Part 13 (1/2)

General Scott was so of an epicure I have seen him sit down to a meal where joas the principal dish, and have heard his exclamation of appreciation caused in part, possibly, by his recollection of siinia He did the fa in his selection of food Terrapin, which he insisted upon pronouncing t_a_rrapin, was his favorite dish, and he would order oysters by the barrel from Norfolk On one occasion he attended a banquet where all the States of the Union were represented by a dish in some way characteristic of each commonwealth Pennsylvania was represented by a bowl of sauer-kraut; and in speaking of the fact the nextthe General remarked: ”I partook of it with tears in ton was a festive occasion, especially in the houest General and Mrs Scott kept open house and of course ton, and some from the Navy, called to pay their respects All appeared in full-dress uniform, and a bountiful collation was served I was present at several of these receptions and recall that after the festivities of the day were nearly over General Scott, who of course had paid his respects to the President earlier in the day, always called upon two venerable women--Mrs ”Dolly” Madison, who then lived in the house now occupied by the Coshbor

During the winter of 1850, which I spent with the Scotts, I participated with them in the various social enjoyments of the season

Early in theof Congress, that genial gentleave his annual ball to both Houses of Congress, and it was inprevious to the erection of his public art gallery, his house was filled with s and pieces of statuary Powers's ”Greek slave,” which now occupies a conspicuous place in the Corcoran Art Gallery, stood in the drawing-roo entertainments, but he always attended those of Mr Corcoran In this instance I was the only member of the household who accompanied him, and the ovation that awaited his arrival was enthusiastic; and as I entered the ballroo the prouests was General ”Sam” Houston, arrayed in his blue coat, brass buttons and ruffled shi+rt His appearance was patrician and his courtesy that of the inborn gentlely remarked to General Scott that General Houston in some ways always recalled to ton His facetious rejoinder was: ”Was ever the Father of his Country so defamed?” I met at this entertainment for the first time Charles Sumner, who had but recently taken his seat in the US Senate and of who was also there, and Cornelia Marcy, the beautiful daughter of William L Marcy, was one of the belles of the ball I have stated that General Scott did not generally attend evening entertainreat interest in all social events, and upon my return from parties, so my account of what had transpired

I have spoken of General Houston's appearance I noish to refer to his fine sense of honor He was hter of Colonel John Allen, from near Gallatin, the county town of Sumner county in Tennessee, and separated froe ceremony under, as is said, the uests had departed and General Houston and his bride were sitting alone by the fire, when he suddenly discovered that she eeping He asked the cause of her tears and was told by her that she had never loved him and never could, but had las,” she added, ”but I will try my best and be a dutiful wife to you” ”Miss,” said Governor Houston, even waiving the fact that he had just ht” It is said that he ned at once his office as Governor and departed for the Cherokee country, where and elsewhere his subsequent career is well known Having procured a divorce fro of 1840

During the saiven by Mrs Cle,” at her residence on H Street Many years later George Bancroft, the historian, occupied this residence and it is still called the ”Bancroft house” Mr Hill was a e estates in Prince George County, and his as recognized as one of the social leaders in Washi+ngton

Another ball which I recall, which I attended in coiven by Colonel and Mrs William G Freeman at their residence on F Street, near Thirteenth Street, the former of as at one time Chief of Staff to General Scott I well rehter and me and that he wore at the tih rank As henature of his appearance cannot well be described Mrs Freearet Coleman, was one of the joint owners of the Cornwall coal mines in Pennsylvania Her sister, Miss Sarah Coletonians remember her as the ”Lady Bountiful” whose whole life was devoted to good works Colonel and Mrs Freehters, Miss Isabel Freehauest whohtly Mary Louisa Adarandfather, John Quincy Adams, who lived in one of the thite houses on F Street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, now called the ”Adams house” She was the venerable ex-President's principal heir, and subsequently e B McClellan was also a guest at this entertain beaux His presencea cotillion with hian to spin and I

I did not, however, lose consciousness like the heroines of the old tragedies, and was conducted to a retired seat where, at the request of General Scott, I was attended by Dr Richard Henry Coolidge, Surgeon in the Aruest General Scott's adentlereat I have often heard the General say that Dr Coolidge not only prescribed for the physical condition of his patients but also by the example of his Christian character elevated their y with the words: ”Dr Coolidge walks hue, daughter of Couished heroes of the War of 1812, is still living in Washi+ngton I occasionally see her in her pleasant hoiving one a picture of a serene old age

During my many visits to the Scott household after the Mexican War, I always occupied a coed to the Mexican General, Santa Anna It seems that just after the battle of Cerro Gordo this warriorbehind hi This bedstead was captured as a trophy of war, and finally came into General Scott's possession The memory of this ht repose Texas history tells the story of the Alamo and of the six bravein a certain degree the atrocities of the Duke of cumberland of which I have already spoken Santa Anna, however, had Indian blood in his veins--an extenuating circumstance that cannot be offered in defense of the ”Butcher of Culloden”

There was always ed strained relations existing between General and Mrs Scott, owing largely to the fact that the conditions attending and surrounding their respective lives were fundamentally different and often misunderstood

General Scott was a born commander while _Madame la General_ from her earliest life had had the world at her feet Such a combination naturally resulted in an occasional discordant note, which unfortunately was usually sounded in public Their private life, however, was serene, and they were invariably loyal to each other's interests When Mrs

Scott, for example, learned that James Lyon of Richmond, an intimate friend of the General and herself and a trustee for certain of her property, had, although a Whig, voted against her husband when a presidential candidate, she at once revoked his trusteeshi+p At another tily dedicated to her husband

I recall an a incident related by General Scott just after a journey to Virginia that well illustrates the exigencies that awaited persons traveling in those days in carriages For a brief period before the inauguration of President Harrison, General Scott was in Richht, started for the station to catch a train for Washi+ngton to be present when the President-elect should take his oath of office He e to convey hiton, as his presence there was io no further, and he was obliged to seek shelter for the night Stopping at a house near the roadside and inquiring whether he could be accommodated, he was told that there was but one vacant rooed some days in advance by a Gerhter This partyinforenerously offered to share the rooed that the women should occupy one of the beds and General Scott and the butcher the other The woht,” when the men took possession of the second bed After so, General Scott reached his destination While he was relating this laughable experience to us some years later, I inquired whether he had enjoyed a comfortable rest ”No,” was his e this visit to Richmond, General Scott was invited by an old friend to accompany her and her two sisters to a Ro at the door they wereGeneral Scott, announced in stentorian tones the advent of the strangers--”three cheers (chairs) for the Protestant ladies”

[Illustration: BRIGADIER GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, USA, BY INGHAM

_The original portrait was burnedScott anecdotes, Iexperience the old General was fond of relating which occurred while he was traveling in the West In his official capacity he was a sojourner for a short period in Cincinnati, and, upon leaving that now prosperous city, he directed that PPC cards be sent to all persons who had called upon him It seems that the social _convenances_ had not yet dawned upon this city, now the abode of arts and sciences, as the toiseacre, learned in s as well as social lore, was called upon for an elucidation of the three mysterious letters

Apparently he was not as able an exponent as was Daniel at Balshazzar's feast, who so readily deciphered ”the handwriting on the wall” He construed the letters to signify _pour prendre cafe_, an invitation which was gladly accepted, much to General Scott's astonishment, who decided then and there to confine hi old resident society predominated in those days in the District of Colu influence in social life The condition of society was, therefore, different froest castle, tower or town, The golden bullet beateth down

The old Washi+ngtonians are now soenerally speaking, the public bows to the golden calf The tertonians,” as now used, applies to residents descended froinia, as well as to Presidential families and the representatives of Army and Navy officers of earlier days Their social code is, in some respects, entirely different and distinct froo by the ancestors of the ”cave dwellers,” ere so peculiarly versed in the varied requirements and adornments of social life that to-day no radical innovations are acceptable to their descendants

Speaking of the Ar anecdote which has been generally circulated regarding the wife of a wealthya handsome home in the heart of a fashi+onable section of the city, announced that her visiting list was growing so large that she must in some way reduce it and that she had decided to ”draw it” on the Army and Navy It seems almost needless to say that this reton is especially proud of the Ar the families ere socially prominent at the National Capital when I first knew it, were the Seatons, Gales, Lees, Freeners, Tayloes, Ramsays, Millers, Hills, Gouverneurs, Maynadiers, Grahatons, Aberts, Worthingtons, Randolphs, Wilkes, Wainwrights, Roger Jones, Pearsons, McBlairs, Farleys, Cutts, Walter Jones, Porters, Emorys, Woodburys, dickens, Pleasantons, McCauleys, and Mays

I often recall with pleasure the days spent by ton, and picture to ht” arrayed in the charms of simplicity which were there portrayed The far West had not then poured its coffers into the National Capital, and theelement of California was then unknown

It is true that Washi+ngton, with its unpaved streets and poorly lighted thoroughfares, was then in a primitive condition, but it is just as true that its social tone has never been surpassed Brentas the residence of Mrs Joseph Pearson, who dispensed its hospitalities with ease and elegance For many years it was a social _El Dorado_, where resident society and distinguished strangers were alelcoh it was then remote from the heart of the city, er, once within its walls, to enjoy the charhters of this house, Eliza, who married Carlisle P Patterson, Superintendent of the US Coast Survey, and Josephine, who becaustus Jay of New York, were Washi+ngton beauties Their social arena, however, was not confined to this city, as they arded as great belles

Christine Kean, an old friend of er sister of Mrs