The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-05-21
WHITE HOUSE "REMINISCENCES.
Victims of Intemperance and Insanity
From the New York Ledger

,e5e From the New York Ledger
TIE telegraph announced; few days
ago; that while Andrew Johnson, Iato
President of the United States, was at
Athens, Alabama, on his way to Pulaski,
where he was to make speech, he re-
eeiyed intelligence of the death of his son,
-Col5 Robert johnson. gs
Andrew johnson always exhibited the
tenderest affection tor his son, ON whom
he had bestowed an excellent education. =
He was young man of superior abilities
and remarkably pleasant manners. He
had been a member Of the Legislature of
Tennessee, and the upward path TO useful
ness and distinction lay open and easy be-
fore him. One only besetting sin forever
blighted all his bright prospects he had
an unaccountable thirst for strong drink.
The last We heard of him previous to the
news Of his death, he was somewhere in
an lnebrlate asylum.
The announcement Of Robert johnson S
deoeasc carries US back to the White
House in the first days of Andrew John
sons administration. Robert was then
one of his father private secretaries
Col William A. Browning was another.
Browning was one Of the handsoDest men
III tHC uSCuidi3 unciJ
with an open, pleasing counlenance, ami
complexion as clear aud skin as fine as
ireland or Nanturkct gives to the iairest
lepe, and was fine belles letters scholar
and man of many accomplishments. He
had been with Mr.. johnson in Tennessee
for several years, and went with HIN to the
" Whlte House. But his stay was Of short
ii fIa ,ba .r
Secretary OF Legation to Mexico. lie new
er left the country, however. The same
habit which was now carried eff young
johnson did its fatal work with him more
speedily He was extremely popuiar, and
the idol of women. Yet We have seen him
turn from the Iovliest of Smiles, and irom
the gayesg scenesoi iestiyity, and quietly
remark :. 'Ny heart is broken-l have no
wish TO iIvc.
Mr. B.ownipg was married when quite
young to beaut,fui glrl, who lived but
short time after her marriage lie never
seemed to recover, In any degree, from
the shock Of her death On the contrary,
the pain of the separation seemed con
stantiy 10 deepen and grow more poignant
IN his heart. The last time We met him
was in Washington, only short time be-
fore his death. In the course of brIei (
conversation he said :, Il have just parted
with the most beautiful woman America
but, my heart is buried In my wiie's grave.
aud want to die.
At the beginning of the time Of Which
we speak, another inmate of the White
House was Preston King. How Jolly he
looked and tclt-and how his hearty
laugh shuok his great. heavy sides
King, though mid mannered man, and
a lawyer by education, had been an ath-
lete aud lighter in his younger days, and
was always blt OF a dandy, weighing, We
would say upwards of an eighth cf a ton.
lie used 10 receive at the White House,
arrayed III white pants and vest, and VIC ar
lnd something like the old fashioned pump
shoes, highly rolised-such d, Prosper NJ.
Wctmore used to wear when be called o.
Secretary Of State Marcy. ....
As We have said, Mr.. King felt very
jolly now. He was the Presidents other
self, and had things his own way. He
considered that he had been badly
treated by the Seward men, in the election
OF Morgan to supercede him, when he had
served only one term In the senate: but
now he was greater than Seward, Tor was
he not almost as good rs president, while
~ "AA "NS Si-'J NNNlSNoiY VI AbhtO
Alas that very elevation to power was
the cause of Kings awful aud untimey
death. His inhuence-his ascendency
at the " hite House was felt to be alto
gether too great by the jealous and enyi-
ouS politicians with whose purposes it in
,eriered. They cunningly contrived to
Danish him to honorable exile, by making
him Collector of the port of New York ,an
office Tor which he had neither taste nor
adaption. Its perplexlng, complicated,
and barrassiDg duties--and, we have al
ways thought, the discovery OF the trick
which had been practiccd upon him
preyed upon his mind, until his reason tot
tered and yielded With the cunning of
a determined mad imam, he stole away irom
the friendly keeper who undertook to
watch him /; and having purchased q large
bag OF shot, he tied it security to his neck,
and then took passage on terry boat, and
sprang irom its deck into the North River.
Several months afterwards his body rose to
the surface, aud hoated ashore, where it
was discovered and recognized and it was
taken to his home at Ogdensburg, and
buried. s.gs