The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-19
Our 0lio.
From The Ne~ York oDserrey.
A WEEK In THE WHITE HOUSE
BY DIR. IRENHus PRIME.


BY DIR. IRENEUs PRIME.
The President and Mrs. Pierce at Home--
Domestic and Social LIfe--statesmen nj |
DinHer---Cabinet Ministers---The sab |
bath.
Mr.. franklin Pierce was nominated for
the Presidency Of the United States in the
summer Of 1852, and was elected in No
yembcr. Between the time of his nomi-
nation and election, a bright, beautiful and
promising son, his only child, was killed
by railroad accident Mrs. Pierce, a
lady Of great loveliness Of character, daugh
ter Of the Rev. DIR. Appleton, President of
Bowdoin College, was crushed by this
blow, and the bereayed parents, childless
and heart-broken, went to Washington.
Ia the freshness of their gcief they saw
no company. They went to the church Of
which tho late Rev DIR. John c. Smith
was pastor, aud at the close Of service he
spoke with them. | had recently publish
cd Thoughts on the Death of Children
aud Mrs. Pierce remarked to him that she
had been reading the book with much
comfort.
In the course Of that week | was 10
Washington making some arrangements
for foreign journey, and DIR. 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
received no one. | did SO. Mrs. Pierce
received me at once, and sent for the
President, who joined US. The sympa-
thes of parents in common afflietion soon
united our hearts. The interview was
sacred,
went to Europe and the East, aud was
absent year. Mr.. Pierce had been in
Office about three years when ! was in
Washington again. Aftor being there
two or three days called on the Presi-
dent, and he insisted on sending to the
hotel for my luggage, and my spending a
week with him. Mrs. Pierce Joined in
the invitation with arguments that made
it impossible to refuse, apd in the course
of an hour | was in my room in the White
House.
As my visit was purely social, having nc
reference to political or public matters, il
would be inconsistent with the whole tenol
Of my correspondence to speak of much
that made that week one Of the most me
morable and remarkable of my life. And
political prejudices are so strong that W.
are apt to judge the private character Of
public men, especially Presidents, by oul
likes or dislikes of their party relations
This was strikingly illustrated by fac
resulting from my visit. In letter from
Washington | mentioned that the Presi
dent prayed daily with his family, assem-
bling the servants in the library for tina
purpose. One of the subscribers to the
Observer ordered it discontinued, giving
as tie reason that he would not have
paper coming into his house that say.
Pierce prays.' In my simplicity l la,
supposed any Christian would be glad /,
hear that his worst enemy was praying
but was mistaken in that opinion.
MIR. Pierce did not lead tho devotion
in family worship while | was there, in
sisting that it was my duty as a clergy
man. Mrs, Pierce told me that he Away
conducted it whom a minister was not pre-
sent, aud that no public engagements wer,
allowed to interfere with the daily famil,
service. He called upon me invariably L
ask the blessing at table, but one day, a
we sat down, he inyoluntarily did it him
self, and then turned to me and said
"Excuse me, but for the moment forgot.
II showed his habit.
Every day, except Sunday, be had {
dinner party, usually from eight to tel
gentlemen and ladies, and this brought to
gether the most distinguished members O
Congress, strangers visiting the Capital
Half dozen wine glasses were placed at
each plate, and as many kinds of wine
were freely served; but at the President,
plate was no wine glass, and he drank
nothing but water. In the early part Of
his public life he was addicted to the free
use of intoxicating liquors, but he had put
himself upon rigorous abstinence, even
from wine at his own table
Once week he excused himself from
whatever company might be present in the
evening, while he went unobseryed to o
prayer meeting in the lecture room of the
church. He sat in back seat, unnoticed
by any one but the pastor, who said moth
ing about it TO his people, though be men
toned il to me in speaking of the Presi
dents private life.
One morning Mr. Pierce asked me "a
step with him into his bed.chamber. Tn,
bed was standing few feet from the wall
We sat down on its side, and he drew q
curtain from a portrait hung low, and neal
the head of the bed. 1t told its own sac
story. His beautiful boy, his son, his only
son, who was killed as they were coming
into this mansion. lie put his hand into
mine and wept. Who could refrain from
weeping with him? at is dark, desolate
dreadful; We thought it would be for hi.
pleasure; that his future would be so much
brighter; but my wife and l are longing
now to go away and be at peace" | had
no words, We sat some moments in 81
lence and withdrew.
At breakfast one morning Mr.. Pierce
said to me "I would like to have YOU sec
my Cabinet together, and if you will be at
home at one o'clock | will call for you at
your room" At the hour he called, and
led me to the apartment where the mem.
bers had been in session, and were now
through with business. After introduc-
ton had few words with each of them,
except one he resumed his seat and his
writing, and yet remember him quite as
distinctly as any Of them, for he has since
been been very distinguished as Jefferson Davis,
President of the Southern Confederacy.
William j.. Marcy was then Secretary
OF State, aud had been also at the head
OF the War Department under Mr.. Bu-
chanan, in the previous administration.
Governor Marcy, wishing to make moral
reflection, observed:
is il not strange, sir, that mon are
willing to come here and bear these bur.
dens, and for what2"
80 no." replied; anot strange, Cover.
nor, some gentlemen are willing to come
twice Y
lie laughed heartily, and said, aAh.
there you have me- for he Vas one Of
them.
james Guthrie Of Kentucky, Secretary