The Cecil Whig., 1886-06-12


ington. Mrs Washington established at
| New York what it has been the vulgfr
taste of many to call her Court" Her
receptions were styled drawing rooms, as.
the QuGen's are, and they were conducted
| in Il very ccrcmOnious and stately fasl
ion. Mrs. Washington was seated, the
guests were in full dress; the Presidei
assisted in his capacity as private ger
tleman. His own receptions We're very
different and very solemn occasions, on
which lie never shook hands with any.
| Mrs. Washington was noted for simpli-
CITY Of dress, frequently wearing gown
| Of homospun, with lace cap and muslin
handkerchief.
Abigail ADAMS.
Abigail Adams was tho daughter al d
granddau ghter OF clergymen, and her
marriage, at the age of twenty, with join
Aiams, who raised her to the proudest
height the country knows, was consid-
cred not at all a 1lattering one at tie
time. OI her husbands election to tie
| Presidency the seat of Government was
removed to Washington, a mere sketch
Of a city in a swamp, and Mrs. Adams
was the first lady of the White House.
That structure was but half flushed
when she entered 1.-THE plaster scarcely
dry, the paint yet grecn-the grounds
numbered with building materials There
was not even an inclOsure for drying
clothes near the house, aud Mrs. Adams
had the great, unfinished audience cham
Der, now known rs the East Room, used
III he .l oyyir,
| rooms ii the room now used as the libra
rs Of the private family. Mrs. Adams
followed the cGremonious fashion of Mrs.
Washington. Although not beautiful,
Mrs. Adams was agreeable and elegant
in appearance. She was great woman
great IL intellect, in purpose, in pa
riancc, and great III triumph.
MARTHA JEFFERSON RANDOLPH.
The wife Of Thomas Jefferson died
nearly score Of years before he became
President, and there Uas literally no lady
OF the White House during the greater
part of his Presidency. His daughters,
Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Eppes, made
but two visits there; occasionally Mrs.
Madison cilio!ated in their absence. Mrs.
Eppos, the younger daughter, is said to
have been an exceedingly sweet and gra-
ciOus person of great beauty. One OF her
SONS was the first child born in the White
House. Mrs. Randolph, less beautiful
than her sister, was more brilliant, aud
her father had lavished every care upon
her y graceful, spyightly, Intelligent,
and altogether charming woman, she
was her fathers solace, companion and
delight. 1t was, doubtless, loss to tie
natlcu that she did not lead it's society
during the eight years of her fathers
magistracy, but the demands of her
young family keeps her in her pleasant
Virginia home.
DOLLY p. MADISON,
When Mrs. Madison came to the
White 10 lse as its next miste IS, qui,e
another character vas added to the circle
Of stately dames-a genial, generous,
bustling, loud laughing woman, with a
big heart in huxom body. Colly Coles
Payne, brought up in the strict tenets
of the society Of Friends, and married
at nineteen to Mr. John Todd, a member
Of the same sect, in less than year af-
ter his death, and at the age of twenty
three married James Madison, and ster-
ped from poverty and insignificance to
We lth and station. With little more
elegance the"e would have been nothing
80 Lesiro in Mrs. Madison. She had a
certain amount If tact, infinite good ma
ture, ready wit and an unfaiIing memory
d names and faces, which, with her
warmth heart, supplied many elements
pf popularity, and her rNigH vas Joyous
one. Sac filed the White House with
young people, putting ali at ease by her
tact, and kept up round of galety, re-
laXiuE many Of the ceremonies observ-
ances that had been in force there, and
making some Innovations. Very fond of
dress, yet never eXtravagant in it wear
usually turban and gown of simple
material, and repairing times losses
with rouge, she was rather handsome
woman, with sparkling eyes and tall,
although perhaps, tCo redundant figure.
ELIZABETH K0ETRGuT MONROE.
Mrs. Monroe, rs may be imagined, was
Il person in strong contrast to her prede-
cessor, very quiet aud polished lady,
accustomed when she came to the White
| House to the refinement of courts. Her
maiden name was Elizabeth Kortright
Tall and graceful in person, elegant in
manner, well-inform2d and intelligent,
| she was an ornament co all society, and
| her life abroad for many years rendered
| her familiar with all the usuages proper
30 her high place.
During her time the East Room, long
| the play-r,DD1 n of hGp phiilrnp
| uished, in the partially rebuilt White
| House, and she held her drawing rooms
and her dinners with dignity and ease,
| but maintained the most stately usage,
required fnll-dress, and returned no
visits. She died suddenly, about five
years after her return to private life, and
| her husband followed her within the
| year.
| L0UsIA KATHARINE ADAMS.
Mrs. Monroe could have resigned her
honors into no hands more cit to receive
them than those Of Mrs. John Quincy
| Adams, the last of the women of the
Revolutionary era who occupied the
| White House. Louisa kathkrine John
IN, although Of American and Southern
| lineage, was born, educated. and mar
| ricd in London, her marriage taking
| place at the age of twenty-two; her
father, although living abroad, being full
of patriotic interests and employments,
and gladly giving her to one already
81 identified with American affairs as
John Qlincy Adams. Mrs. Adams was
highly educated and accomplished, with
literary tastes, warm feelings, fine mau-
ncrs. and sufficient share of beauty.
| The first portion of her married life was
| spent 1T the Court of Berlin; she also ac-
| compluiei her husband to the Russian
| Court. When it became her turn to oc-
cupy the White House, Mrs. Adams
health had began TO fail, and her life
was 4 quiet one. While possessing more
of the great powers of mind of her
mother-in law, Louisa Adams was per-
son far beyond the average woman of
her generation; She early received advan-
tlges enjoyed By few OF her predecessors
and perhaps none of her SUCCESSORS. Size
was the object of attention aud adulatior,
and carried herself through it all as be-
came consummatc lady.
THE JACKSON REGIME.
Representatives. of life and exper'-
cncc entirely opposite took possession of
the White House when Mrs. Adams left
it--EuroPean education and acquaint-
ance with royal and imperial courts be-
ing supplanted by that coming out of tie
far West and shaped by the struggle with