Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-07


social and political lite, none ever held
a higher place than Harriet Lane. The
many years she was the light OF the
household of her bachelor uncle, both
at home and abroad, will still be recall.
ed with delight by the thousands who
visited him and whom he visited while
he was our ambassador abroad and the
executive of the nation. Her queenly
beauty, intelligence, rare conversational
powers and charming manners made
her favorlte everywhere. Thousands
there are still living who remember the
grace and dignity with which she pre-.
sided over the executive mansion, and
will recall with pleasure their visits
there while this noted woman made
company welcome. | recall Harriet
Lane to the almost numberless people
who have lost sight OF her since she retir.
ed from public life and became wife and
mother, because she is near this place.
An accident took me to-day to her
lovely home. She inherited Wheatland
from her uncle, and she spends the
summer at the old place, for It reyiyes
so many memories OF the past. She
still retains in "A striking degree those
eraces OF manner, queenllness OF form
and carriage, and intelligence which
long ago marked her so prominently
upon the pages of our social and polltl'
cal history. Age has not whitened her
lovely golden hair, nor disturbed her
exquisitely chiseled face, nor dimmed
the lustre of the violet eyes which have
sparkled upon 50 many grave and gay
scenes.
Death has just drawn an impenetrable
veil between her and the public. Her
iayorite boy, James Buchanan John.
ston, recently died. Upon his mind
she had impressed much of her own
force, and had carefully watched him
with the hope that he would ttly wear
and perpetuate the name Of the man
she idoliled and to whom she devoted
the best part Of her womanly life, Her
remaining son is stricken with heart
troubles, the rheumatic fever, which
carried her other son TO the grave.
Both these manly boys had grown into
her heart and life, and this last and
greatest sorrow dIms all the charms Of
Wheatland to her who has seen and
heard 30 much within its walls, who 20
often was the life OF distinguished com.
pany, and who during the days when
her uncle was running out the last
sands of life was his greatest comfort,
became his willing and devoted nurse.
A reference TO Harriet Lane, a visit
to Wheatland, and a look about thl.
country naturally recalls two of the
greatest names known to its history
James Buchanan and Thaddeu- Stevens.
What great events the mention Of these
two names recalls How many con.
tiets in politics it reviyes They never
agreed, and the clash of their opinions
always struck fire. Here, where they
grew to be great. where their conyic.
tions matured and their fame ripeaed
until it became world wide there are
many things To recall these two men
and the memories of their lives and
achievements.
Both were old bachelors, but ne di.
verse in habits, inclinations and ambi.
tions as two beings possibly could be.
Stevens was fearless man, who pushed
his opinions in season and out Of season
and waged relentless war on all who
differed with him. He was n good com.
panion. had his games and quict frolics
and enjoyed life IN his way. Tho little,
unpretentious brick house in which be
lived still stands in the business centre
Of the town. II sits out on the street
under the shadow of the Infr}igruclr. a
Democratic newspaper Office, on the
one side, and that Of n haifbrced Re.
publican paper on the other. IL ia one
of the oldest houses i'm this old place
and wear the marks OF age all over it.
While IL il a landmark that the people
always point out. a stranger marvels to
find 1t appropriated TO such peculiar
uses
There is Thad Stevens old home"
said friend who was showing me the
striking points of the city. I looked in
the direction he indicated and found
that n barber pole and a wooden Indian
had taken possession Of the two front
doors to the house, ! could hardly be
lieve this to be the place. but my friend
removed my doubts by saying That's
the place, where there's barber shop
and a cigar store. There, where they
shave you for ten cents, Stevens had
his law Office and won much of his fame
and fortune. lie slept in the room un.
der the caves directly over It, and had
the whole house in which to entertain
his friends Many are the stories that
are told OF this great but queer charao.
ter, who lived alone and compelled the
respect Of all by the power of his intel.
lect and the force OF his will In this
old house and from his bed room win.
dow he first heard the news of the
assassination of Lincoln. The old mail
carrier, who had for years trudged be
tween the railroad and the postofHice,
came up in the gray ot the morning on
the l4th OF April, 1865. after his early
trip to the station. lie knocked upon
the Office window and Mr.. Stevens rails.
ed the one above il, pushed his head
out and heard from the mail carriers
trembling lips the fact that Mr.. Lincoln
had been murdered. His only response
was in his vigorous English, Betrayed
again-by God ~ The window went
down with thud, and Mr. Stevens was
soon dressed ard on his way 10 Wash.
ington. In the great political events