Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-27

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desire to "turn in"
FANNIE B. WARD.
MRS. HARRISON AND HARRIET LANE
The Latter's Interesting "reminiscences of
Her White House Days.
The career of Harriet Lane as a young
lady, presiding over the social surround
ings of one of the most brilliant admins
trations of the century, had made deep
impression upon the youthful mind of
Mrs Harrison, who was then in the twen-
ties. Now, since she has reached the
same pinnacle of social supremacy, she
felt doubly interested in talking over the
experiences of one of her predecessors in
the line of social succession Of the Execu-
tive household. Mrs. johnson recounted
some of the social events at the White
House during her times. She dwelt with
particular interest upon the visit OF the
Prince Of Wales during the administration
of her uncle The Prince and suite were
the guests of President Buchanan, in re-
turn for the frequent marks of royal con-
sideration bestowed upon himself and his
niece during their residence near the
Court of st. James. 1t was the only time
in the history of the Government that the
scion of royal house and heir to the
throne had been entertained at the hone
of the Presidents. In the course of this
interesting conversation Mrs. johnson cor
rected several errors which have been per-
petrated by writers in regard to the enter
tainment of the Prince and party.
The tour of his Royal Highness, Prince
of Wales, through Canada and the United
States during the summer of 1860 was the
first great progress ever made by mem
Der OF the English royal family to the
Western hemisphere.
The President, upon learning that her
Majesty's son and heir contemplated visit
ing the Canadian possessions of the Crown,
extended an invitation to the British
Queen, asking the extension of his visit to
the United States. The Queen accepted
the invitation, and after the Prince had
completed his Canadian tour and had made
a long journey in the West he came to
Washington.
In giving an account Of this historic
visit, Mrs. johnson, in answer to questions
from Mrs Harrison, said that the party
consisted of the Prince of Wales; the Duke
of Newcastle, Secretary of the Colonies
and State adviser on his tour; the Earl of
st. German, Lord Steward of her Majesty's
household; Maior-General, the Hon. r.
Bruce, Governor to the Prince DR.. Ak
land, the Princes physician; Lieutenant
Grey and Major Teesdale, Equerries, and
the Dukes Private Secretary The Prince
and party we're met at the station by Cen
eral Cass, Secretary Of State, with James
Buchanan and James Buchanan Henry,
e ~. A. IL,
alighted General Cass received him on the
part of the President, and after few in
Productions entered the Presidents carriage
and drove to the Executive Mansion. As
the Prince alighted the President stepped
forward and greeted him, and led his dis
tinguished guest at once to the Blue Room,
where Miss Harriet Lane and Mrs Ellis,
niece of the late Nice-President William
r. King, awaited him. After an inter-
change of greeting the Prince reverted to
their meeting at the British Court After
the preliminaries of hospitality the princi-
pal members of the Princes party were
shown to the apartments which they were
to occupy.
Tradition has made the state bedroom,
now occupied by the President, as the
apartment in which the great grandson of
George Ill slept while a guest at the
White House. Mrs. johnson, however
informed Mrs. Harrison that the Prince of
Wales, instead of occupying one Of the
state bed-chambers on the south side of
the mansion, was given the room in the
northwest corner, which, during the late
Administration, was the boudoir Of Mrs.
Cleveland, and is now assigned to the
Presidents daughter and her children
The third apartment in the south side
from the west, now occupied by the Presi-
den~and always supposed to have been
the Nom assigned to the Prince of Wales,
was occupied by the Duke of Newcastle.
The large room opposite the library, now
the apartment of Mrs Harrison's father.
was occupied by Major General Bruce,
governor to the Prince.
The President, having surrendered his
own room, occupied the apartment on the
north side next TO the northeastern corner
of the building now the ante-room. The
Earl ST. German. DIR. Akland, the equer-
ries to the Prince, and the private secre-
tary were entertained at the British Lee
CATION as guests Of Lord Lyons.
At l o'clock on the day following the
arrival the President and Miss Lane gave
reception IN honor Of the Prince. Al
though Immediately upon the arrival of
the Prince at the mansion a corps Of police
were stationed around the mansion with
instructions to permit no one to pass into
the building except on written invita-
tion, the reception was for the general
public The Prince and his party were
much struck with the decorum shown by,
the throng, but exhibited considerable
amusement over the variety OF toilets of
the ladies and costumes of the gentlemen.
As the visit was made at a season when
many of the officials and fashionable peo-
pie were out of the city, the crowd was
naturally somewhat promiscuous But it
was remarked, notwithstanding the disre-
gard of dress, that the general appearance
of the miscellaneous throng was more pre-
sentable than if the Queen had received
the President at Buckingham palace with
out the usual ceremonial directions as to
court dress and persons permitted to be
present.
The President personally visited the
Capitol with the Prince, explaining the
various objects of interest. The next day
there were fireworks and small party to
high officials was given at the White