winter
smith of Kentucky were picturesque
characters, and no more entertaining
story tellers ever lived. But it would
require a volume TO name and give the
characteristics of the many residents or
sojourners at the National Capital who
were noted in their day.