Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-11
Webster the Gourmet


The tradition of Daniel Webster
the great orator is so firmly I'M
planted in the American mind that
his other characteristics are almost
overlooked. An interesting side OF
the man which Washington society
remembered long after he was gone
was that he was an epicure of dis
tinction.
He would go marketing regularly
himself TO be sure of having the best
of everything on his table. He was
always attended, however, by a SER
want to carry the basket and bun
dies. The excellence of Webster's
dinners was known all over the city
and invitations to dine with the Sec
rotary of State were accepted
eagerly.
When Lord Ashburton AIN to
this country to arrange the famous
Ashburton treaty between England
and the United States, ne and Web
ster met often at the dinner table for
their conferences. Ashburton, at the
home placed at his disposal, served
elaborate European dishes. Webster
in his turf offered the delicacies of
the States prepared by Monica, a
colored cook said to have been a
genius in her line.
OHe ulSlOTldH says llldl Nld4lC
salmon, Massachusetts mackerel,
New Jersey oysters, Florida shad,
Kentucky beef, West Virginia NUT
ton. Illinois prairie chickens, IVir-
ginia terrapin, Maryland crabs,
Delaware canvass-backs, and South
Carolina rice birds, were served by
Monica and served in a style that
made tine banker diplomat admit
their superiority "to the Partisan
dishes he had hitherto championed.
Webster's Famous Punch
1t is also worthy of record that
Daniel Webster in his role of epicu-
rean set a record for punch. A most
expensive variety was known as
Daniel Webster punch. Inquiry was
made of the legal experts of the
government prohibition enforcement
bureau as to whether this article
might quote the ingredients of this
once famous beverage. After con-
sidering the circumstances of the
case the fact that no quantities of
the ingredients and no directions for
compounding the drink are given,
and that Daniel Webster punch is
now past history anyway, the otfi-
Gals of the bureau decided that it
could be described. Here is what
went into it in the old days: Med
ford rum. brandy, champagne, ar
rack, maraschino, strong green tea,
lemon juice, and sugar."
ebster left the mansion on La
fayette Square after he gave up his
political position, and w. W. Cor
coran bought it. To Washington, the
name of w. W. Corcoran is a house
hold word. This banker and philan-
thropist was at one time the rich-
est man in the Capital. He gave the
city the Corcoran Art Gallery. He
founded and endowed the Louise
Home for gentlewomen in reduced
circumstances. And he was respon-
sible for the return to this country of
the body of John Howard Payne,
author of Home Sweet Home"
Payne had died in Tunis. Africa,
where he held a government posi-
ton, and ii was due to Corcoran's eff
forts that the poet vas brought back
to lie in Oak Hill Cemetery in
Georgetown.
Corcoran carried on the high So
cial tradition of the Webster man
sion. The most famous men of the
day were entertained in it's beauti-
full rooms, and the house continued
TO build up its name as a place
where history was made.
Now the site is to hold a five-story
Greek temple with a c~olonnade Of
pillars-an imposing edifice, in
keeping with Washington's architec-
Itural atmosphere. The same archi-
Itect who designed the towering Wool
worth Building for New York, plan
ned the low. graceful temple of
commerce for modern Washington.