The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-02-17
OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
How Some Of the Presidents Have Retired.--
Features OF" Inauguration Day" Seldom
Seen or Heard,

Willow growing on each side OF 1t.
Mrs. Madison, who was O very bright
woman, when congratulated on her hus-
bands inauguration and occupation of
the White House, said: "I don't know
that there is much cause for congratu-
lation-the President of the United
States generally comes in at the iron
gate and goes out at the weeping will
lows"
John Adams, who was the first Presi-
dent that occupied the White House,
was crushed with shame and filled with
indignation when his old friend,
Thomas Jefferson, defeated him in the
presidential election of 1900. He took
what vengeance he could by continuing
to make appointments up to late hour
on the evening of March 8, and the
next morning before sunrise he left the
White House and the metropolis forever.
Washington had attended at his inaugu-
ration four years previously, but he
could not bear to witness the swearing
i'll of his successor. Retiring to his
farm at Quincy he devoted the remain
ing twenty-five years of his life to
political correspondence.
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe in
turn attended the Inauguration of their
SUCCESSORS and decorously vacated the
White House for their occupation with
the best of feeling. But when General
Jackson was elected there was a differ
ent condition of things. President
John Quincy Adams was bitterly disap-
pointed because he had not been re-
elected, while his successful competitor
was incensed by some abusive articles
which had appeared in the official
organ." When General jackson came
to Washington, saddened by the sud-
den death of her whom he loved so de-
votedly, he refused point blank to call
on Mr.. Adams, regarding him
as her traducer M. Adams
was equally unwilling to participate in
the triumphant Inauguration of his sue
cessor, and he removed from the White
House on the third of March. On the
fourth, as he was taking his customary
horseback ride in the vicinity of Wash
ington, the booming of cannon announc-
ed to him that his successor had taken
the oath of office in front of the capitol.
The then eX-President remained in his
own house on + street (nearly opposite
the Ebbitt house of to-day until spring,
and he received many acts of courtesy
from the citizens of Washington, includ-
ing q salute from volunteer military
company commanded by Colonel Sea-
ton, one of the editors of the National
IRteHigeHcer.
1t may not be amiss to say word OF
two about the Inauguration of General
jackson, when, for the first time, the
President-elect was escorted by military
bodies as he rode on a spirited horse
from the hotel at which he had lodged
to the capitol. After he had taken the
oath and gone from the capitol to the
White House he was waited upon by q
motley crowd, which soon drained the
barrels of punch which had been pre-.
pared, broke the glasses and behaved
like drunken mob. Such q scene had
never before been witnessed at the
White House.
When Martin Van Buren, was elected
as General Jacksons successor it was q
political family arrangement The two
went together from the White House ia
the capitol III phaeton made from the
wood OF the fIigate Constitution, drawn
by four gray horses. After Mr.. Van
Buren, had been inaugurated in front OF
the capitol the two returned in the
same vehicle to the White House, where
the new President received his fellow.
citizens. At four o'clock in the after.
noon Mr. Van Buren formally received
the foreign ministers, who, with Their
suites, Wore the full court dresses o1
their respective countries, and he rather
astonished their dean, the Spanish min
lister, by addressing them as the Dem
ocratic Corps" instead of the "Diplo
matte Corps" -Four days afterwarc
General jackson bade farewell to the
White House and returned to his be
loved Hermitage" to end his days.
AS the expiration of President Val
Buren's official term approached the al
dermen and common council of Wash
ington City followed the custom ant
passed vote of thanks to the outgoing
chief magistrate for the interest which
he had taken in the prosperity of th'
national metropolis during his fou
years administration. These thanks
were not acceptable to Mayor Seaton
who, with other wings, had beer
excluded from the hospitalities of tn,
executive mansion by President Val
Buren. So the editor-mayor formal,
refused to approve the complimentary,
resolutions, and transmitted a vet,
message to the city government givin'
his reasons for this marked slight. Nh
Van Buren, was greatly annoyed, ant
took good care to have the White Hous
ready for the occupation of his success
sor, General Harrison, whose stay ther
was brief.
, Mr.. Tyler's family were soon sum
moned from Virginia to the Whit
House, and while he was President h
married the estimable lady who now re
= sides here, who turned over the Whit
5 House to Mrs. James X. Polk, now
, resident of Nashville, Tenn. She wa
5 succeeded by Mrs. Zachary Taylor,
e matronly old lady, who loved to renal
e in her room upstairs and smoke corn
+ cob pipe, while her accomplishe
e daughter, then the wife of Colonel Bliss
S the Presidents private secretary, pre-
/. sided over the hospitalities of the mar
Q sion.
l The Taylors left shortly after tn
t death of cold Rough and Ready" an
= Mrs Fillmore came, aided by he
e daughter. They extended the hospita
: tiles of the White House to Generf
Y Pierce when he came (heart- broke
Y over the loss of his only child by
I + ilroad accident) to be inaugurate(
Mrs. Fillmore left the White House o
S the fourth of March for hotel, expect
: ing to go South on a tour with he