St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-08-21
grapbital.
Correspondence Of the Boston Daily Herald.
Mr.. Buchanan at Home.
PHILADELPHIA, JUNE %.

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE %.
Dear Herald:-Having just return
ed from q visit to Lancaster, / may
be able to give your readers an idea
of the residence and personal appear
ance of one of the candidates in the
great race for the Presidency, to come
of on the 4th day Of November next.
"Old Buck" as he is called by many
of his political admirers, lives at a
country seat called Wheatland, stu
ated mile and quarter from the
main street of Lancaster, viz. Queen
street. The city Of Lancaster has a
of about fifteen thousand,
and is one of the quiet, old fashioned
inland towns that are occasionally
found in some of the long settled States.
The place has some manufacture
ing in iron, and three cotton factories,
in which steam is the motive power,
but the principal business of Lancas-
ter is the retail trade with the farmers
of the country around, who possess
some of the finest land in the United
States. Lancaster county is famous
for the richness, and the beautiful sit
uation of its land.
Among the population of Lancaster
is large admixture of the old Ger
man stock of Pennsylvania, quiet, In
dustrious, and substantial race. Their
stores, shops, and dwellings,, are most
ly small in size, but the spirit of prog
ress is making some innovations, and
here and there may be seen preten-
tious warehouse or mansion, built in
modern style. The location Of the
town is high and airy, and altogether
it is very pleasant place.
There is q capital old-fashioned ho-
tel upon Queen street-"Sign of the
Grapes" kept by j. Michael, and this
house is the quarters of the politicians
who are focking to see Mr.. Buchanan
about these days, and confer with him
upon matters Of importance to the ma
ton, or, what they imagine is the
same thing, important to the inter-
ests of their party or themselves. At
this hotel Mr.. Buchanan dimes fire.
quently, on invitation, with parties of
his political friends. There is much
good eating, and but little fuss and
ceremony about it, at this hotel.
Wheatland lies west of the city,
and as you walk by pleasant road
over the high ground in that direction
YOU do not discover the chimneys Of
Mr.. Buchanan's house peeping through
the trees, until you have approached
within a quarter of mile of thu
place. The estate comprises abou'
twenty acres of fine wheatland, lying
upon the south side of the road. Thu
the mansion, which fronts the Norti
has lawn laid out in front, planted
with a variety of shade trees. Thu
house is of brick, medium size, with 8
circular portico in front, wing upor
each side, and is ornamented in the
Philadelphia style, with white window
shutters. The east wing is entirely
occupied as library room, and il
this apartment Mr.. Buchanan sits, il
an old-fashioned dressing gown ant
an arm chair, chatting with his neigh
bors and all others who honor hin
with call. The room is well fur
nished with comfortable chairs cover
ed with leather. A large table cover
ed with books, occupies central Pc
sition, and wide awake young man
who performs the duties of private
Secretary to Mr.. Buchanan, sits at
desk writing letters in answer to in
quiries, invitations, etc., as hard a.
ever he can.
In the mean time Mr.. Buchanan
talks with his friends about his pros
poets in the campaign, as coolly as tn
mosts Indifferent person could dc
He discusses his chances in differen
elections, with an unlighted cigar il
his mouth, as freely as any outsider
while his conversation shows that h
is well posted up in the details of tn
campaign-as a thorough politician
ought to be.
He seems to be quite vigorous a
sixty-fve, having never been harrasset
by the cares of matrimony, and bid
fair to enjoy himself comfortably, sew
! eral Presidential terms, whether he il
elected or not. III held his position
and was the owner of his estate, witt
its pure Wheatland atmosphere, tn
White House at Washington, with it,
office-seekers and hangers on, and it
} surrounding deviltries would have bu
little temptation for me.
II Mr.. Buchanan's family consists of I
:, housekeeper, and his niece, Miss Har
u L..