The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-26

for her TO entertain. In consequences. the |
White House was during Frank Pieroe's
regime not particularly pleasant place to |
IN iss here Was S 1sss'eo mourning
in Washington. ybere Mrs. FIRE.
mont, formerly Jessie Benton. daughter Of |
the famous old Aissourisn, Colonel Benton, |
was always great favorite, made so not |
alone by her social position-the daughter |,
of one senator and the wife of another-but |
by reason OF her great natural wit and intel
ligence her unusual culture and the tre- !
mendous impetus she gave to every society
matter in which she took an interest. Mr..
Buchanan was bachelor bat delightful
host, q genial compaion.i His household
was presided over by Miss Harriet Lane, q
lady of rare physical beauty, very stately, OF
distinguished manners and devoted TO her
upces fortunes. Although the egg OF seces-
sion was IN process of incubation during
Buchansn's presidency, and southern feeling
ran rampant from end to end of Washington
society, the ladies of the South for twenty
FIVE years prior to the war having ruled
absolutely in the capital Of thesNation and
it is fair Judgment that the leaven Of south
ern feeling is still potent in Washington-it
was a brilliant season that, for many reasons.
BuchaDsn's cabinet was composed OF unusu-
ally able men, many OF them dangerous,
all Of them determined. as was eyinced ~
their conduct in the early part Of 1861, when
the rebel flag wss boldly Haunted, and the
very Capitol itself was made the headquar-
tiers of treason and rebellion. DGring
B1chapan's incumbency the Prince Of Wales
ard his suite were guests of the head OF the
Nation, and by him were escorted TO Mt.
Vernon, where, with uncovered heads they
stood il the presence OF al that was left Of
the FIRST President, and where Albert Edward
kindly condescended to plant little tree.
THE LINCOLN REGIME.
When Lincoln went 10 Washington every
thing was in disorder. The Inauguration
ball was fzzle, a dreary, dismal outlook
confronted the good man, and at hrst tho
ladies of his household had but little oppo~
unity to disclose themselves. l made the
trip from Springfield, Illinois, with Mrs.
Lincoln, the children, Mrs Lincoln's sisters
and her nieces. Il is good while ago,
but, unless my memory has gone
back on me, there was a Mrs. Helms
ley, subsequently interested in con-
tracts for saddles, Mrs. Franklyn, and
very pretty young lady, Mrs Baker. That
Mrs. Lincoln's head should be turned by her
sudden and unexpected elevation rather sur
prised NE, for l admired her very much.
She was not pretty nor distinguished look
ing, bat coed, square, matronly, domestic
woman. in whose good sense L expected the
President would find immense relief and aid
and comfort. Ordinary women have no con-
ception of the pull, the strain, the wear and
tear that the go)d lady endured. Her hus-
band vas in no sense society man. he was
great, be was good. he was honest and faith
tul and true, but remember what was put
upon his shoulders; remember the years OF
struggle, of SORROW, Of won6sr, Of apprehen-
sion, OF despair at times BE bad no incli-
nation, in the inst place, to entertain, aud
he didn't know anything about it anyhow.
There was q great carcass there of plumber,
and the vultures OF the Union few esch to
get bis bite. Mrs. Lincoln and the ladies'
who were with her were battered from the
soles OF their feet TO the tops of their head.
They were made TO believe they were the
most beautiful, the most charming, the most
agreeable persons this side of the heavenly
ridge itself. They were given to understand
it was their duty, IN the face OF terrible
national disorder, to be cheerlul,to brace up.
and to indicate by their manner and their
bearing, that everything vas lovely and that
the goose of national prosperity was way up
upon the tip top limb. To DO them justice.
they tried hard. I ws.S stationed there as
correspondent for New York paper, and
furrow into Lincoln's face, and knew
that the red lot iron was in his
soul. ! saw how the troubles and the strug-
giles and the anxieties and the sleepless
nights were wearing upon his susceptible
nature, and also saw that he failed 10 I'M
derstsnd why it was that the ladies OF his
household were apparently running in an
absolutely different direction. Perhaps
few stern and kind remarks explaining the
situation, disapproviDg of this, that and the
other, would have made difference; but be
was too busy-he was too much worked, he
was pulled down to the lowest step OF the
laddeT-to give his personal attention TO
matters which began TO attract unfavoraole
con ment, first in society, and after a while
in the public press itself. 1t was not happy
home; it wasn't pleasant place to visit, for
IN the office sat the statesman, gloomy and
desT airing, while In the parlor and the suites
devoted to public receptions and general So
cial developments were frivolities and gsye-
ties which might much better have been
omitted under the circumstances. Deep
gloom, however, had its way. and it was ev'
ident TO Mrs Lincoln that Washington was
no place for gayety during the gTogress OF
the beIeaved widow ATTENDED, oy
the. sympathies of millions.
| sought rest and resumption of
| normal mentality on foreign shores. Many
| unkind and bitter words naYe been written
about that woman. bat now any man VINO
was born of a mosner, how any man who
has ever suffered, how any man who has an
sfTectiopate nature q millIonth part Of an
! inch long, could lend his tongue, much less
| his pen, 10 atflict the widow of Abraham
LIZ coln, TO the ebuse or even criticism, of
and who passed through the dark
wsiers that epgulfed her fragile nature, is
utterly beyond my conception. When
Lincoln died, Andrew johnson took the
helm. forget whether Andrew was bach.
elor or O widower. There wasn't much
inclination on the part of Washington
society to take the President up, and, beside
that 1t required the full length OF his term
for the nation to be rehsblltated, and throw
aside its weeds OF mourning for the memory
of the lamented Lincoln.
GRANT AT THE HELM.
Then came the Grants. Well. Grant had
two terms, you know, and it would be i'm
pcssi BILE to speak of the White House during
those eight years in single sentence or with
one characterization. The first term was not
particularly brilliant Mrs Grant is a woman
OF great natural good sense, but OF very little
early polish You see, the early days of
Brother Grant were not conspicuous for
their prosperity, and. although the family
of q poor man isn't necessarily unhappy,
the neglected family OF poor man must of
necessity be uncomfortable, to ssy the least,
and when added to the daily wonder as to
meals and shoes and flannel petticoats is the
daily distress over the cersessness of an idle
husband ard father, the unpleasantness of
the situation rapidly. and not vaguely,
develops into trouble, disappointment
worry, and sooner or later q certain degree
of ply sicsl and moral deterioration. Down
To the dav vhen Grant acceDted his com mis-