Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-30
MRS. RUTHERFORD HAYES.
An Incident of Her Visit to Monter
Some Years Ago.

An Incident of Her Visit to Monterey
Some Years Ago.
EDS. RECORD UNION: The following is
an extract from an old journal, or diary,
kept during the writer's sojourn at Pacific
Grove, and the occasion was recalled to
mind by reading in the RECORD UNION of
Wednesday of the peaceful death of Mrs.
Rutherford B. Hayes. Possibly this may
be the only record in existence of that
bright day that Mrs. Hayes spent at Mon
terey and vicinity;
DEL MONTE, September 26,h.-What a
marvel this place is. Last May it was a
sand-bank, and to-day you can almost
fancy yourself in the Garden of Eden, al.
though of course the inhabitants are very
different. The Southern Pacific Railroad
own this place las indeed they do the
Grove, and they have surely demonstrated
what money can do Beautiful Del Monte
Every bit OF you art, l acknowledge. |
like Pacific Grove better, for it is ali nature
there-from the grand trees to the wild
plants which raise their bright heads
among the rocks and through the sand,
and even the plain people, without any
special manners, save those of kindly COM
lliIH SlHllIly, anu DcIG ever bOuy SPIES his
to everybody without an introduction,
seem in some way in unison with the
noble grandeur of the place. What a con-
trast to fashionable Del Monte
l am writing in the open air. It's 4
bright, brisk, pure air to-day, and the sun
is shining gloriously. Nature seems 10
have bedecked herself in holiday attire 10
welcome President Hayes, who arrived at
Del Monte last evening. He was welcomed
by grand ball. Was it q welcome to him,
l wonder? His gentle-appearing wife
looked as though she would have enjoyed
a prayer, meeting better; and indeed the
President does not appear like ballroom
devotee. As sit here watching the COM
ings it is relief amid all the wonders of
the brilliant scene, 10 turn my eyes on
those two simply attired, pleasant-looking
people.
Mrs. Hayes is smiling now, and she
is lovely when she speaks and smiles. She
always smiles at the children, think. At
| this moment Fred is the. recipient of her
favor think he does not realize the con-
descension of the act, and so he behaves
| naturally and prettilv. The Presidential
party are in their carriages now, and l see
coming upon the grounds the Pacific Grove
coach, and l must go and speak to my old
| friends.
| friends from the Grove to accompany them
| to the reception at the school-house in
Monterey, and then l went home with
| Viola Moore and spent the remainder of
| the day. We did not hear the whole of
| President Hayes address, as we tarried too
| long before starting. The Grove party had
never been at Del Monte before, and so l
took them through the hotel. What gala
| time it was! First through the verandas,
where the guests were assembled to witness
| the departure of the President and party
Seeing but unseen" described our position
exactly, for everybody was looking at the
distinguished visitors, and we could look at
every body. Then we went upstairs, and
down stairs-through parlor, ladies' bill
| lard room and ballroom. To reach the
| latter named place, we passed through The
punch room, where the unwashed glasses
remained from the previous nights wei
come" Once again. was this welcome
| appreciated By the President and his tenn
perance wife?
What good time we plain people from
| the Grove had that morning 1t was too
| bad to lose President Hayes speech,
though. But we heard every word of Gen.
eral Sherman's, who spoke Che saidO to old
! friends, for lie lived in Monterey thirty
| years ago. Then the children sang, and
| their voices were the sweet voices of the
| Spanish and Mexican races, and never was
Marching Through Georgia" rendered, l
| think, with truer melody.
Then President Hayes said few words,
| in the name of his wife, thanking the peo-
| pie for their cordial greeting, and then a
! photographer took our pictures, and then
Mrs. Hayes received anyone who desired
the privilege of speaking to and shaking
| hands with her.
/ heard an old lady say: 81 kissed her,
and told her | loved her. And do" she
added to the group she was addressing
and, although we did not all of US tel Mrs.
Hayes the same thing, yet l think we all
were won by the friendliness of our Presi-
dents wife. A long line of children went
up to greet her. We are only Mexican
children" one said, and she kissed the
daTk-eyed speaker. Some she kissed, some
she spoke a pleasant word to, a few she
shook hands with, and then she went away
to her carriage; and l thought: How
tired, how weary you must be; how can
you take that long ride to Cypress Point
| before you take the train this afternoon p
TIE party passed through an edge of the
| Grove, but | suppose did not have time to
call on US. l wish they might have stopped
| ! am sure they would have been delig hted