n of the fact.

"As I was returning home from Congress, some years since, I approached
a river in North Carolina which had been swollen by a recent freshet,
and observed a country girl fording it in a merry mood, and carrying
a piggin of butter on her head. As I arrived at the river's edge
the rustic Naiad emerged from the watery element. 'My girl,' said
I, 'how deep's the water and what's the price of butter?' 'Up to
your waist and nine pence,' was the prompt and significant response!
Let my learned friend beat that if he can, in brevity and force of
expression, by aught to be found in all his treasury of classic
lore!"

A roar of laughter followed this humorous explosion, and a unanimous
vote in favor of the _vernacular_ awarded the palm to the distinguished
and successful wag over his classical but crest-fallen competitor.

The first restaurant established in Washington was by a Frenchman
named Boulanger, who was a pupil of the famous Chevet, of the Palais
Royal at Paris. His cozy establishment was on G Street, just west
of the War Department, where he used to serve good cheer to General
Jackson, Van Buren, Clay, Sir Charles Vaughan, and other notables.
His soups were gastronomic triumphs, and he was an adept in serving
oysters, terrapin, reed-birds, quails, ortolan, and other delicacies
in the first style of culinary perfection. His brandies, of his
own importation, were of the choicest "bead and brand," and he
obtained from Alexandria some of the choice old Madeira which had
been imported before the Revolution in return for cargoes of oak
staves. Boulanger did not cherish flattering recollections of
General Jackson's taste, but Mr. Van Buren used to compliment his
savory repasts and enjoy artistic cheer.

The Treasury Department, which had been destroyed by fire, was
rebuilt on a plan approved by President Jackson. The eastern front,
of Virginia sandstone, was a colonnade copied from the Temple of
Minerva Pallas, at Athens, three hundred and thirty-six feet long,
with thirty Ionic columns. The artist was Robert Mills, and he
wished to set the building back some fifty feet from the line of
the street, to give more effect to the architecture, but General
Jackson directed him to bring it forward to the building line of
the street, and stuck his cane in the ground to show where this
was. Of course, he was obeyed.

John Quincy Adams used to occasionally attend the theatre, and he
was especially pleased w