Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1884 — REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN. [ARTICLE]

REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.

BY BEN: FKRLKY POORE. Old Madeira wine has always been very popular in Washington, especially on the tables of their honors the justices of the supreme court. For many yea. s supplies were obtained from the old mer<antile houses in Alexandria, which had made direct importations prior to the Revolution, and in November, 1852, many Washington cellars were replenished at the sale of the private stock of wines and' liquors oi the late Josiah Lee, of Baltimore. Fifty demijohns of various brands of Madeira were struck off at prices ranging from $24 to $49 per gallon; and one lot of twenty-two bottles commanded the extreme price of $15.50 per bottle, which, at five bottles to the gallon, is at the rate of $77.50 per gallon. Mrs. Lydia Dickinson, wife of Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York, came to Washington in December, 1844, with her husband, when he had been appointed by Governor Bonck to fill the unexpired term of Nathaniel P. Talmadge, who had resigned when appointed Governor of Wisconsin. He was subsequently eleoted, so that he served from December 9, 1844, to March 3, 1851, daring which time his wife took a prominent part in the social life of the capital. She was tall and slender, i with dark bine eyes, dark brown hair and gentle manners. Both at her house at Washington and at her summer residence on the banks of the Schenango, she dispensed generous hospitality.

In 1852 Senator Dickinson was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore, and was pledged to the support of General Cass. After several fruitless ballotings, Virginia led off with a solid vote for Dickinson, and wonld have been followed by other States had he not risen and withdrawn his name in an eloquent and graceful speech. Constantine Catacazy presented his credentials as minister plenipotentiary from the Emperor of Russia on the 24th of September, 1869. He was accompanied by a magnificently beautiful woman, highly accomplished, whose dresses and jewels were soon a subject of conversation. After a while it was rumored that when Mr. Catacazy had been here, some fifteen years previous, as secretary of the Russian Legation, this same beautiful woman, then the wife of another, had lived under his protection sub rosa, at the neighboring village of Bladensburg. There was a good deal of scandal, and Mr. Fish, Secretary of State, found diplomatic reasons for requesting his recall. Newspaper correspondents, to whom Mr. Catacazy had given confidential information at their urgent request, appeared as witnesses against him, and finally formal coinplaint was sent to the Emperor. He directed his foreign office to ask in his name that the President “would tolerate” Mr. Catacazy until the visit of his son, the Grand Duke Alexis, was concluded. To this personal appeal” General Grant assented, but added as a condition that the offensive minister should have access to the President.. odlj when accompanied by the Grand Dnke, and then to hold no conversation whatever. It was also promised by the Emperor that, the dneal visit over, Mr. Catacazy should be at once recalled. In due time the Grand Duke Alexis arrived at Washington, and a lady thu3 described thn toilet of Madame Catacazy, when she welcomed him at the Russian Legation: “The dress was of gold color, made with a handsome train, and trimmed with gold-colored satin. On her right arm she wore the famous doubleband bracelet, one band being on the wrist and the other above the elbow, the two joined by a pair of most artistically and elaborately-wrought chains. The other ornaments were of plain gold, And above them all, and completing the picture, was the wealth of gold en hair, so long the marvel and envy of our belles.” This was the picture which met the gaze of the Prince as he entered the mansion. It stood beneath the heavy curtains that guarded the entrance to the main saloon. The face was wreathed in smiles, the hands uplifted, bearing a silver salver, on which was placed a round loaf of bread, in the top of which was an indenture holding a golden salt cellar containing salt. This loaf was of the plain, hard, black bread, which in Russia is served on the table of the Emperor as well as the peasant. This offering of salt and bread is an old and essentially Russian custom. Whenever the Emperor or any of the imperial family honors a subject with a visit, the hostess, as a token of welcome, performs the ceremony; and no matter how often the Prince had been the recipient of the honor, it is safe to say it was never more graciously offered or received. He simply took the uninviting loaf, broke and tasted of it, and returned it to the salver. The formal welcome was over, a few minntes spent in social converse, and at 9 p. m. snpper was announced, and the dining room made the objective point, and a snpper partaken of.