Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-25
The Owen House Fire.
Lively News Accounts Describe Exploits
Of Brave Firemen in Eorly Washington
By John cIogett Proctor

the shape of fire apparatus they
could lay hteir hands or-our
Washington fire boys gave way
cheerfully to them and relin-
pushed their apparatus freely for
the occasion"
From the time this corner was
first used for hotel purposes, about
1918. and until the Willards owned
and operated their hotel here, and
even down to our own time. this
site has been one Of the most
celebrated places in Washington.
Indeed, so much has taken place
here in the past nearly $50 years,
that no one seems to know It's
entire history.
The Napier Affair
To say just what was the big
gest and most elaborate affair
ever given at the old hotel that
for years occupied this site would
be almost guesswork, or q mere
matter of opinion, so very many
important funcations having taken
place there. Undeniably one Of
the largest dinners ever given at
the old Willard was the one ten
dered to Lord and Lady Napier
when they were leaving Washing
ton, Lord Napier, the then Brit
ish Minister, being relieved by his
government and assigned to duty
elsewhere.
This distinguished diplomat had
made a host Of warm friends dur
ing the few years he was sta
toned in Washington and when
he was transferred they decided
to give him farewell party. That
the public officials and the citi-
zens Of Washington made q good
job OF 1t there Is ample printed
evidence. The press tells us that
1t was "the largest such enter
tainment ever given In Washing
ton, except on the occasion Of
the Inauguration Of a President"
and no doubt 1t was, for in all
there are said to have been pres
ent to enjoy the dinner and the
dancing around 1900 ladies and
gentlemen.
Lady Napier, with her sweet,
homelike smile and courtly grace.
was, of course, the observed of all
observers and was deliberately
dressed in rich white silk, flounced
with black lace; her headdress
was a network of gold, from which
waved flowers and feathers. and
she wore a costly necklace"
With Relish and Gusto
But, after all, what attracted
the writer's attention most about
this famous ball was the most
wonderful dinner served upon that
occasion, for, of all the menus he
has ever read, he believes this is
the fullest and most complete Of
its kind. Just imagine any human
being sitting down to dinner Of
this kind:
"Terrapins; oysters, stewed.
broiled and fried: wild turkey.
truf1es, sauce perigord, canvasback
duck. currant jelly.
"Cold ornamental dishes -
Game pate, truff1es, ornamented
with jelly; boned capon, truff1les.
decorated with jelly; gelatine de
pheasant, truff1es. en- belle vue:
pain de fois. truff1es, en- belle vue:
chanfrois de partridges. bordered
with jelly; Westphaha hams. Or
namented with jelly; round of
beef. decorated. with jelly; saddles
of mutton. saddles of venison;
tongues, en- belle vue: tongues.
ornamented with jelly: chicken
salad, ornamented with jelly;
chicken salad, bordered with
jelly; aspic of oysters. en- belle
vue; chicken salad. decorated:
picked oysters, lobster salad, in
decorated border.
Gold roaSt-Pheasant, capon,
prairie hen, chicken, partridges,
turkey. duck, woodcock.
ornamental confectionery
Charlotte a TImperatrice, Char
lotte la Francois, Charlotte de-
carer aux pommes, meringues
montees en- corbeille royale, mer-
ingue a rItalliene garnie de
chantille. jelly macedoin, jelly
AL punche, jelly au cafe Mocha,
jelly au win de Madeira. decorer,
blanc mango and pistache; blanc
mango, aux chocolat; frontage
bavaravois, a la vanille; frontage
bavaravios.
I'm fancy molds, Ice cream
Vanilla, caramel, strawberry,
apricot. chocolate, lemon, rasp-
berry. pineapple, orange, bisque,
glace, peombia plumb pudding,
glace."