The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-11-16
The wives of Presidents.

VA w WIN y" VAoAAA MA IL
honor first, occupied the envied place
for eight years, and her history is per-
haps better known than any of her de-
scendents. Biographers and historians,
stimulated with Il desire to secure her
memory from the dust of years, have
been interchangeable in their labOrs, and
she is perhaps more highly yenerated
than any of the many women who havK
succeeded her.
To Mrs. Adams properly belongs the
highest place of honor in the American
heart. because her position was more
difficult, her duties more arduOus, and
because she was Stronger mentally
and more thoroughly disciplined than
any who have succeeded her. She be-
came the occupant OF a place held to he
almost sacred because of its newnesS
and the exalted characterOf both Wash
ingtOn and his wife. To succeed thu
former was a difficult task for her nus
band to perform !; to occupy Mrs. Wash
ingtOn's place was an impossibilty
But Mrs. Adams was gifted with great
strength and courage, with rare powers
representative OF the best type al
! American women OF that class whose
lifc-histery has been handed down tous
Mrs. Jefferson had been dead nintecl
| years before her huband became Presi-
dent of the United States, hut for The
occasional visits of his two married
daughters. and the frequent presence
OF Mrs. Madison, the Whitc House
during the eight years of Thomas JEFF
Persons stay, would have been entirely
without a social history.
James Madison's wife was the mos
| popular women of her day. and had il
not been for the unfortunate war o.
1912, and the disturbed condition Of the
country both before and after this UNI
fortunate event, her administration al
lady of the White House would have
been the most brilliant Of any Re.
corded i'll the annals of the social his
tory OF the country.
Mrs. Monroe was a timid, delicate
woman, untitled by nature and habi'
for the place size held, and at the cxpi,
ration of her husbands term Df Office
! gladly retired with him to their Nirgini;
home, where, in 1880, she died.
Mrs. John Quincy Adams was {
Maryland woman, who had been edu
semi-Official position with dignity AMI
honor.
Mrs. jackson died before her hus
band succeeded to the Presidency.
Mrs. Van Buren, had been dead seven
teen years when herhuband was elected
Chief Magistrate, and her daughter
in-1aW, q lady of great refinement, wa;
mistress OF the White House hurin!
the term.
Mrs. HARRISON was preparing TO leave
her western home when the news .
her husbands death reached her.
Mr.. Tyler, who filled the unexpireC
term, lost his wife during his stay il
the White House, and subsequently
married Miss Gardner, of New York
eight months before the close OF hit
administration.
Mrs. James X. Polk, of Tennessee
was the second Southern lady, who a
the wife of the President, lived i'll til,
Executive mansion during the full
term. -. >-~f- ..
Mrs, Taylor hartily disIiked the for
mality Of Washington society, and re,
tired to her louisiana home immediate
ly after her husbands DEATH
Mr.. Filemore, who served out Gene
raj Taylor's term, had a noble wife
and she and her daughter are remom
bered as two of the most cultivated
refined and attractive ladies. ever in tts
White House.
MIS- 1C1NV Ht4o a. aBS Ill lGIRGttlAl
and after the death Of her only child
apromising boy, her health gave way
entirely; and her position as hostess
was q most undesirable one to her.
Miss HARRIET Lane made he uncle
administration famous for its social at
fraction, She was one Of the mos
beautiful of women, as well as one o.
the truest and kindest of nieces, AM
Mr., Buchanan was peculiarly fortunate
in bis social relations, though he iveL
and died .batchelOF. ~ -
Mas. LincOln's career was checkeret
from the first, and the awful TRACED,
that closed her life at the White House
secured for her the sympathy of TIL
people.
r. Mrs. Patterson was 6ae mistress o
the White house during Presideni
Johnson's administration, hea mothei
being D confirmed invalid. The fami
ly greatly enaeaGel themselves to tn,
people by their simplicity and refined
~upassuming manners.
Mrs. Grant, the present occupant o
the White. House, leads q quiet, retired
life, seems inclined to avoid all pub
licity, and spends most Of her time il
the society OF her children and intimate
relations.-[LauPa G. Holloway.