Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-13
SUNDAY
LADIES OF THE WHITE
HOUSE.
From Mrs. washington TO Mrs.
G Grant.

49, 49, Ia 1a1 NaA AK DLEALAAuA l
inquire what sort of a person is Mr.:
Gen. Grant, and what are her qualities
tons for the honors of the White House
Here we have the interesting theme G
the ladies Of the White House BROAD
suggested, from Mrs. George Washing
ton down to Mrs. Andy johnson. tits
theme for 3 heavy volume, gilt-edgeu
and copiously illustrated with steel en-
cravings; but for our present purpose
few passing remarks will do.
Our republican court" under Mrs
Washington, was originally located a
No. 3 Cherry street, Franklin square
at that time the Washington flights o
New York city. The members Of tn,
cabinet of Congress were scattered abou
in their private residences or boarding
houses, between Franklin square anc
Water street, snd thence along to tn,
Battery. The administration of tn,
honors of the Executive Mansion by Mrs
Washington was substantially q repro.
duction of the etiquette, costumes and
ceremonies Of st. James and St. Cloud
A learned historian on the subject saws
that her levees were numerOusly attended
by the fashionable, elegant and refined
that the rabble, the coarse and bolster
Gus partisan and impudent place hunter
were vigorously excluded that full dress
was required Of all her visitors, and that
there was no admission for interlopers
with boots, frock-coats and rounda-
bouts, or with patched knees and holes
at both elbows" Her receptions we're
select, elegant and c%ourtly.
From New York the General Govern
ment was removed to Philadelphia,
where the same system was maintained,
and thence to the newly laid out but al
most invisible city Of Washington, as
the permanent National Capital, under
President John Adams, in 1900. Mrs.
Adams was q highly accomplished Eo-
man of the colonial aristocracy and of
the federal school, and she maintained
as far as practicable the courtly forms
and ceremonies of Mrs. Washington.
But in q very interesting letter on her
new house in the hamlet of Washington.
she has left upon record the primitive
e~xpedients to which she was driven to
make things passably comfortable-x-
Pedients and makeshifts which seem to
have given her much amusement. In
this we have sufficient evidence of her adj
mirable qualities for the position, the
time and the place.
President Jefferson came to Washing
ton a widower. He was free from the
power behind the throne, and, being a
thoroughgoing radical of the French
school, in society as in politics, his ad-
vent marked a radical reFolutien-yes. a
revolution in dress and manners only
less marked than the change in France
itself, with the overthrow of the mon
the clipping of the fine feathers
of the Bourbons and the proclamation Of
the Republic. Jefferson would have no
ceremonies about him. His own
dress, even at his receptions, being that
4 plain farmer, he had no objections
boots, frockcoats or sleeves out at both
Eyerywhere the new philosophy
Of life was received with acclamations,
and thus, from 1901, we may date not
only the downfall of the stately politics.
but q general decay of the stately society
Of the old Federal party.
Under the plump and rosy. sprightly
and charming Dolly Madison a new
dispensatiOn of social life was introduced
the White House, especially after the
peace with England of 1915. Her re- ]
,eptions were gay, sparkling and delight
and her popularity was u~nbounded. {
ind she reIgned in Washington to the
Of her long and happy life. Under
Mrs. Monroe and Mrs. John Quincy
Adams We had in the social reunions Of
he Executive Mansion a happy blending a
# digity, refinement and republican
implicitly. Mrs. J. @. Adams was the I
asst Of the school Of Martha Washing
90, Of which she vas a worthy represen- J
Gen. jackson, another widower, like ]
Jefferson, brought in another change.
fashion, beauty and the doves and loves d
nd graces were frightened away from {
he White House by boisterous politi-
iaus, the NimrOd Wildfres from the {
,ackwoods Of Tennessee, the b~ear-eaters
rom the canebrakes Of the Big Mud
" and the alumni Of Tammy Hall.
n truth, Old Hickory was so absorbed a
q party politics that before be knew d
1t was all about he found himself \
ntangled IN a feminine cabinet imbrog-
from which there was no escape but q
D & new Cabinet. outs and out. His Sec \
etary Of State, Martin Van Buren,, oblig- \
ngly gave the hint to his colleagues by
and they all resigned, and this h
the making Of Van Buren,. The (
Mantle Of Jackson carried him into the :
House next in the order of sue n
.ession but, being a widower, too, and Il
holly taken up with the politicians. Il
Ike his il!ustrious predecessor" there il
as nothing brilliant or fascinating in q
ne social administration Of Van Buren, a
Ecept his splendid rig from top to toe, W
is shining hat and boots, his glittering al
chariot and his royal table. He was. "a
fact, q Federalist of Democratic pro- tc
a,
Gen. Harrison, mex in the White n,
louise, promised a better state Of things CT
18th the family gathered about him; but ST
9 vac NNAtuANA ~ OCdNu III q single 1 n,
by rayenous ofice-seekers. His W
iccessor, John Tyler, a widower at frst, =
at next happy in the possession Of a Of
oung, beautiful and accomplished wife. 70
the dear, delightful receptions of "
Dolly Madison, and introduced those p
summer afternoon promenades, pl
the music Of the Marine Band, on al
'e~duesdays in the Capitol grounds, and ia
] Saturdays in the gardens OF the White ra
.ouse, south side, locking down the n
-oad Potomac almost to Mount Vernon. So
rs. Polk, a strict disciplinarian as a to
member, and the young ladies Of hi
II 4 family, in a subdued tone, maintained
e social cheerfulness of the East Room
tabiished by Mrs. Tyler. Mrs. Presi- to
mt Taylor modestly withdrew herself he
ON the public eye, and was only once tn
en- by a visitor to the White House. az
ao Numbered into her sitting-room and 70
und her seated BY the fireplace knit. "a
~ a stocking and smoking her pipe. VIC
II Mrs. Gen. Bliss, Old Zach's favor nj
daughter, in: her mothers place, did TOT
e honors Of the establishment with the ia
.lessDess Of rustic belle and the grace be
a duchess. IL,