Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-01-28
President pOlk and Lady.

81 80 - n tf4 II s. 45.8 94i
President poik and Lady.
( The, following is written BY a Clergy
nlan-rHe believe for the Presbyterian.
aEailed myself Of an iInngItatio,nsi siaaso-
visit the White House to-day, and pay
my respects to the President and his
lady. AS lappr cached the mansion, i
was struck with the entire absence of
all parade and pomp around the Presi.
dents mansion. We rode up to the door,
tied our horse to the iron fence in front,
and, no man forbiddng US, we entered
into the vestibule of the house. Finding
no porter in attendance, we passed
through the vestibule into the famous
East room. --.
The room is magnificent in d,men>
sions; elegantly, though simply fur
nished-the whole not being up to the
standard which among gentlemen OF
fortune is regarded as elegant. After
stroll through the rooms for reception
we again reached the vestibule, finding
a servant in attendance we asked to be
conducted to Mrs. Polk's room. had
heard much Of Mrs. Polk, much of her
beauty, her dignity, her piety, and had
usually made The allowance which is
generally to be made from all that ru>
NOR asserts, and was prepared 10 be
even disappointed, if my own standard
had not been reached. l awaited the
approach Of the lady ofthe mansion with
much interest. The room appropriated
to Mrs. Polk is beautiful in the extreme.
The furniture is new, the pattern unique
and elegant; and one no more accus-
toned than myself to critical observa-
ton could detect that the whole arrange
ment was under the eye of lady o
taste and refinement.
In a few moments the President:
lady appeared. / have rarely seen q
lady In whom so much personal beau.
ty; so much dignity and grace of man.
ner; so much ease and kindness, were
blended. Justice has rarely been done
to Mrs. Polk in any description of her
person or manner. Being clergymen,
she at once spoke upon religious SUBJ
iects, and manifested a lively interest in
religious things and was moi ashamed
10 have it known she was on the Lords s
side. While the Presidents lady is will
ling TO acknowledg her Indebtedness ia
God, she is not obtrusive. Her piety
sits easily upon her; and while no one
can doubt who sees her that her reli-
gion is one Of principle. her unassumed
plety must command the respect Of all.
The prayers of Gods people, wide as
our country, will 60 up for Mrs. Polk,
that her health and life may be precious
in the sight of God; and that amid the
trials and temptations Of her exalted
station, she may be kept in his holy
hand, and may be instrumental in Civ
ling moral tone to the whole nation.
Leaving the Presidents lady, we
ascended to the Presidents room, "a
miliarIy called his office. His room is
very plain. 1t is indeed the place in
which he performs his official tolls, as
maps, papers, books, &C.. abundantly
evinced. We found the room crowded
A large delegation Of Indians from lowe
were holding an audience with the
President Secretary Of War ane
gentlemen Of distinction being present
The Indians were noble specimens o
their race. Their cause was presented
by an orator, by whom they speak, anc
the words taken from his lips were re
peated in English by an interpreter
The Indian orator was a noble looking
fellow-erect as palm freehold ane
eloquent. He seemed to feel the digni
ty Of his position; and to magnify hi!
office. AT the close Of his speech he
seized the hand Of the President, ane
beloved out 'how you do,' and then pass
ing round the room, andItaking2the hane
of each,repeated the expression,in tones
that might easily be taken for a war
whoop. A brief speech from the Presi
dent broke up the Council.
was introduced to the President
and with great dignity and ease he &C
knowled our respects. have seen nj
likeness of the President that is cor
rect. You will recognize him at once
by The common prints that you see
him; yet they must be regarded as car
features, rather than correct likenesses
| Mr.. Polk is small in stature, spare, bu
Of compact frame. His manners ar
y easy, and the lines Of thought and car