The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-01


Noteworthy Events - Weddings, Chris
Jennings, Receptions and Political Dinner
| Parties.
The home is the model of the state
and the family, All cpitOmc of the ma
ton. Our republic, that has made such
gigantic strides in the march of i'm
provement, advancing within century
from handful of struggling refugees
from oppression to the foremost rank
among the great and powerful nations
OF thc earth, has no monuments that at
test so eloquently the bencficcncc of its
laws and the result ofits institutions as
the happy homes that, like the stars in
the canopy of heaven, dot its broad cx-
panse of territory. OF these the White
House is both model and copy, and
there is not forest hamlet around
which cluster more holy and tender as
sociations than the marble palace on
the Potomac, which is not only the res
idence of our Presidents, but spot en-
dearcd to many loving hearts by years
of happiness and content, and hallowed
by ties of birth, marriage and death.
NO stain, or suspicion or shadow of
shame has ever sullied the fair fame of
its inmates. No romantic intrigues,
clandestine amours or dark histories Of
crime, passion and jealousy lend gull
ty charm to its records. Diversified as
have been the origin, associations, aims
and characteristics of its occupants,
thcy have all been true believers in the
sanctity of the marriage VOW, fcrvent
devotees at the shrine of religion-sen-
slble, honorable, high-minded men and
women. No scofler or unbelicver, no
coquette or intriguant, has ever ruled in
it, but ga charm from the skies seems
to hallow us there" and the rcmem-
Dralicc of the pure and gentle graces, of
the good and holy lives of those who
have occupied it., forms nimbus of
glory over it, consecrating it as spot
to which every American may point
with pride as the model home of mod
cl family. How different from Yer
sailles, the Tuilleries, Windsor, the Es-
curial, or Sans Souci! Women rs fair
as Mary Stuart, as courtly as Josephine,
as bright and vivacious as Marie An
toinette; men as majestic as Louis Qua
torzc and as gallant as George Ill have
presided there, but with what different
records!
Mrs. Madison was q queen among
women, and her commanding presence.
stately manners and brilliant wit pecul-
larly fitted her to grace her high posi-
ton. Mrs. DOnelson, fair and gentle,
with the tender grace of one destined to
die young, was still in her teens when
transplantcd from an obscure Tennessee
country neighborhood to Washington.
and though unskilled in court etiquette,
and as artlcss and guilcless as the war
blers in her native woods, played her
rOfe with marvellous ease and elegance.
and conferred rather than derived dig
nifty from her station. Mrs. Bliss was
bride when her father, Gen. Taylor,
was inaugurated president, and was
bright and sparkling, full of life and
fun. Her face, with its rosy dimples
and mischicvous smile, seemed to chal-
lengc romp or Irritation, and yet with
what perfect propriety and matronly
dignity she acted her part. Miss Lane,
though not in the first bloom of woman
hood, was still very handsome and elc-
giant. Years of travel and long resi-
dence at European courts had impaired
unusual style and polish to her man
ners and conversation. To reign was
her element, and in the White House
she was beautiful picture in an appro-
pirate frame. Then, again, there were
never palmer or more unattractiye wo-
men than Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Fillmore or
Mrs. Grant; without beauty, converse
tional powers or brilliant intellectual
gifts, and yet how completely they
filled their husbands hearts, how happy
they made their homes, and what per
feet types they were of noble matrons
Gen. jackson, imperious, dcspotic,
foes, was yet gentle as a child in his
iamlly circle and tender as woman at
his own firesidc. Mr.. Van Buren, was
described by one of his contemporaries
as one part statesman and two parts
coxcomb, and, though without doubt
the most astutc Statesman. and crudite
scholar ever elected president, was
probably one of the vainest men that
ever lived. lie was suspected of aspir-
ing to the hand of Victoria, then a
maiden queen. When he vacated the
White House his room bore no evidence
OF having been used, only the carpet i'm
iront OF his mirror was worn to shred,
evidently showing that, like Narcissus,
he had devoted much of his leisure to
the contemplation of his own image.
Three of our presidents Jefferson,
jackson and Van Buren, were widow
ers, and one Buchanan was an old
bachelor. There must have been As
pasias and Cleopatras in those days as
III all others-wOmen ambitious of con-
quering those who wore the worlds
laurels but there is no record of any
one OF them having played the part of
Pericles or Marc Antony. Three =
Harrison, Taylor and Lincoln passed
from the portals which they had en-
tered in triumph as the nations chosen
TO that "bourne whence no traveller
returns. Mr.. Tyler is the only one
who ever brought his bride to the
White House as its mistress. Mr.. Lin
coin is the only one who ever lost
child during his term of Office, and Gen.
Grant the only one who ever had a
daughter married there. The only
children ever born there were the three
children of Mrs. Donclson, the wife of
Gen. Jackson's private secretary, and
little Julia, Gen. Grants grand-daugh-
ter.
In the east room, where, tradition
tells us, Mrs. Madison hung her linen
to dry, how many domestic as well as
state and national dramas have been
acted! If its walls had tongues as well
as ears, what scenes of courtly festivity,
what professions of famous men and
women could they not describe! Old
residents still remember the christening
fete of Mrs. Donelson's infant daughter,
to which all Washington society : the
cabinet, diplomatic corps and both hou-
ses Of Congress - was invited. Gen.
jackson was an oriental i'm taste, and
no Grand Turk ever took greater de-
light In pomp, ceremony, beautiful
things and luxurious surroundings.
When Mrs. Donelson consulted him
about the arrangements for the fete, he
replied, "Spare no expense or pains;
let ii be an event to be remembered.
We will all do honor TO the baby" He
and Mr.. Van Buren, were the sponsors,
and Miss Cora Livingston, daughter OF
the secretary of state, was godmother.