LIFE IN WASHINGTON 229 



driveways sparsely sprinkled with river gravel and ankle 

 deep in mud on rainy days. The Washington Monument 

 to the west was a mere stump, and the Capitol, to the 

 east, far from being the stately building of the present. 

 It was not a pleasant undertaking then to reach the 

 Smithsonian building on slushy winter days. 



There were numerous free negroes in the city, even 

 then, and Northern folks employed many of them as 

 domestics. Kindly, careless, provoking, but often excel- 

 lent cooks, they identified themselves with the family 

 they served and, when efficient, seldom changed. Promi- 

 nence in public on the part of the blacks was not approved 

 of by the average white citizen, but their love of color, 

 glitter and music found vent at their funerals. Burial 

 associations clad themselves in stupefying uniforms, and 

 every member who did not attend in his or her place at 

 such a function, unless unavoidably detained, was subject 

 to a fine. 



Mrs. Baird, who was a model housekeeper and blessed 

 with very faithful maids, was fond of telling this story. 

 Once, when visitors were due at dinner, the maids could 

 not be excused to attend a funeral. A few weeks later a 

 similar exigency required their presence. A third time, 

 not long after, they were again denied, and Mrs. Baird, 

 sympathizing with their disappointment, said, "Never 

 mind, Mary; when the circus comes to town next week 

 I will buy you both tickets." 



On which, instead of being cheered, the disconsolate 

 Mary burst into tears, saying, "Oh, Mis' Baird, you never 

 want us to have any amusement!" 



The house was open to all visiting men of science, and 

 they were many. Mrs. Baird's army connections formed 

 another element always welcome, and few officers got 



