Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-14
EIGHTY YEA1S' HISTORICAL RE.
DIEH.

Fashionable people, as well as statesmen,
Ike the excitement of political capitals. In
our own country simple President is sad
camper on shoddy visitors and speculative resi-
dents. President jefferson. more than eighty
years ago, grossly outraged polite society by re-
l,lsing 10 continue or countenance weekly re-
ceptionS- and everybody remembers how he
ofiended the ladies', when Washington had not
decent hotel within IFS ten miles square, by
walking into the Presidential Mansion la muddy
boots. after they had called TO see him. Nad-
son followed with his jolly Dolly; who estab-
msheu SORT OF dangerous sentiment in her re-
ceptlons. The next President, Monroe was as
coid as an iceberg. john quincy Adams was the
embodiment OF unreSpOnSive New England
manteur. "old Hickory" came in lS2S-9 and al
.nough on no means a Ladies' man. wrecked his
Hrs' caohiet on account OF Mrs. Undertake.
Mr. Van Buren, succeeded him, and made "A
thnicheroockei society in the White House: hut
ne WAS 30 Senteei that even his naughty son
Johh could hot eNtenpori2e n scandal for MIN
Iheh we had General Harrison. who died before
t l iesliie "aS month old. giving way II
.ohh lSief. with his airy son. Robert and The,
went uui IN q row with the who's 80 neylerIeI
because they had no party OF their own tnaf
noo3dy seemed to care il they were bad %
Seod. LANES h. Polk and Mrs Polk came in
lS45. Al last We had real lady in the Mhltp
HoGSe-Stately. southern. and safe. no, Mn,
could DC more attractive. All then four wears
reign Was socially DiameleSS and res ,a,.f an.
They were followed by General TaSloi-, ms.
household. Colonel Bliss and his Ia nd,0n, VII.
looked like long season OF Very good Spcirf,
But as Old Zach died at the end OF his iirSi year
that dream was soon over, leaving ar. Fiin0re
10 exc out the term; coli, conservative. aud 81!
fish Along came daShing Frank Pierce, but hiS
wife was an Invalid. and as his only son was
Killed IN railroad accident month before mis-
father was Installed, that administration. like
nearly all the rest, was conducted almost with
out woman. When Frank Pierce LEFT. James
buchanan came al with his niece, Miss Harriet
Lane. aS mistress OF the White House. Nothing
could have been more cheering: her reign was
one OF roses. and She was immensely esteemed.
She lives to-day. much loved aS the handsome
a bilftlnnrfn h1nE,r n
cetded. but The rebellion turned the White
House into a SeuIi-luitary barracA. and his adj
mihistratlon closed VITA his assassination, ieav-
ing MIS-. Lincoln his widow. a living ruin. The
accidencN that rose on his grave made no
social mark. though nothing could have been
more reputable than the iadie: OF A. Johns IN,
lanilly. General Grant. ot ali his predecessors.
seems 10 have been most fortunate in his wife
and children. He had eight years of ci, il ana
domestic comfort. His successor. Mr.. Hayes I,
faNlhg an equally pleasant experience.
such Is the brief domestic record of the praSi-
dehcy since the door OF The nineteenth century
was opened. Tie trSt ana second chief magts-
liatcS. Washington and John Adams. had no
special domestic happiness To exempt them
from the general rule. The retrospect is curl
Gus ana interesting. During these eighty years
the old World has been drenched in blood 10
maintain its several governments England
alone has held her sway without alteration.
France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium and
Ilouand have all been the alternate prev OF
revolution and anarchy. All have been swept
oy war OF subjected To change. The social ele-
lnent has suffered cOnspicuousiy. Queens have
been deposed with their kings. Courtiers have
fed for refuge TO foreign lands. ASSaSSinaIionS
have preceded and supplemented great wars
Fashions have passed away with dynasties
But through all there is one profound truth.
that mankind is happier in the mass in the sun
set or the century than IL was in the dawn.
Certainly. the lnoSt stable government is the
Anglo-SaXon. Where the English language is
spoken. and English laws administered there
has been greater aggregate OF human happi-
ness. such Is the rPtrOSpprt of eighty years
or rather, since the election OF George Wash
lngton. in 1859. The aggregate is before the
world and there is no place where il can be
more prolitably studied than in the city OF
Washington, and no page OF it is more interest
ing than that which records the inner life OF
our sixteen Presidents FoY1iegs Pr0pre~>