Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-21


Liverpool We travelled leisurey rid Lon
don. Dover. and Boulogne 70 Paris. whore
We fingered several delightful months, and
then resumed our journey through France
20 Italy, meeting many agreeable com
paniOns. forming many valuable friend
ships, aud leaving nothing unseen or un-
enjoyed that foreign countries Afforded ut
that period. The news from America of
Harris0n's death startled Us in the midst of
enjoyment. and the black Grape with which
We young ladies draped our left wrist tes-
tilted 10 the sense of grief universally felt
by Americans. whether az home or abroad.
for the death of the good man and soldier,
the " Hero of TippecsnOe."
RETURN PROM EUROPE,
But it was not until the succeeding fall
that we returned once more 20 the loved
shores of our native land. Resuming our
travels, after a long tarry in Italy We LETT
Rome by post. the mode of lOurneviug We
had adopted on leaving Paris. and far 10 be
preferred % any other. having purchased
q trayelling-carriage there and secured the
services of an accomplished courier. We
visited the cities and towns Of many coun-
tries. passing over the Simplon Alps and
by the stored Rhine, giving ourselves new
leases Of enjoyment by sOjOurus here and
there An what could have been more
enchanting than our experience IN Brus-
sells and not alone there: but | dare not
stop 20 call up too many of the memories
Of the past We returned at length 20
London. and after rich eniOymeuts there.
in due time again pursued our course of
travel and with an experienced rGit IN
stead Of our continental courier, accom-
plished IN many tonglcs. we went again by
post on Aminutean extended tourthrough
England. Ireland. Scotland. aud Wales, but
of the incidents of tins tour abroad may
not now speak.
Il was in the month Of September, 1871.
that after undergoing the trials of al equi-
noctial stOrm-the severcst, the captain Of
our steamer said. that be- had ever encoun-
tered-we landed at Boston.
M1mARD FILLMORE.
Nv father was Of one of the old families
Of New York. and possessing means and
leisure. he placed his timeG at hls daughters
disposal and there WAS no wish personal tO
ourselves which he did not attempt bv
every available means 20 CRAFTY. Having
become acquainted IN former days. while .
member Of the New York State Senate,
with nearly all the prominent politicians
of the State. he conceived the idea of
visit 20 Washington during the session Of
Congress. thinking that our education
would be- slngularlv imperfect IT after
seeing the capitals Of nearly all The gov
ernments of the Old World We should
neglect TO see our own. Impressions Of
our public men began with our trip from
New York 20 Washington. 4 handsome,
pOrtlv gentleman came several times INTO
thecar in which we were seated and excited
the interest of myself and sister by the
self-conscious manner IN which he looked
into the mirror AT the head Of the car and
adjusted his crayat, while he cast several
furtive glances IN our direction. These
chances were doubtless accidental, though
soon after our arrival I'm Washington the
gentleman alluded 20 called upon our par
t., in company with an old friend OF my
fathers. the Hon. Slas Wright, OF New
York. Then we found that the handsome
stranger was no less parsonage than Mil
lard fillmore. the then chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means OF the
House of Representatives., and alas. also
married. BY this latter discovery mine
and my sisters little romance was dis
solved, for, though perhaps little VAIN,
we always thought HIM an accomplished
gentleman. He afterwards followed m the
footsteps of General Taylor a. President Of
the United States.
GALLANT YOUNG srATERMEN.
Our clearinghouse in Washington WAS
Miss PeytOn's, on the corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Four-and-a-Ilalf street.
II had been selected for Us by our friend,
Mr. Arshur Middleton, of South Carolina,
late Minister 20 Madrid, and a most agree
able one il proved. II was quite reudeZ-
vOus at the time for congressman. MIR.
Van Burens Secretary of the Treasury.
Senator Woodbury. and family, from New
Hampshire, boarded there with hls family,
and we met almost daily a cot1Te of young
statesmen, whose types We're well repre-
scented by the chiyalrous Sumter and
Pickens, members from South Carolina;
Hubbard and Mallory, of Virginia; MckeOn
and Davis. Of New York, Cushing. Of
Massachusetts, Butler King. of Georgia.
Often with these as our escorts, whose pO-
likeness never lessened, We visited the
chief places of interest at the capital and
trlhed away the moments IN conversation
on the several topics OF the day. / recall
our visits to the halls of Congress. In the
House our attention could not fail 20 be-
attracted by the distinguished lndiyidu-
ais whose names daily filed the newspa-
pers upon the exciting subjects which rem
dered Mr.. Tyler's Administrations unique
in history.
ADAMS AND WISE.
I remember the appearance Of Mr..
Adams as he sat, day after day watching
his opportunity 10 present ms mammoth
petition on the subject Of slavery. Mr.
Adams was excessively bald, and as he sat
in the middle Of the House, with his i'm
.
windlass to sustain it., his excitement was
manifest in the flaming redness Of his bald
head. which acted a. u ChTOuOmeter 70 his
audience.
There, too, was Henry 4. Wise. of Viz
giuia, fearless in his support Of the Presl-
dent, and in the vehemencs Of his defence
spreading terror among his enenles. his
eyes beaming with the intensity OF his
emotions. and his lips aglOw with the fires
I . ne n. ftl
all-Gilmer. Fillmore Gushing, Pickens,
IngersOll and long host OF others.
Their names are the iayOritrs of history,
and beyond the compass OF what l design
10 be very. very cursOry notion or men
and things that crowd upon my memory.
MET TIE PRESIDENT.
remember my first visit to the White
/ House, where We went few evenings at-
ter our arrival in Washington with con-
gressiOnal party. | was introduced 10 the
/ President by the Hon. Fernando Wood, OF
/ New York, who years afterwards liked TO
revert 70 the occasion. ! own that II was
with great deal Of interest that |, along
with the rest of our party. had anticipated
the interview. The Presidents break with
/ the Wings had been the occasion OF un-
precedented political excitement, and his
/ name was on all lips. When / look back
/ at this day and see him as he stood IN the
/ Green Room" the room between the
East and the Blue" at the moment OF
our introduction, II appears to me no mar
/ vel, acquainted a. | am with his high
/ toned nature. that the wild phrenzy OF po-
/ litical misrepresentation left no impress
/ sion Of bitterness either upon his counte-
nance or MS voice or demeanor. lie wei
coined VS. with an urbanity which made
! the deepest impression upon my father,
and We could not help commenting after
we left the room upon the silyery sweet
ness OF his voice. that seemed in Just at
/ tune with the incompatible grace OF his
/ bearing and the elegant ease Of his con
versation / am here reminded how. IN
/ after DAYS. meeting the novelist James at
a dinner party. he remarked 20 me he had
1 not met in all his American experiences
one who SO completely rounded his SEN
fences in conversation ~ did President
/ Tyler; that he left nothing more 10 be
| said.
was married to President Tyler on the
| 18th of June 1874, and immediately be-
came interested in the great political topic
of the day-the annexation of Texas Mr..
Clay | had met at Saratoga the summer
| preceding NV visit 10 Europe, and had ap-