, 1877-12-24
MRS. PRESIDENT HAYES.

eCut1F6 nTAnA1or-if0w Jim 66HnuefB NOE
His blouse 8ten'1ei. =
sp,ta, Correspondence ot me T+thun4.
CLEVELAND, O., Dec 22.-Mucti has been
said Of late Of Mrs. Hayes "a tho artt lady ot
Tho land, and from tho accounts Of those WHO
hare known her longest and best 1t would seem
that tue story has cycn yet only falf been toll.
ehc was the same uuassnmtng, intelligent, sen
| stbe woman wttlc tslaln Mrs. Hayes, of Fro
mont, and whtle thowlfc OF Tour dear Colonel"
| Of tho Twenty-thtrd Ohio Volunteer Infantry IN
the early stages Of the War, that she now Is rs
mtstEess OF tho White House. In The present
| letter propose 10 relate an incident TINT hap
| pcnci last summer, anu another that occurred
during tho carly part Of tho War, to show shat
I what have said Ia correct.
Tic Hon. a. @. Riddle, tho novc1tst-lawycr Of
Washington, tnndc several speeches in this
| Btato during the campaign last fail upon thu
Republican side. In each Of these be referred
to Mrs 1faYcs In tho most tlattcr!nr and compll-
tneuta5y tcrms, calling her tho most perfect
specimen Of the American lady sluco Martha
Washington.
1t struck mo ~ rather unique that a lady
should thus be referred to In political speech,
aud at The closeof one Of bis efforts remarked
Al much to Mr. Riddle Lie responded as fol.
lowsi
| II am well aware that It Is an unusual thing
to speak Of lady, even though sho be the Prest-
dents wife, in political spesch; and the dill
| Guilty attending the Ease Is much Increased on
that account; but felt constrained to do 1t.
To one who has lived amid tho cold convention.
nlties Of Washington society for any length OF
thing except forlnalitY and atyie there. Is ro-
fseshtug to observe a lady like Mrs. Hayes,
who casts It nli aside and b. mals-
Ing revolution IN the very quarter that It. !.
yes, that il all right, md the President ts bring
Ing It about tn bis own good way. Speak OF
consolidating the South; that Is right top. and ~
Northern. Southern man IN glad to SEQ #
the Administration It is all wrong to forget tho
great influence which Mrs Hayes is excrtfng.
~ never shalt forget my, Qrst acquaintance
rs hs sa hos ta
evening, and, as j. my custom after taking sup
per, seated myself oti tho vcranda In front Of
the house. Presently tricud. who stands high
carriage and asked mo to take short ride.
Owing to the great heat 4 was simply dressed
In shirt, linen pants, mud slippers, and was not
expecting to 20 out anywhere. 1told my friend
not object to the ride. IIo insisted that was
dressed all right, 30, hastily drawing on q
duster, took scat beside hiln.
when l,e told ne Chat llo haa started for call
at tho White House. inslsted upon getting
out and returning, saying that had mover
called upon tho President. and could not think
fashion. But It was of no use. Even Wills wo
were arguing the matter, VIC hsd arrived at tho
Executive Mansion, mud almdet as In a dream
heard my nane announced, aud tclt that nae
passing through tho form Of Introduction.
made the best statnmcr Of an excuse that could,
under the circumstances, and then it was all
done. Airs, Haves, In a fow well.choscn words,
toid me that nothing like excuse was necessary;
mt fhRFn hat 7frf.
then, Ia an instant, Just how did not know, The
subject was chanEed to matters 10 which had
tho greatest interest. We chaitcd Of Ohio and
Ohio people with whom We wsso both acqualnt.
. l'alf hour ln which had entirely forgotten ny
soaflcss neck s1d ngStess ~ feet s1 a. as
elaborate toilet of broadcloth before making my
illustrates TIC character 81 tha Prssidcnt's vfe
complctely.n
Twanty.ttird Ohio Nh0 went OFT with tAe
regiment at tho beginning. !ie related NUN
ber Of anecdotes Of 1T. and Mrs Hayes, but tue
following Is = god ,,l, snd 20 nearly so'qede'
not refrain frum relating It:
"1t was during the first months Of our being
: out when wo bad "a yet known but llttlo Of tho
laelshtps OF war. Ono day Nfra Hayes arrived
In camp, but the fact wns not generally known
James Saunders MAS member Of my company
Jlm-as 4e waa calted-was tall, lank uusus-
pocting, awkward country ooy,-n good soldier,
but not overly smart Ia detecting joke. Con
scaucptly, tho boys used frequently to sell
him nuita badly, but be took It all ID good part
| md Was entirely seady. the next time scl
catno along to tbite' at It.
! For some time thcto lad been sad need O
some means Of mcnding our clothes. This ncet
I | was bcluR discussed tho noxt day after Mrs
. Hayes arrival, and Jim was especially stronf
10 te expressions Of hecd for some ore to tne,'t
(; sel,tnble couditiop,
. "'Why, JIm,' said ono OF tho boys, tdidn'
Q YOU know that there is woman In camp Hhoss
: buefness il Ia 10 lnend dis (,oys' tlotleai,
i. ";No' said jim In astonis4ncnt; Hwhcru +
stelt
1tup at the Co.oncl's tent,' aald tho other
ala did snackin; rood i1b. too.1
! "sUoiiy,' saiI Jun, III 70 up. then, thls YER
Il ycrS handx. irdeci.1 ~
4 "Tfue to Rfs word. Jim called around at tn
Cotonsl's tent. md, with hi hst undcr til arm
| ~'iSs