The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-11-12
HARRIET LANE.

The Mistress OF the white Ho Sc In
BuohanaR's Time.
In the array Of bes " W ich di. tin
guIshco tue daughters Of PeuEsy lyHuia
among the lsIrest OF their counJryWo-
men, among The fOremost IN Ler day
WIS Harr.e Lane.
The Powerf i aud great Of the two
continents Pasd homage tS her charms
o. person, OF manner and OF mind At
the court OF YicJori q, the s,,vel eign or
Great Britain, she was the object OF
special attention and admiration from
the Queen, the me - bers OF the royal
family and the nobility.
Al the republican CO IT of her dIstin-
guished uncle, James buchanan, fiftsenlh
President OF the United 5 a e, shc "
queen in her own realm. rccugnizel
and aPplauded BY statesmen, genera =,
politicians and people and beloved OF
her own sex IN every grade OF the social
scale at the NaIion-l capital.
Although nearly three decades have
elapsed since this Pennsylvania queen
reIgned in the full glory oI presi ing
lady OF an exceptionally brilliant regime
1T the Executive Mansion, ana by ylr-ue
IN her sutton wls recoyn zs~1 as he First
La Y II tue Land, the remembrance OF
l. Ose days ,ou5tlLutes ole uI tbs bright
esJ reIulnIScrIIc Ia jiIC social expert
ences OF any WnO survive. the tur-
mOlls OF IebeL4IOu and mutations 81 pol
tics, ana Sill s-arc IA Ihe Ea5 eLIe7 OF
the fashionable wO4ld at the seat VI Ma
tIonaI government.
On Park street, il one Of the most ar
istocr.tIc pO- lions " The city OF BAIu-
more, in a lain but stately mansion
surrounded by all the Comforts o. wealth
aud the souvenirs II the p1S.Ic career
OIL her uuCl. aud Of her own sCci Il trI-
Umpns ia England and America, lives
this lis .UTic woman.
Though past middle age, she presary, s
.,.o-- .,,ce Of that beauty OF face and
go ,rEich contributed 50 much 70 the
-,o+a,o,- ~ her sway when Ia the zenith
- -, -oridl career. As she entered tho
dravyIn., room she looked even InOge
beautiful ia her robes OF WllUNnood and
TnotI,arbooJ robbed by the Teleatless
harvester of her young son-
Against the wall hung sir John Watson
Gordop's picture 81 the Prince of Wales
presented to Mr.. Buchanan 10y EnglauG's
sOvereiyn in recognition II the hospital
tiles shown her son during his visit 10
the ClIted States ia 1880. Marble
busts and articles Of vertu were d4s-
trIbgted about the room. A picture of
Henry Eliot Johnston, the idoi OF her
younR maiden heart am the husband OF
her later years. presented the features
OF a person Of fac presence and RmLa-
bility OF character
My reccoll cJiUns OF those earlier
DAYS" said this queenly woman alter q
cordial greeting seating herself, " are
very vivid. 1 Lave preserved the most
important events OF my life at the Court
OF ST. James and the White House ia the
form OF notes. 1t has often been sugges-
ted that | prepare these in q connected
shape, 80 that that they may lie ia con-
dition for p blicat on, but 1 shrink from
giving such prominence TO events
which are not only private but recall
some Of the dearest memories OF my
life. / do not object to recall ing
these scenes in q life spent among
the titled PersOnages OF the old wvrid
and the great men of our own cOdn-
try, bUt l dislike publicity.
" Many of the principal figures ia those
scenes have passed away, but many still
remain. l cherish the memories OF the
dead and the living alike, uIid realize
+ how favored I was in having such oppor-
tuuI,ieS-
Nv lie now is little spent In social
a.fuE-. l have nv home here, "a which
l ha,e preserved tile &ouveniis OF The
past ana which bring Ip E.any II. asaul
"Reminiscences" - Philsde phia Times.