Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-01-03
MRS. HAYES.
How She Relieved Mr.. A. q. Rid.
die OF His Embarrassment,and
Mended Jim Saunders Blouse.
Corresondence Chicago Tribnne.

Corresondence Chicago Tribune rla
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Dec. 22.-Much
has been said OF late of Mrs. Hayes as
the first lady of the land, and from the
accounts of those who have known
her longest aud best it would seem
that the story has even yet only half
been told. She was the same nnasSu-
ming, intelligent, sensible woman
while plain Mrs. Hayes, of Fremont,
and while the wife of "our dear Colo
mel" of the Twenty-third Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry in the early stages OF the
war, tina: she nOw\is as mistress of the
the While House. In the present let
ter / propose to relate an incident that
happened last summer, and another
occurred during the early part of the
war, to show that what have said
Is correct.
The Hon. A. 6. Riddle, the novelist
lawyer of Washington, made several
speeches in this State during the cam
paign last fall upon the Republican
side. In each Of these he referred to
Mrs. Hayes in the most fl4ttering terms,
calling her the most perfect specimen
of the American lady since Martha
Washington. 1t struck me as rather
unique that a lady should thus be re-
ferred to in q political speech, and at
the close of one of ilis efforts remark
ed as much to Mr.. Riddle. He respon.
ded as follows:
~ am well aware that it is an unu-
sual thing to speak OF lady, even
though she be the President wife, in
4 political speech, and the difficulty at
tending the case is much increased on
that account; but felt constrained to
do it. To one who has lived amid the
cold convenlionalities of Washington
society for any length of time, and OBJ
served the sad lack of almost every
thing except formality and style there,
it is refreshing to observe lady like
Mrs. Hayes, who casts IL all aside and
il making revolution in the very
quarter that it IL most needed. Talk
about civil service reform-yes, that Is
all right, and the President Ia bringing
it about in his own good way. Speak
of conciliating the South-that is right,
too,a d,ss Northern-Southern man
am glad to see it going on; but, in ma
king up the excelleneies OF the Admin
istration, il is all wrong to forget the
great influence which Mrs Hayes IL
exerting.
"I never shall forget my first &C.
quaintance with Mrs. Hayes. 1t was
last June. The weather was very
warm, and had come home In the
evening, and, as is my custom after
taking supper, seated myself on the
veranda in front Of the house. Pres
emily friend, who stands high with
the Administration, came along In his
carriage and asked me to take short
ride. Owing TO the great heat was
simply dressed In shirt, linen pants
aud slippers, and was not expecting TO
90 out anyw where. / told my friend
that if he would excuse my appear
ance / would not object to the ride. He
inssted that was dressed all right, 80,
hastily drawing on duster, took q
seat beside him. 1870. ~
1--WE had proceeded but q short dis
tance when be told me that he had
started for call at the White House.
/ insisted upon getting out and return
ing, saying that i had never called
upon the President, and could not think
OF making my first appearance, Ia this
dishabiIie fashion. But 1t was Of no
use. Even while we were arguing the
matter, we had arrived at the Execu-
tive Mansion. and almost as Ia q dream
I heard my name announced, and felt