The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-07
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Correspondence Of August
The Passing of Washington Landmarks
tSbecaal Corresponderee Of

house across Lafayette square
place that was considered bv soma
TO be even more desirably Located
than the executive mansion. There
was some talk at one time Of build
ing new presidential residence m
the site of this home offered Il
Webster. Yet Webster refused ths
responsibility of owning permanent
ly so fine an establishment ne
preferred his farm lands at Mars
field, in Massachusetts,.
Webster the Gourmet
The tradition of Daniel Websfa.
the great orator is so firmly -
planted in the American mind az
his other characteristics are Al
most overlooked. An interestibg
side of the man which WashingraS
society remembered long after =
was gone was that he was an en-
cure Of distinction.
He would go marketing rezrlsrh,
himself to be sure of having -
best of everything on his table. He
was always attended, however, by
servant to carry the basket and
bundles. The excellence of Web
ster's dinners was known all over
the city and invitations to dine with
the secretary of state were accent
ed eagerly.
When Lord Ashburton came to
this country to arrange the famous
Ashburton treaty between England
and the United States, he 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 turn offered the del
icacies of the states prepared by
Monica, colored cook, said to have
been genius in her line
One historian says that Maine
salmon, Massachusetts mackerel
New Jersey oysters, Florida shad
Kentucky beef, West Virginia NUT
ton, Illinois prairie chickens, Viz
ginfa terrapin, Maryland crabs. Del
aware canvas-backs, and South
Carolina race birds were served by
Monica and served in a style that
made the 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 cpl
curean 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 enforce
ment bureau as to whether this ar
ucle might quote the ingredients
of this once famous beverage. Aft
er considering the circumstances OF
the case, the fact that no quaint
ties of the ingredients and no di-
rections for cOmpounding the drink
are given, and that Daniel Webster
punch is now past history anyway
the officials Of the bureau decided
that it could be described. Here
is what went into it in the old days:
''MedfOrd rum, brandy, champagne,
arrack, maraschino, strong green
tea, lemon juice and sugar.
Webster 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 .
household word. This banker and
DhfIanthropist was at one time the
richest man in the capital He
ave the city the CorcOran art gal
cry, He founded and endowed the
louise Nome 10Y geNAewoMeN inTe-
duced circumstances. And he was
responsible for the return TO this
! country Of the body of John Howard
! Payne, author of Home Sweet
Home. Payne had died in Tunlg,
Africa, where he held a govern
ment position, and it was due 10
CoTcOran's efforts that the poet was
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 its beauti-
full rooms, and the house cOntiD-
ued 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 colon
made of pillars-an imposing edi-
fee, in keeping with Washington
architectural atmosphere. Tho
same architect who designed tn
towering WoOlworth building for
New York planned the low, grace
Jul temple of commerce for modern
Washington.