Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-24

1
hamlet of Washington she has left upon re-
cords the primitive expedients to which she
was driven to make things passably comfor
| table-expedients and makeshifts which
| seem to have given her much amusement.
In this we have sufficient evidence Of her
admirable qualities for the position, the time
and the place.
| President Jefferson came to Washington a
widower. He was free from the power be-
hind the throne, and, being throughgoing
radical of the French school, in society as in
politics, his advent marked a radical revolu-
| tion-yes, a revolution in dress and manners
only less marked than the change in France
itself with the overthrow of the monarchy.
the clipping of the fine feathers of the Bour
bOns and the proclamation of the republic.
Jefferson would have no courtly ceremonies
about him. His own dress, even at his re-
| ception, being that of a plain farmer, he had
| no objections to boots. frockcoats or sleeves
| out at both elbows. Everywhere the new
| philosophy of life was received with accla-
nations, and thus from 1901, we may date
not only the downfall of the stately politics.
but general decay of the stately society of
the old federal party.
Under the plump and rosy, sprlghtly and
charming "Do,ly Madison" a new dispense
ton of social life was introduced to the
White House, especially after the peace
with England of 1916. Her recentions were
gay, sparkling and delightful, and her popu-
larity was unbounded, and she reigned In
Washington to the end of her long and hap
py life. Under Mrs. Monroe and Mrs. John
Quincy Adams we had in the social reunions
of the Executive Mansion a happy blending
of dignity. refinement and Republican sim
plicity. Mrs. ]. @. Adams was the last of
the school of Martha Washington of which
she was worthy representative.
General jackson, another widower, like
Jefferson, brought in another change. Fash
ion, beauty and the doves and loves and
graces were frightened away from the White
House by boisterous politicians, the Nimrod
Wildhres from the backwOods of Tennessee,
the bear hunters from the canebrakes of s'the
Big Muddy and the alumni of Tammany
Hall. In truth, Old Hickory was so absorb
ed In party politics that before he knew
what it was all about he,found himself en-
tangled in a feminine Cabinet embroglio.
from which there was no escape but in a
new Cabinet out and out. His Secretary of
State. Martin Van Buren, obligingly gave
the hint to his colleagues by resignng, and
they all resigned and this was the making
of Van Buren. The mantle of Jackson car
ried him into the White House next in the
order of succession; but, being widower,
too, and wholly taken up with politicians,
like his g ''illustrious predecessor" there was
nothing brilliant or fascinating in the social
administration of Van Buren except his
splendid rig from top to toe, his shining hat
and boots, his glittering state chariot and his |
royal table He was, in fact, a tedcralist of
democratic professions.
Gen. Harrison, next in the White House, |
promised b;tter state of things with the |
family gathered about him; but he was tor
turnd IN flantI in a sip,,lo month b,, ro ovononc
office seekers. His successor, John Tyler,a |
widower at first but next happy in the pos
session of young. beautiful and accomplish |
ed wife, revived the dear. delightful recep- |
tions of "Dollv Madison" and introduced |
those pleasing summer afternoon prone |
nades, to the music Of the Marine Band, on |
Wednesdays in the Capitol grounds and ON
Saturdays in the gardens of the White |
House, south side, looking down the Broad |
Potomac almost to Mount Vernon. Mrs. |
Polk, strict disciplinarian as church |
member, and the young ladies of her family. |
IN subdued ione,, maintained the social
cleerfulness OF the East Room established |
by Mrs. Tyler. Mrs. President Taylor mod |
estly Withdrew herself from the public eye,
and was only once seen by a visitor to the |
White House, who blundercd into her sit |
ting room and found her seated by the fire. |
place knitting stocking and smoking her |
pipe. But Mrs. General Bliss, Old Zack's |
tavorite daughter, In her mothers place, |
did the honors of the establishment with |
the artlessness Of rustic belle and the grace |
of duchess.
Under Fillmore, another widower, the So
cial glories of the East Room somewhat de- |
clined, although His Excelency was es-
teemed by the ladies as very handsome |
and charming man, though not, as he thinks |
old Mr.. Blair, :" the greatest man that God |
Almighty ever made" Mrs. Pierce was |
confirmed invalid, and SO the administration |
Of poor Pierce was distinguished only for |
It's political squabbles and blunders. The |
old bachelor Buchanan, on the other hand
devoted ladies' man-with his handsome |
and and amiable niece, Miss Harriet Lane, |
as mistress of ceremonies, made the Plesi- |
dents receptions remarkably enjoyable. e.
Nor can il be justly denied that Mrs. Lin
coin discharged the vastly increased respon
sibiities of her position as ii horn and
trained for it. Mrs. johnson is relieved
from the cares of state by her daughters,
Mrs. Slower and Mrs. Senator Patterson,
who are universally esteemed as eminently
worthy the distinction they have attained.
This brings us down to Mrs. General
Grant. An unpretending, unambitious wo-
man of the West, the wife of man who
but the other day was called from his tan
yard to put down gigantic rebellion, how
will Mrs. Grant dispense the honors that
await her? Like the daughter of good
and esteemed citizen, and the wife of a great
soldier, bravely and well. Nay, we under
take TO predict that, though last, she will
not be the least in our list of the honored