no gentleman--no, I will not say that, I hope there is no rascal--
here so mean as to buy his neighbor's home over his head. Gentlemen,
I offer this lot for sale. Who bids?" There was no forfeited land
sold that day.

A spirited bronze statue of Jefferson, by his admirer, the French
sculptor, David d'Angers, was presented to Congress by Lieutenant
Uriah P. Levy, but Congress declined to accept it, and denied it
a position in the Capitol. It was then reverentially taken in
charge by two naturalized Irish citizens, stanch Democrats, and
placed on a small pedestal in front of the White House. One of
these worshipers of Jefferson was the public gardener, Jemmy Maher,
the other was John Foy, keeper of the restaurant in the basement
of the Capitol, and famous for his witty sayings. Prominent among
his _bon mots_ was an encomium of Representative Dawson, of Louisiana,
who was noted for his intemperate habits, the elaborate ruffles of
his shirts, and his pompous strut. "He came into me place," said
Foy, "and after ateing a few oysters he flung down a Spanish dollar,
saying, 'Niver mind the change, Mr. Foy; kape it for yourself.'
Ah! there's a paycock of a gintleman for you."

[Facsimile]
Richard Johnson
RICHARD MENTOR JOHNSON was born at Bryant's Station, Kentucky,
October 17th, 1781; distinguished himself in the second war with
Great Britain, and in the Indian wars; was a Representative in
Congress from Kentucky, 1807-1813; was a United States Senator,
1820-1829; was again a Representative, 1829-1837; was Vice-President,
1837-1841; died at Frankfort, November 19th, 1850.

CHAPTER XI.
SOCIETY IN JACKSON'S TIME.

The most elegant estate in Washington in Jackson's time was the
Van Ness mansion, built on the bank of the Potomac, at the foot of
Seventeenth Street. Mr. John Van Ness, when a member of the House
from the State of New York, had married Marcia, the only child of
David Burns, one of the original proprietors of the land on which
the Federal City was located. At that time every able-bodied man
between eighteen and forty-five (with a few exceptions) had to
perform militia duty, and the District Volunteers, organizing
themselves into a battalion, complimented Mr. Van Ness by electing
him Major. The President commissioned him, but so strict were the
Congressmen of those days that the House investigated his case,
and declared that he had forfeited his seat as a Representative by
accepting a commission f