The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01
Eighty Years Historical Review
[Forney's Progress.l

Fashionable people, as well as statesmen,
like the excitement of political capitals.
In our own country simple president is a
sad damper on shoddy visitors and speculat-
i've residents. President jefferson, more than
so years ago, grossly outraged polite society
by refusing to continue or countenanee
weekly receptions, and every body remem-
bers how he defended the ladies, when
Washington had not decent hotel within
its 10 miles square, by walking into the
presidential mansion in muddy boots, after
they had called to see him. !, Madison fol-
lowed with his jolly Dolly, who established
sort of dangerous sentiment in her reccp-
tions. The next president, Monroe, was as
cold as an iceberg John Quincy Adams
was the embodiment of unresponsive New
England hauteur. "Old Hickory
came in 1888, and although by no
means ladies' man, wrecked his first cabinet
| on account of Mrs. Undertake Mr.. Van
Buren, succeeded him, and made a Knicker-
| booker society in the White House; but he
was so genteel that even his naughty son
John could not extemporize a scandal for
him. Then we had General Harrison, who
died before his regime was a month old, Civ
ing way to John Tyler, with his airy son,
Robert, and they went out in a row with the
! Wings so neglected because they had no
party of their own that nobody seemed to
care if they were bad or good. James X.
| Polk and Mrs. Polk came in 1915. At last
we had real lady in the White House
stately, Southern, and safe; nothing could be
more attractive. All their four years reign
was socially blameless and respectable.
They were followed by General Taylor; his
household, Colonel Bliss and his handsome
| wife, looked like long season of very good
society. But as old Zach died at the end Of
his first year, that dream was soon over,
leaving Mr.. Fillmore to exc out the
term; cold, conservative, and selfish
| Along came dashing Frank Pierce
| but his wife was an invalid, and a:
his only son was killed in railroad accident
a month before his father was installed, that
administration, like nearly all the rest. wa.
conducted almost without woman. WheI
Frank Pierce left, James Buchanan came
with his niece. Miss Harriet Lane, as mistres
of the White House. Nothing could have
been more cheering; her reign was one o
roses, and she was immensely esteemed. Sh
lives to-day, much loved as the handsom,
wife of Baltimore banker. Mr.. Lincoll
succeeded, but the rebellion turned the Whit
House into semi-military barracks, and hi
administration closed with his assassination
leaving Mrs Lincoln, his widow, living
ruin. The Accidency that rose on his gray
made no social mark, though nothn
could have been more reputable thai
, the ladies of A. Jobnson's family
. General Grant, of all his predecessors, seem
, to have been most fortunate in his wife an
} children. He had eight years of civil an
, domestic comfort. His successor (Hayes)
having an equally pleasant experience.
Such is the brief domestic record of til
presidency since the door of the nneteent
/ century was opened. The first and secon
B chief magistrates, Washington and job
: Adams had no special domestic happiness
exempt them from the general rule. I'll
retrospect is curious and interesting. ID
: ring these so years the Old World has bee
G drenched in blood to maintain its sever
S Governments England alone has held he
!. sway without alteration. France Spai