Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-07
Mrs. Douglass Teacups.

A story has been going the rounds of the
press lately, attributed to Mrs. Senator Bing-
ham--if any historian can remember such a
Senator-that infringes too closely upon an
incident in the life Of Mrs. Stephen A. Doug
las to be let pass unmolested. The tradition
| tellers and the legend lovers Of Washington
have always remembered the pretty and grace
| full ways of Mrs. Douglas, and never ceased
TO hold her up as the model of q statesman's
wife. Her tact and her amiability were
boundless, and although when she married
the Little Giant she was very young and much
his junior, she adapted herself to the position
from the start SO thoroughly that no wife Of
20 years experience in public life could equal
her.
For every friend, for every constituent, and
for every enemy of Senator Douglas she had
just the right thing ready to say, and, with
her wonderful memory for names, faces and
places, she vas never without some personal
inquiries to make of each stranger. Her So
cial instinct was as marvellous as the gift of
second sight, and when she accompanied Mr..
Douglas on his famous journey through the
South to visit his mother, there was not a
person encountered in all that tour that she
| could not have recognized at sight and called
by name, had they entered her parlor unan-
nounced year later. Mrs. Douglass p0pu-
larity was wonderful at that time and her face
and winning ways made friends right and left
for the senator. at that time a candidate for
the Presidency.
At one of her receptions in Washington 4
great, shy, awkward constituent from the
most rustic region of Illinois presented him.
self in Mrs. Douglass doorway, sent up there
from the Capitol BY the Senator, who had
assured him that his wife would be delighted
to see him. The visitor was anything but a
parlor ornament. ru lie, unpublished son Of
| the prairie, unused to any of the ways of
society, but power in the politics Of his
home, and man whose influence could be
of vast assistance to Mr.. Douglas. Entering
the room gave him nervous chill, Mrs.
Douglass pretty greeting threw him into
fever and her inviting him out TO the refresh
ment room completed case of palsy. Ignor-
ing his trepidation, she chatted away to him
| herself paid no attention to his stammering
refusals, and poured out the tea into some
miraculous little cups of egzshell Sevres.
Grasping the fairy calyx in his fingers for
| first sip, the delicate bit Of Sevres was
crushed TO pieces. and the hot tea poured in
a stream over Mrs. Douglass silken train.
With CAV laugh the lady said, "How brittle
they are. just look at mine," and with q
mighty effort she broke another cup between
her fingers. Reassured. the constituent drew
his breath and found himself at ease, while
that incompatible hostess talked to him, ask
ed about his mother, his wife and his children,
| all of whom she remembered so well and
| called by name. That man went home to
work for, vote for and swear by Stephen A.
Douglas, and way back Of his political con-
victions lay the pieces Of those two broken
| teacups.
Some ladies were discussing the incident
at lunch party the other day. establishing
Mrs DON ulas's right tn farnp and rot,tiu = the
mythical Mrs. Senator Bingham, OF whom
the perverted story has lately been told.
Said one pretty woman II wouldn't break
my best ieacups for any constituent in my
husbands district" Out of the group there
was only one who courageously said: aid
break my whole dinner set if it would send
my husband to the Senate-and buy new
ones when got to Washington" she shrewd-
| ly added 81. Louis Globe Democrat.