Evening star., 1936-09-27
By John C!agen Proctor.

able legislator and diplomat, John
Randolph of Roanoke, whom we have
recently seen depicted as falling in
love with the famous Peggy ONeale-
a quite impossible, and almost pre-
posterous thing for this noted man to
do. when we understand his tempera-
ment and the life he led. Not, OF
course. that he never did really fall
in love, for that he did, but not to
Peggy. rather to flower OF his own
Southland, fair Virginia lady named
Maria Ward. who evidently refused his
heart and hand. and subsequently was
married to Peyton Randolph. son OF
Edmund Randolph, who was Governor
of Virginia, the first Attorney General
of the United States during Wash
ington's first administration, and later
Secretary of State.
This affair Of the heart began in
John Randolphs early boyhood, and,
we are told, became the one en-
thralling passion of his manhood
filling his whole being until he loved
her better than his own soul" How
ever, they were never married. and
their courtship was mysterlously
ended and no one but the two lovers
themselves ever knew the cause that
kept them apart forever. An early
account of this estrangement says:
THE breaking of Of the affair Is
wrapped in mystery: all We know Is
that one Summer morning he rode
TN to the house, and after a long in
terview in the parlor, the lady left
the room In tears, while he rushed
from the house. mounted his morse
and rode furiously away. He never
saw her again; but one day he ap-
preached house where she was stay
ing while she was singing in the par
lor. Fascinated by the sound OF her
voice. he fingered on the porch and
sent in from time to time a request
for her to sing one song after an
other-the tender little ballads which
we're associated with their loves.
Maria Ward sang, unconscious OF her
lovers presence, while he rushed
frantically up and down the porch In
an apony of grief, waving his arms
and CRYING in the anguish of his heart,
Macbeth hath murdered sleep; Mac
beth shall sleep no more'"
THE accompanying picture of this
- charming girl. said to have had
wondrous blue eyes, exquisitely deli
cate complexion. a profusion OF sunny
brown curls and dressed in quaint
costume. represents her at the age
lot tad
tinguished for her exquisite grace and
fascination of manners and bright
wit. She died in 1926, aged AZ years
and up to this time, We are told, was
as fresh as the Summer rose, as cap
tivating in mind and manners a
when she enthralled the passionate
heart Of John Randolph of Roanoke.
Just to what extent John Randolph
came in contact with Miss ONeale, II
sny, is . question the writer admits
for want of proof-he cannot answer
When Congress convened in Wash
inston for the first time, on Novem-
Der II, 1900, John Randolph was a
member of the House of Represent
stives in the delegation from Virginia
another member being the celebrated
John Marshall, later Chief Justice OF
the United States Supreme Court
Peggy ONeale was then just one year
old, Randolph was 81, and just where
the young Congressman stayed at this
time, and for several years afterward
Is another matter of uncertainty.
In the Library of Congress, the Ma
kion's great storehouse of knowledge
the Congressional Directories, running
back as far as 1909, are to be found
and from this year on Mr.. Randolph
residence in the District of Columbia
was traceable. At this date, 1909, he
was making his home at the Union
Tavern, or Union Hotel, then conduct
ed by William Crawford, who had sue.
ceeded a Mr.. Mclaughlin, and Peter
Brady followed Crawford. This hos
telry was erected at the northeast cor.
ner of Thirteenth and M streets II
1895, and was destroyed by fire II
1882. It was rebuilt in 1886, and
large part of the more recent struc.
ture remains intact, except the cor.
ner portion, which was removed yeaI
or two ago.
Many notable guests stopped here
IN the early days, including Loui'
Philippe, Count volney, Baron Hum
boldt, Robert Fulton, the inventor
Talleyrand, Jerome Bonaparte, Wash
ington Irving. Gen. st. Clair. Loren
20 Dow and Francis Scott Key.
before the City of Washington
was built up it was the genera
and almost the, only resort Of thost
DISTINGUISHED men whose names form
part of the Nations history. Durinl
the sessions of Congress it was com
mon thing to see from so to 80 mem
bers associated in messes within 1t
temple walls. and among them sucl
leading spirits as Randolph, Ruff
King, Mr.. Gore. Gen. Sumter, Castor
and Pinckney of South Carolina; Mel
son of Virginia, Aaron Burr, when II
his best days; John Marshall, Henr
Clay. Martin Van Buren and Ger
Van Rensselaer,. 1t was, besides, t
an extent, the general residence G
the foreign ministers and the officer
OF the Army.
Indeed, its history informs us tina
stage was always in waiting t
convey the members of Congress t
and from the Capitol, and that ever
night the apartments Of the hous
were won't to echo with the ready wi
and the pregnant jests, or with ami
matd discussions on the political oc
currences of the day.
It had several complete suites
private apartments and bed room
numerous drawing rooms, private par
lors, receiving rooms for compan.
q large dining room and splendi
ball room, which was once the seen
of the brightest and gayest festivit
ever witnessed in this District. Oths
attractions were: Two large refectorie
housekeepers and servants apar1
ments, private dwelling house, win
cellar; dairy. meat and ice houses
with stabling for 100 horses.
When President John Adams visite