Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-03-26
AN EVENING At THE WHITE
HOUSE.


HOUSE.
A lady correspondent of the New York
Tribune, who had attended one of the Le-
wees at the White House, gives very graph
ic description Of an evenings entertainment,
and several spirited portraits of notables she
met. We make the following extracts
PRESIDENT PIERcE.-We passed sea of
hats, through the ante-chamber adjoining
the dining-room, into the dining room itself
for the moment retreat for ladies shawls
and over-shoes. Passing the hall we enter
ed the reception-room where small man
seizing us we were presented to President
Pierce. This was my first look at gentle
man whose name fills SO large space in the
political speculations of the day. Now, l
am woman and of course know very little
about politics, and 1 may add, that it is get
ting to be so low pursuit that care less.
So my dear friend, you may take my opin-
ion for what it is worth. In General Pierce
l was agreeably disappointed. He is gen
tleman, and unless | misread appearances, a
large-hearted generous man. Now l am
well aware this will create quite an uproar in
our little household, and father, who would
not let poor James complete his unique por-
trait gallery of the Presidents, by
bringing that of Gen. Pierce into the house,
and threw out divers and sundry hints that
made us think for the moment he would
forget his staid habits and punch something
or somebody, will, l have no doubt, disown
me. Well abide by my assertion, and
when history comes to clear away the rub
bish of daily papers and windy-speeches, this
hump-backed tyrant who murdered those
babes in the woods, Kansas and Nebraska,
will be found fair proportioned gentleman.
Nothing could exceed the ease and dignity
with which he received our great crowd.
Another gentleman seized us-not small
one this time-and presented us to Mrs.
Pierce. She, too, had a smile for lis, but it
was so mixed with WEAKNESS and sorrow that
l turned away panied. 1t brought up the
past, real and palpable before me. Power
had come almost unsought to those inmates
of the Presidential mansion, but aff1iction
came too And to them those halls are
desolate and dreary, and by their side all the
while walks shadow which says, vanity of
vanities-all is vanity"
SECRETARY MARCY.-I must not pass in
silence one remarkable man, who rolled
through the assembled crowd very like bear
and the crowd fell away from him as if he
were indeed such. This was Governor Mar
cy. looked at him with much interest,"
he is remarkable man, and carries the evil
dences in his appearance. The awkward and
somewhat unwieldly person, the large head
and shaggy eyebrows, give one an idea of
sturdy obstinacy. But on a closer look we
discovered other traits, and are puzzled by
the strange mixture of courage and cum
ning-as if the head of bull dog and fox
had been run together. TO this add twin
kle of humor, and you have the outer man.
l believe Gov Marcy enjoyedLhimself. 1t is
my firm belief that Gov. Marcy was enter
tanned. am satisfied of this from the fact
that looking back to the fact that he march
ed about the room for more than hour. But
had one consulted the Secretary's counte-
nance at the time the conclusion would have
been irresistible that the Hon. Secretary was
bored-considered it dismal and would have
been happier with the toothache.