Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-11


etcr,s old homo in this city In being
torn down. Next month, when the
Chamber OF Commerce Of the United
a,atss holds ~ annual meeting here,
IN. ulnce where Webster lived will be
barren ground ready for the fonnda~
ton stone Of the national headauar-
tiers Of the Chamber.
After TINT. where tho stately red
brick mansion stood for 80 many
years, A Greek temple Of commerce
will Immediately shoot up, ana an
other Of WasbIngton's landmarks VIII
be remembered only by wooden
tablet stating that Daniel Webster
once lived in residence on that site.
The old, picturesque ride OF Wash
Ington is gradually vanishing. Homes
where the nations heroes lived and
where history was mnde are being
torn down every year to make room
for Office buildings. clubs, and hotels.
Unfortunately for their security
most OF the famous homes OF early
Washington were built in what has
| become a branch Of the downtown dis
| trict. The neighborboOd Is not fash
ionnble enough 10 lure the wealthy TO
bid for the historic mansions. and I'M
less some patriotic society steps In 20
rave them the buildings go on the
real estate market along with less
romantic property.
The home OF Francis Scott Key
author Of The Star Spangled Ban
ner." was allowed to pass in this way
though even in a city flied with ia
} nous buildings the Key house was
regularly visited By tourists.
Not all Of tho picturesque old homes
b have been demolished, IL IL true. Some
: have been rernodeled and now serve
modern uses The Octagon House
where Dolly Madison gave some Of hel
l. brilliant drawing rooms" after th'
|. White House burned in 1914. IL nov
] the home Of several artist ,organiza
tons. Dolly Madisons home OF
lafayette Square has become tn
= Cosmos Club.
Some historic houses have beer
converted into apartment buildings
Offices, and studios. The ballroom O
: ono residence where early Washing
ton society gathered to dance tn
: quadriile and waltz In now a studi
frequented by chiffon clad Gree
a dancers.
s Old Homes For Sale.
u But these homes that hav. bee
spared 30 far are not necessarily 10
% preserved as permanent hlstor
monuments Many Of them are IL
:, sale. Investors and builders come
study the broad lots on which the
20 stand, ignoring the mural decoration
of the bathrooms the sun parlors ar
the colonial doOrways. The old hous
"a have served several generations az
:. their space is needed.
The Webster mansion, once regard
;, as Washington's most complete al
elegant home. ia being torn dow
q, rapidly. The garden wall with
m The lockwood tree beneath whit
T; stone dog over the high gate IS gor
no Webster used to sit and read or wri
Nc speeches is moved 10 the Lincoln II
mortal grounds. For years IL has be-
he known as Webster's tree, and Il
2 still 10 be associated with him
T. Through the low windows vi
be panes their piyieb- dra Pd-ne
n their panes OF glass now gone Z
tic half-wrecked drawing rooms and Ia
OF the mansion attract the gaze OF I
he passer-by. Washington 70 recall
&c little stories about Daniel Webst
E. and the old Corcoran place" as I
lrt house Is generally known.
OF Il is remembered that when Webs
he came 10 Washington 70 De Secreta
he Of State under President Harrison,
,e- friends and admirers wished 10 p
ny sent him with money TO buy {
Sc. home on Lafayette Square. Webs
tn lived IN II during his term Of off
Ne, but historians say he finally deck
led TO purchase home in Massachuse
er. with the fund raised for him.
an Webster always remained a farm
tree planter, and country gentlem
es- Even Washington, with It's generS
E. lawns and magnificent distances, y
m too much Of a city for him. He y
an not at all intrigued by the distinct
by OF owning one of the Capitals sh
he places residence facing the VIII
House across Lafayette Square,
-od place that was considered by some
II. be even more deeirably located II
the the t4NctulAFS MANSION. IhSTS
TX some talk at one time Of building
new presidential residence on the
3. OF this home offered to Webster.
,g- Webster refused the responsibility
in owning permanently so fine an est
m lshment. He preferred his farm la
zee at Marshield. in Massachusetts.
re- Webster the Gourmet.
The tradition of Daniel Webster
~. great orator is so firmly implanted
the American mind that his OF
- characteristics are almost overlool
' An interesting side OF the man VIII
Washington society remembered :,
- after he WAS gone was that he was
epicure Of distinction.
he would so marketing ressula
himself 10 be sure OF having the :
u of everything on his table. He was
"a ways attended. however. by a serv
ID 10 carry the basket and bundles. r
excellence OF WebSter's dinners :
known all over the city and invitati
10 dine with the Secretary " S.
were accepted eagerly.
When Lord AshburtOn came 70 {