, 1876-12-31

| when it was discontinued, and las not snct
been revived. Gen. Jackson, at one Of his New
which had been sent him BY an ,admirins
farmer, to be cut and distributed in pieces {
quarter Of pound each. The result was, that
the White-Honse carpets were nearly ruined
from the cheese tramplcd upon it.
Mr. F11more's New YEARS. receptions are rep
resented as having been particularly brilliant,
Mr. Bnchapan's were especially noticeable foz
the presence Of that remarkable woman, his
niece and the mistress OF his household, Miss
Harriet Lane, now Mrs. Johnston, OF Baltimore.
Vanced middle lite, QUE &C Of those @ golden
blondes who charm society. When this young
| Niece OF MI. Buchanan was at London Queen
| Victoria decided that she should not rank as
niece or daughter, but as the wife OF the United
States Minister. Thus recognized by the Queen,
| Miss Lane became Immensely popular as one OF
the leaalng ladies' OF the diplomatic corps Of the
court ot st: I James She was everywhere greeted
and Installed in the White HOUSE, she became
/ the chief lady of one Of the gayest Administra-
tons that the United States has ever known.
1twas the emotional era in our national history.
IN the carly days Of the Republic Mrs. Wash
| ington would receive sitting. The guests
! usually grouped themselves in scui-circle
about her, around which the President would
pass, boWing and speaking politely, but never
shaking hands. It remained for the next eener-
alton to adopt the social custom OF haa ishaking
which SO often gives its victims the shaking
palsy.
TIE WHITE HOUSE IN THE OLD DAYS.
A society lady the other day was complaining
bitterly to her friends OF the burdens Of social
life. She is in prominent position, and ia gou-
orally reputed to have 5000. names upon her
calling LIST. Life to her IS social slavery. It is
q frivolous dream. It happened that the same
day, IN turning over some old books, I came
upon the diary Of Abigail Adams, the wife Of
John Adams, the second President of the Re-
public That diary illustrates the social changes
Which have taken place since those days. Mrs.
Adams seems to have been one OF those Won
derfui women Of whom we learn that there were
that she was the Mrs. Fish Of her day. The lat
ter lady has had the courage society lady says,
in these hard times, to wear the same hat that
she did last winter. The diary Of Mrs. Adams
thing. How the White House looked to Abigail
Adams upon entering it, she tells in these words:
The house is upon grand and superb scale. re-
Curing about thirty servants to attend and keep
oan 5ase5s pfpths of pthe haese 5
establishment very well proportioned to the Presi-
dents salary. The lighting the apartments from
deed, and the fires we are obliged to keep, to &C.
cure us from daily agues is another very cheering
comfort TO assist US in this castle and render
Ing not one single one being hung through the !
whole house. and promises eau you can ootsin. |
AIAs ~ eD sEE4k Au Inconvenience LQML NOE
what to do or how to do: The ladies' from George !
town, and in the city, have many Of them vislted
me-, Yesterday returned fifteen visits. But such |
place as Georgetown appears. Why, our Milton |
is beautiful But no comparisons; il they put me up
bells and let me have wood enough to keep fires, |
design to be pleased. Gut surrounded with forests,
can you believe that wood is not to be had because
people cAnnot bo found to cut aud cart til .
We have, indeed, come into new country. i.
The house Is mado habitable, but there ia not
single apartment finished, and all within side, except
the plastering, has been done since B. came. |
/. Il the twelve years in which this place has been
considered as the future seat Of Government, had
been improved as they would have been in New
England, very many OF the present inconyenienc,es
would haye been removed. 1t is q beautiful spot
capab1e OF any improvement, and the more view
1t the more am delighted with 1t. g. .
The ladies are impatient for drawing I |
hare no looking glasses but dwarfs for this house,
and twentieth part lamps enongh to light 1t. My !
ea-china is more than half missing. T.
You eau scarcely believe that here in this wilder
ness city should ind my time. So occupied as it
Is, 1uY visitors OF them, cau1e three or four
miles. The return Of one Of them Is the work OF
one day. =. We have not he least fence,
yard, other conrenisnees ,elthout, and the great
unfinished audience-room (the East-rooml I nuke
drying room CT to hang my clothes In. Six cham
hers are made comfortable; two lower rooms, one
for common par1or and one for ballroom"