The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-20
BUCHANAN'S SWEETHEART.


The True and False Version Of the
Story Why He Remained Bachelor,
ST, PAUL, Jan. IA remarkable story
is published in the Globe to-day, which that
paper vouches for. 1t claims to have inves-
tigated the story thoroughly.
just one week ago the simple inscription
| "Letitia Duncan, aged 81 years, months
and day. was cut in plain headStone in
little graveyard at Lake City. Resting
peacefully within the small snow-covered
mound and apparently forgotten is all that
remains of one whose fair, girlish beauty,
| courtiness of manner and noble character
in wears gone by were responsible for three
broken heart, and fearful tragedy. At her
feet President of the United States laid his
all, only to meet with bitter disappointment
and lifelong suffering. With this unre-
Quilted love, retiring into cellbacy, he rever
allow ed his thoughts 20 assume the shape
of affection for any other and died unmar-
ried.
BUcHANAN's LOVE
Lolita Duncan was born in tavern at
| Erie, Pa, Aug. 90, 1874. Her father kept
this place and it was known by the battered
sign in front as the Farmers Tavern
Here Letitia was raised and splendidly edu-
Gated, though not allowed TO do a stroke
of labor of any kind, and to the day
of her death she knew not the slightest
rudimens OF cooking, sewing or any other
household duties.
When about IS years of age she was the
| belle of the own and country, and every
swain for miles around laid his heart at her
feet. Wonderfully beautiful with long
raven black hair and deep black eyes, one
! loved her at sight. Her grace, noble char
acter and pure mind were the talk Of the
| village and she reigned supreme.
Across tina street from her futhprlS tavern
was a printing office, and young Buchanan,
afterward President of the United States,
was an apprentice. He lived at the tavern
and there met Letitia Duncan. Failing in
love with her at once he began his court
| ship, and his suit prospered rather fairly
until Mr.. Duncan, fearing tine state of
affairs, forbade Buchanan the house and
elected him therefrom. James and Letitia
! met secretly, however, and thus matters
stood until handsome Dan Turner appeared
on the scene in the pretty uniform of
second lieutenant of the United States navy.
He stopped at the tavern when passing
through the village and accidentally met
Letitia 1t was a case Of mutual love at
first sight and from that hour Bucbanans
love was hopeless.
LETTERS OF A LOVER.
Broken-hearted, Buchanan stumbled to
his room and wrote to Letitia the following
letter:
My DEAR LET1rIA-I shall never link my for
tunes with anyone my dearest girl, unless they
are with you. Your fathers cruelty is measured
by the depth of my pocket. shall never marry
Lefty, dear, so fare thee well until death.
BUCHANAN.
But few days before penning this letter
Buchanan dedicated the following lines to
Miss Duncan:
Her lovely hair in rings wave. and hanging over
her shoulders,
She was fit to entice the heart Of any man
who'd behold her.
Her teeth were white as the ivory showed.
And her breath was spice, wherever it flowed.
Her father was cruel, sight OF me he couldn't
The reason why, because I was poor
l dare not enter the dwelling where dwells my
lovely jewel JAMES BUCHANAN.
Finally Buchanan desired to 60 away and
wrote this farewell letter;
My DEAR LFTITIA: can no longer endure a
sight of the place that held my happy hours as
even the budding flowers remind ae of you,
whom | shall never see again. The place is
blest to contain flower like you, dear Lefty,
but weeds like must seek some other habita-
ton, so, dear girl send you this timepiece as
remembrance that poor JeemS loved you and
never shall love another.
Goodby my love; may you be blessed by God
is the wish of your heart-broken
JAMES BUCHANAN.
With the letter was an elegant gold watch,
the cases of which were set with ten anne
thysts and one turquoise. This watch, the
above letters and verses, and dozen letters
from young Turner, are among the effects
of Miss Duncan.
THE TRUE VERSION.
PIrrsBURG, Jan. 1.-THE true story of
President Buchanan's love affair was told
to-day by an intimate lady friend The in
terview was prompted by publication in
the st. Paul Globe of a story of Buchanan's
alleged sweetheart which had no foundation
in fact. 1t is believed that Buchanan's real
sweetheart committed suicide. The story is
told by Miss Blanche Nevin, of Lancaster,
sculptor and artist, whose greatest work,
a statue Of Muhlenberg, is in the capitol at
Washington. Miss Nevin is n daughter of
the late Dr. John w. Nevln, the tneolo2ian,
whose residence, ''Caernarvau Place. adj
joins "Wheatland," where President
Buchanan resided. The two fami-
lies have always been init
mate. Miss Nevia said: "In Ills
youth Mr.. Buchanan's heart was won by
the charms Of n beautiful Miss Coleman,
who, like himself, resided in Lancaster.
She was II member OF the aristocratic Cole
man family, whose vast estates and the
Cornwall Iron Wor s, near Lebanon, Pa,
which they controlled, rendered them one
of the wealthiest in the country. Buchanan
and Miss Coleman were betrOthed and were
considered one of the handsomest couples in
All ULS Country dIOuHu, GoOiDb IlIDe 0lter
the engagement had been announced. Mr..
Buchanan was obliged o go out of town on
a business trip. He returned in a few days
and casually dropped in to SEE my aunt, Mrs.
William Jenkins, with whose husband he
was on terms of intimate friendship. With
her was staying her sister, Miss Grace Hub
ley, a daughter Of General Hublcy, revo-
lutionary officer, pretty and charming
young lady.
From this innocent call the whole
trouble arose. A young lady told Miss
Coleman of it aud thereby excited her iea-
ousv. She was indignant that he should
visit another before coming to her. On the
spur of the moment she penned an angry
note and released him from his engagement !
The note was handed him while he was in !
the court house. Persons who saw him re- |
ceive it remarked afterward that they no !
ticed him turn pale when he read it. Mr.. !
Buchanan was n proud man. The large !
fortune of the lady was to him only another |
barrier TO his trying 70 persuade her TO re- |
consider her rejection of himself. few !
days after the quarrel party TO go 10 Phil /
adelphia TO attend an opera was /
arranged apd Miss Coleman was included |
in the invitation. They went 10 the |
city, but when the time for going to the |