Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and Oeneral Gossip of the National Capitol. Special Correspondent to The Democrat: Congress has long since gdne and the administration is going. Secretary Hay has gone to St. Louis to make a speech to the newspaper men there assembled. Secretary Shaw and Attorney-General Knox will soon hie them West on spellbinders errands, and talk wherever they find waiting audiences. Governor Taft, as they still call the Secretary of War, has fled from pneumonia to the Adirondacks woods. (May it not be a little severe on a recent graduate of the tropics? Why didn’t he go to Virginia or North Carolina for a month?) Two or three other members of the Cabinet will take wing in a week or two, and Pension Commissioner Ware says he has had about all he wants of that kind of business. As to the President, he delays his departure for Oyster Bay but will shortly visit Groton, Mass., where his boys are at school, and where, if he is wise, he will give himself the honor of meeting the Groton patriot and publicist, Governor Boutwell, President of the AntiImperialist League, and taking some lessons in humane statesmanship. Such a conference could not fail to be profitable, with a man almost twice as old and more than twice as —however, let that pass. 't t t For a week now the local papers have been filled with advertisements of “The Stewart Sale, a magnificent Collection of Valuable Household Appointments Formerly in Use at Stewart Castle.” The fashionable half of Washington, already on the qui vive, was stirred to its depths this morning by the publication of statements denoting a family quarrel on the border of scandal. The Senator from Nevada still lingers here to superintend the sale; and yesterday one of his divorced daughters, Mrs. Bessie Hooker, charged her father with heartlessness and cruelty in selling her mother’s private property . and family souvenirs, and with having sent her mother’s portrait to the auc-tion-block, where she had, with difficulty rescued it. The Senator alleges that the statement is false; that on his wife’s death, he gave the keys to Mrs. Hooker and her sister and told them to help themselves; that, long after they had done so, he sent to the auction certain remaining property which belonged to him, and Mrs. Hooker dettfanded that it be delivered to her; that he has taken care of her for fifteen years and edtfcated her sons; and that his daughter’s allegation is a “return of evil for good.” The Senator was married a second time about a year ago, against the remonstrance of his daughters. He is seventy-seven years old. t t t Your correspondent called tfiis morning at the fine residence of Mrs. Bessie Hooker in the center of the Northwestern elite. In answer to my card she made her appearance and a very attractive appearance it was. Mrs. Hooker is a vivacious blonde, “divinely tall and most divinely fair,” and rather showily dressed for the early morning hours. “The morning papers,” I said, "published what is virtually a card from the Senator,»and —” Yes,” she excla-

imed, “yes; unfortunately; I cannot help it.” I remarked that I thought she might perhaps wish to make some explanation or rerejoinder. “No,” she said, “I cannot. You see that I cannot contradict my father. He can say what he pleases, and I am not in a position to defend myself. You see how it is. No; but I thank you.” Of course I desisted from attempting to obtain an interview, and withdrew. I then called at the auction house, and found floor after floor crowded full of the most expensive furniture and equipments, including choice bric-a-brac from many climes. As I was inspecting an ormolu clock my attention was attracted by the long drawn sigh of a woman robed in black sitting in one of the gilded teakwood chairs. When I looked towards her she said “Ah, sir, this reminds me!” I said “You have seen this furniture before? She replied in a melancholy tone, “For years I lived among it.” She said no more. I wanted to ask the dishevelled and weather-beat-en women what she knew about it, but the bashfulness of a regular correspondent caused me to forbear. The collection offered for sale to the highest bidder contains many rare and valuable works of art, representing the best craftmanship of the East Indies add China. These things ought to find a place in some national museum, either in Washington or New York. The richly carved ebony and teakwood furniture, including sofas, chairs, tables, pedestals, etc., is as massive and beautiful as anything of the kind ever seen in America, and is upholstered with fine Persian embroidery. Several gorgeous sets of furniture are of French make, rococo in style, covered with gold and Aubusson tapestries in pale grays and lovely designs of flowers. Perhaps the most interesting part of the collection consists of Chinese embroideries on pale blue and gold colored satin. This includes very large hangings, curtains, portieres etc., enough to line a great ball room. They are covered with dragons with huge staring eyes and switching tails; birds of all species, including storks and peacocks; conventional designs peculiar to the Chinese, and done in both flat and raised work; water monsters and dashing sea waves. There are also Turkish carpets, paintings, and rich bric-a-brac. The presumption is that the Asiatic furniture came to the Senator through the Chinese Ambassador who once occupied Castle Stewart. The household of Senator Stewart has long been distinguished for its turbulence. Is there any cause for wonder? The late Mrs. Stewart was a daughter of that Henry S. Foote who beat Jefferson Davis in the canvass for Governor of Mississippi and who was for many years Senator from that State. During the war he was a psendo-Union man, and in favor of accepting the terms offered by Lincoln in ’63 and ’64. He had a most violent temper and was terrible in his fits of anger. He fought at least six duels and he and Thomas H. Benton had a knock-down on the floor of the Senate. Two of his duels were with the magnetic orator, S. S. Prentiss, and the story is told that in one of them Prentiss looked up a tree where some boys had climbed to see the fight and

sang out “Take care, boys, better come down. Foote is shooting wild this morning!” Foote was quick on the trigger, ready to fight anybody with or without cause, and is reported to have sent at least a dozen challenges that were not accepted. So the troubles in the “Stewart Castle” were perhaps hereditary.