The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-11

corruption, stating that 1.-The East
room" in the White House was -
perfect warehouse of Injuries pur-
chased with the peoples money"
These charges were made the most of
at that time, but of course they
amounted to absolutely nothing. The
mistress of the White House at this
time was Mrs. Van Buren,, the Presi-
dents daughter-in-law, belle of
South Carolina.
President Harrison was literally
killed by ofllcc-seekers. One day,
finding the White House filled with
them, the President announced to a
friend: "Since they are all inside |
will remain outside" He did so,and
caught a cold which resulted in his
death. This was the
FIRST FUNERAL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
President Tyler buried his first
wife from the White House. Two
years after he brought his second
wife into the White House. There
was larger crowd at the after we'd
ding reception than at the former
! funeral ceremony.
Mrs. President Polk was d very
clever, social, refined lady, and under
her regime the White House was one
of the most pleasant places in the
land.
Mrs. President Taylor and her
daughter Betty performed their So
cial duties under compulsion, and
never were freely comfortable In the
Presidential mansion, like the. Presi-
dent himself.
WILLARD FILLMORE
made an excellent host He was
ably assisted by his daughter, his
wife being an invalid. He was the
first President who ever received his
own father at the White House.
Mrs. Franklin Pierce was always
ailing. Like Mrs. Lincoln inssubse-
quent years, she never recovered from
the shock caused by the death of her
favorlte son.
Under James Buchanan the
White House became even more IA
court" Miss Harriet Lane is gen.
orally regarded as the bestJ hostess
and
THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN
who ever presided as lady Of the
White House. The. tender attach
ment that existed between Buchanan
and his niece is one of the most
touching tributes to both. Miss Lane,
though rathelE boisterous and hoyden-
ish at first became celebrated through
out all England3fas par excellence
"the American lady, and when, as
the first lady in the land, she received
the Prince of Wales at the White
House, even British royalty. was Gu
thusiastic in its admiration. The
White House will probably never SEQ
her like again.
Thee
MOST UNFIT WOMAN FOR THE POSITION
was Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. She
was alike ignorant and ambitious.
She believed in dreams, fortune-tel-
lers and clairvoyance, felt that she
was "born to greatness" but was too
indolent to prepare for it. She had
inordinate vanity, but little true
pride, land was utterly deficient in
the knowledge of human nature. AT
ter the death of Mr.. Lincoln his
widow remained five weeks in the
White House. With all her faults,
Mrs. Lincoln was q chaste and de-
voted mother
Among the ladies who lived in and
who left the White House, with the
most general popularity and the most
stainless regulations, were the fe-
male members of President Johnson's
household, including his invalid wife
and two daughters, Mrs. Patterson
and the Widow Stoner. The last
days of the johnson regime at the
White House was also striking as
compared to Mrs. Lincoln. There
was no accusation against the John
son family of furniture or ornaments
unfairly or secretly removed from
the White House. The President and
his family refused all expensive pres
ents, and they took nothing away
from the White House that had not
belonged to them before they occu-
pied it. 1t seems strange, but is I'M
fortunately true, that a similar state
ment cannot be made in behalf of all
the families that have occupied the
White House.
Gen. Grants career in the White
House is still too fresh in the public
mind to require aught but passing
reference 1t may not be generally
known. however, that Gen. Grant was
the Youngest man who has occupied
the Presidential Office. The life al
the White House under Grant wa:
Of two kinds, like the religion Of the
Egyptian priests-csoteric and exot
eric. One light for the world al
large TO see, the other reserved fo
the "Washington rings" the oval
} Street clique" the "Long Brancl
set" and above all, the "Dent fam
ily," who were the real parties VIII
controlled the White House, whicl
would have been dull indeed withou
the vitality impaired to it BY Nelli
Grant-"Princess Nellie
Under Mr.. Hayes economy ant
temperance have been the watchword
, and Hayes,at the 4tll Of March next