The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-12-07

him. aAfs1A11 LANE '~f'1s'A"4'
Her success was instantaneous. She was
the most popular American woman who had
ever been known in the drawing rooms of
London; admirers by the score hung upon
her words; her wit was the fashion: her bon
mots were repeated everywhere; the exquisite
tact, for which she has been always noted,
was studied by half the titled women of Lon
don; her charms of mind and person made a
decided impression on the queen herself, and
the fair young American was the recipient
of many distinguished marks Of royal favor.
She was but Is years of age at this time.
When but stolid boy the Prince of Wales,
now fat and scant of breath, was infatuated
with her, as he has often confessed.
Indeed, the fondness of the Prince of Wales
for Americans dates from the time he first
knew Harriet Lane. The famous incident
concerning Miss Lanes presentation at court
made the Prince of Wales, as we'll as his
mother, warm friends Of the young woman.
On that occasion the ladies of the diplomatic
corps had been marshaled in regular order by
the lord chamberlain, and were awaiting the
arrival of royalty, when q very i'll bred
English woman, married to a diplomat, de-
liberately took her place ahead of tho Ameri-
can minister's niece Miss Lane quietly at
tracted the attention of the lord chamberlain.
He came up, and she explained that, while
for herself she was quite Indifferent to the
question of precedence, as the niece of tho
American minister she declined to yield her
place.
The lord chamberlain promptly put the
snobbish English woman back where she be-
longed, and Miss Lanes position was estab-
lished for good.
and shortly afterward became mistress Of the
White House, she was fully matured and
superb looking woman. She was Il blonde.
Her eyes were deep violet, and she was re-
fined in toilet, speech and manner. She
always avoided superfluous ornament in
dress. Her accomplishments were many. She
was musician, painter, student and accom-
plished conversationalist.
The most interesting social event con-
nected with the presidency of Buchanan was
the visit of the Prince of Wales and suite to
Washington in the autumn of 1860. This
was the first occasion that an heir apparent
to the English throne had visited the capital
of the lost colonies. Miss Lane did the
honors of the White House in queenly fash
ion, and when the prince returned to Eng
land he sent her letter overtlowing with
grateful sentiments toward her for her cor
dial welcome. Tho most interesting circunl-
stance of the visit was the presence of the
great grandson Of George III standing with
bowed head before the tomb of George
Washington, together with the president.
Miss Lane and a large party of statesmen
and ladies.
At the close of his administration Bu-
chanan and his niece retired to Wheatland.
Here Miss Lane remained until 1866, when
she was married to Mr. Henry E. Johnston,
a prominent Baltimore banker. The two
had first met at Bedford Springs, Pa, i'll the
golden days of youth. Her husband died
some years ago, as did also her two boys, AMI
since their deaths she has lived i'll the strict
est seclusion. She has now no near relatives.