The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-30
RECOLLECTIONs OF MRS. HAYES.


ices of Che w. c. T. U. at the Capital.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press
Many vivid tableaux of Mrs. Hayes in
stately scenes flash before my memory; her
shiny black hair, coiffured with no orna-
ment but a silver comb; her fondness for
white or cream, white silk or satin dresses
on occasions of state, with black silk as an
almost invariable second choice; her avoid
ance of low-necked evening gowns, though
her neck and bust showed charming wom-
anly outlines through their soft enveloping
folds of lace Or.silk. She also greatly dis
liked and discOuntenanced these exposures
in other women. Miss Austine Suead,
whose neck and arms were her best physic-
al points and who naturally liked to show
then d h tot o. me- once cen now MIS- rs PPayes beck
when thus attired one evening at recep-
ton, and whispered kindly to her to GO ND
stairs into her own Mrs Hayes dressing
room and get little lace shawl she would
find in a certain bureau drawer land cover
up that bosom and those arms" Miss
Snead never again appeared In Mrs. Hayes
presence decOllete.
recall pleasant Sunday mornings, when,
from my door. nearly facing the Foundry
Church, / used to see the President and
Mrs. Hayes walking down from the White
House and entering the sacred edifice he
prcuder of being at her side than of being
President of a great people; she, rosy
checked and devoutly comedy in the white
d
silk dress. with sealslin wrap OF of some
lighter fabric. Sometimes |. also, would
go in as a worshiper, and it was one of the
pleasant incidents of the service, if |
pew, to hear Mrs Hayes's pure, deep voice
raised in singing the dear old Methodist
hymns.
She established. also. the charming Sunday
evenings OF sacred song at the White House,
either in the library or the Green Parlor.
Not many were admitted to them, but this
made them all the more home-like and in
formal.
Hayes's good taste that she never visited
Washington after the close of her hus-
bands term. She never came back to be a
subordinate figure where once she had
been the first and foremost. There could
have been no bitterness at the bottom of
this, for she left several friends here who
would have entertained her with dignitied
and appropriate cOrdiality, notably Senator
and Mrs. Sherman and the family of JUST
ice Stanley Matthews, as long as the first
record here was accomplished, and life held
enough for her in other fields.
/ spoke, in a recent article, of Mrs.
Hayes's fondness for flowers, and also of
her ordering the notable Haviland set Of
Limoges china. Oh which are perpetuated
the fauna and fora native to the United
States. This china is regarded as curios-
ity now, rather than an attraction. A little
of it Is generally used at each state dinner
to show people what it looks like but there
are other sets much more admired.
Mrs. Hayes was not notable housewife.
In the years of her residence in southern
Ohio her housekeeping was regarded as of
the happy go-lu lucky sort. She found dirty
and worn out state of things in the White
House. but she made no radical reno alton.
She was content to cover up the defects
with flowers, always flowers, here. there
and everywhere. Also, she ransacked the
attic for historic bits of old furniture ard
gave them new lease of usefulness. She
was charmed with the dingy old White
House, and enjoyed being its mistress for
all that it was worth. mo matter what
they build. they will never build any more
rooms like these" she would say as she
took her friends over it, and have no
doubt she thoroughly enjoyed, in after