The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-24
A WEEK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
The President and Mrs. Pierce at Homc-Thcir
Great Sorrow-Domestie and Social Life
Statesmen at Dirner-Cabinet hin
isters-Tho Sabbath, &c

|
Mr.. Franklin Pierce was nominated for
the Presidency of the United States in the
summer of 1852 and was elected in No
vcmbcr. Between the time OF his nomina-
ton and election a bright, beautiful and
promising son, his only child, was killed
by a railroad accident. Mrs. Pierce, Il
lady Of great loneliness of character.
daughter of the Rev. DR.. Appleton, Pre-
si,lent of Bowdoin College. was crushed
by this blow. and the bere&ved parents.
childless and heart broken, went to Wash
ington. In the freshness of their grief
they saw no company. They went to the
church of which the late Rev. DR.. John
| {. Smith was pastor, and at the close of
! tie service he spoke with them. had re-
Gently published Thoughts on the Death
of Children" and Mrs. Pierce remarked
to him that she had been reading the book
with much comfort
In the course of that week | was in
Washington making some arrangements
tora foreign journey, and DR.. Smith spoke
| to me of Mrs. Pierce having derived COM
fort from my little book, and he asked
me to call on them, though as yet they
| had seen no one. did so. Mrs Pierce
received me at once, and sent for the Pre-
| sident, who joined us. The sympatllies
of parents in 4 common atf!iction soon
united our hearts. The interview was
sacred.
went to Europe and the East, and
was absent a year. Mr.. Pierce had been
i'll Office about three years when | was in
| Washington gain After being there two
OF three days | called on the President.
and he insisted on sending to the hotel
for my luggage. and my spending week
with him. Mrs. Pierce joined in the in
vitation with arguments that made it i'm
possible to refuse, and in the course ofan
hour | was i'll my room in the White
House
AS my visit was purely social. having
no reference to political or public matters
it would be consistent witIfthc whole ten
OF of my correspondence to speak ofmuch
that made that wecl, one of the most re-
markablc and memorable in my life
And political preiudccs are SO strong that
We are apt to judge the private character
OF public men, especially the Presidents.
by or likes and t,isIikes OF their party
relations. This was strkinyly illuStrat-
ed by a fact resulting from my visit. In
letter from Washington | mentioned
that the President prayed daily with his
family assembling the servants in the Ii
brary for that purpose. One ofthc sub
| Scrlhcrs to the Ob%gr"cr ordered it to be
discontinued, giving as"thc reason that he
would not have paper coming into his
house saying that Pierce prays." in Inv
simplicity had supposed any Christian
would he glad to hear that his worst enc
my was praying, but | was mistaken in
that opinion.
Mr.. Pierce did not lead the devotions
in family worship while was there. in
siSting that it was my duty as a clergy
man. Mrs. Pierce told me that he al
ways conducted it when minister was
not present, AMI that no public engage
mcnts We're allowed to interfere with the
daily family service. lie called upon me
invariably to asi, the blessing at the table
but one day, as we sat down, he inYollln-
tarily did it himself and then turning to
me said Excuse me, but for the mo
ment | forgot 1t showed his habit.
DINNER PARTIES.
Every day, except Sunday lie had a
dinner party, usually from eight to ten
gentlemen and ladies. and this brought
the most distinguished members of Con
gress, strangers visiting the Capital. and
officers of the Cabinet. Half a dozen wine
glasses were placed nj each plate. and as
many kinds OF Wine freely served: but at
the Presidents plate there was no wine
glass, and he drank nothing but water.