Evening star., 1945-11-04
Capital Sidelights
By Will p. Kennedy.

cences" cites Henry Clay as q great
raconteur, but probably the all-time
best in the early days of political life
In Washington was John w. Forney,
clerk of the House, secretary of the
Senate. editor Of the organ OF the
Democratic party. the Washington
Daily Union, from 1851 to 1855. and
editor of the organ of the Republican
party. the Washington Daily Chronicle,
from 1862 to 1868. He recorded this lit
tie tale: President jackson sent James
Buchanan to Russia In 1882. He re-
turned in 1884. was elected to the Sen
ate by the Pennsylvania Legislature
to succeed William wilkins, who was
sent to succeed Buchanan abroad.
Buchanan took fair English lady to
introduce to Old Hickory. head Of the
American Nation. Asking the lady to
wait in the reception room, he went up
stairs to find jackson in his private
quarters, unshaven, unkempt. in dress
ing gown. slippered feet on the fender
before blazing wood fire, smoking a
corn-cob pipe. The general said he
gladly would meet the fair friend of the
new bachelor Senator. Buchanan, habi-
tually fastidious and just returned
from fashionable continental circles.
was shocked at the idea Of the Presi-
dent thus meeting the foreign guest and
suggested that he change his attire.
The old warrior knocked the ashes from
his pipe bowl, saying: Buchanan. here's
q bit of advice worth remembering.
knew man once who made fortune
attending to his own business. Tell the
lady III see her presently" In an un-
believably short period, the President
presented himself In full suit of black,
shaven. his white hair carefully combed.
He saluted the guest in most courtly
style. As she left the White House.
she remarked to her escort: Your Re-
publican President is the royal model of
a gentleman" Buchanan frequently,
after he became President himself in
1856, confessed that Andrew Jackson's
rebuke had Inundated him more than
any other censure he ever received.
Besides Washington, D. c., being called
the "City OF Magnificent Distances"
many other cities have been given such
popular names: Boston, Hub OF the
Universe; Baltimore. Monumental
City,; Brooklyn. N. Y. city Of
Churches; Buffalo, N. Y, Queen City
of the Lakes; Chicago, Garden City,;
Cincinnati, Queen City; Cleveland,
Forest City, Detroit. City of the
Straits; Hannibal. BLUR City; In
dianapolis, Railroad City; Keokuk,
Iowa. Gate City; Springfield. Mass.
city of Homes; New Haven, Conn,
Elm City; Louisville, Fails City;
Lowell, Mass, "City of Spindles";
New York, N. Y, Empire City; Phila-
delphia, Pa. "city of Brotherly Love" or
Quaker City; Pittsburgh, Iron City,;
Portland, Me-, Forest City,; New Or
leans, Crescent City; Rochester, Mimi.
Flour City; st. Louis, Mound City,"
and Springfield, ILL.,, "Flower CITY,"
Felix Grundy Mcconnell of Alabama,
singularly handsome man, possessed
Of abundant animal spirits and ma
tive wit that made him universally
popular, died by his own hand in WASH
ington in l846, in his 37th year. He was
one of President James K. Polk's first
visitors after his Inauguration, March
4, l845, and introduced himself thus:
II have called to pay you my respects.
Mr.. President and to say that II you
believe in the Virginia and Kentucky
resolutions, love the Union, and fol-
low IN the footsteps Of Andrew Jack
son Of Tennessee, now at the Hermitage
preparing to 60 to Heaven, then. sir,
hang my hammer on your anvil"
The burning Of the Treasury Building
on the night OF March 80 or the
morning Of March 81. 1888, still Is o
mystery. The fire was not supposed tt
have been accidental. Papers whose de-
struction was said to be highly desirable
to certain parties were destroyed. That
was the second time in 50 years that
destructive blaze wrought havoc in the
Treasury. President Jackson directed
the Secretaries OF State. Treasury and
War, the Attorney General and the
Postmaster General to investigate, which
they did fruitlessly.