McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-12-04

latfve splendOr. She was the ready
witted lady who saved the nations por-
trait Of immortal founder from the pos
sibility of injury by the British troops.
With the reopening of the executive
mansion in 1918 Mrs. Monroe began q
series of entertainments which were
characterized by stately and formal
elegance perhaps equal to that of for
eign courts. The accomplished wife OF
John Quincy Adams encouraged the WIS.,
its of men of culture, and during her
reign as the mistress of the white house
showed wonderful tact in securing the
| appropriation of her husbands admin
istration by the wise and learned.
Sturdy Andrew jackson had buried his
wife shortly before his Inauguration.
She was inferred in the dress made for
that occasion. His niece, Mrs. Emily
Donaldson, took charge of the household,
but did not succeed in checking effect
ually the uproarious Publications with
which the president was wont to recre-
ate himself. The story of Jackson's
cheese is one well worthy of re-rela-
ton. At his farewell reception he gave
every guest ''chunk" from monster
cheese given him by admirers from
New York State. Each piece weighed
about three pounds and was served by
two laborious men armed with hugh
knives extemporized for the occasion
from hand-saws. The daughter-in-law
of Martin Van Buren,, Angelica Single
ton Van Buren,, administered hospitali-
ties with sweetness and grace never
surpassed. John Tyler both lost and
gained wife while president. His
wives were fitting companions of this
accomplished and scholarly president:
The period between the death of his
first wife and the advent of another,
not as matter of course, eminent
for its gayety, was distinguished at
intervals by receptions of unusual ele-
gance. Of Mrs. Polk no better indica-
ton of her popularity as a hostess can
be given than the compliment paid her
by one of her guests: Madam" said
he, ''there is woe pronounced against
you in the Bible, for it is written there,
Woe unto you when all men shall speak
well of you" Margaret Taylor, wife
of the redoubtable Zachary, disliked
social ostentatiOn, and left entertain
ments to the direction of her daughter,
Betty Taylor Bliss, whose graces made
her exceptionally popular. Etiquette
and the respect due to worthy. intel
lectual lady, preclude the use of a
stronger expression in characterizing
Mrs. Fillmore, than that she approx
mated to blue-stocking in her tastes,
and loved retirement and the absence of
domestic cares on a grand scale. Dur
ing the Fillmore administration, not
withstanding this, splendid entertain
ments, and many of them, were given
at the white house. Mrs. Pierce was an
invalid, but she did her best to make the
presidential receptions pleasant. Her
cares were too heavy for the strength of
this cultured. gracious lady. The bach
elor president, James Buchanan, was
more fortunate than bachelor de-
serves, in the assistance given him at
the white house, by Miss Harriet Lane,
his neice. Never were receptions more
splendid and enjoyable than when peo-
pie danced on the edge of the volcano,
as the writer expresses it. The wife of
Abraham Lincoln entertained under the
utmost disadvantages, but acquitted
herself with courage and success. A
homelike quality characterized the re-
ceptions given during the war, contrast
ing with the splendor of the Buchanan
period. Andrew Johnson's wife was an
invalid, and her daughters, Mrs. Patter-
son and Mrs. Slower, discharged the
duties usually undertaken by the presi-
dents companion during his term of
Office, and introduced the novelty of
children's parties. Mrs. Grants reign
of eight years was social success of
the greatest magnitude, compared with
which that of Mrs. Hayes was perhaps
tame. Grandma Garfield |
always appeared at the receptions given
by her distinguished son, and his cult
waited wife was seen to advantage on
these occasions. Neither history nor
tradition affords material for the belief
that the social successes of Mrs. |
sister of President Arthur,
have ever been surpassed.