The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-10

distinguished persons at the wedding were
eight presidential candidates. Besides the
President himself, who sought re nomina-
ton, were Lewis Cass, Daniel L. Dickerson,
Stephen a. Douglass, General Scott, the
Wing nominee, and Webster, Buchanan and
Marcy of New York. The marriage cere-
mony was performed by Chaplain Gallagher
of the White House, and his thoughtfulness
on certain vital point, Mrs. Wilcox still
remembers with approval. Even forty
years ago before the names Of the strong
minded women were used to scare naughty
children, brides were beginning to have
doubts as to the propriety of the word
'obey'' in the marriage ceremony. With
out having suggested it, the bride on this
occasion was pleased to note the omission
OF that questionable word, and asked the
chaplain afterward how he came to antici-
pate her own preference. He laughingly
assured her that he was quite satisfied that
she would do her duty without being placed
under oath. Mrs. Wilcox, be it explained,
does not al all resemble the rugged and Sc
we're type with which we are familiar in the
portraits OF Andrew Jackson. The Donel
son mansion in which the wedding occurred
was reckoned among the very fine resi-
dences at the capital, and it still stands
quite dwarfed by its modern surroundings
but few doors from the National theater
on E. street. Alas, however, for the fate
Of family mansions in the growing capital
of democratic people. The aristocratic
house which in 1852 rendered its hospitality
to batch of presidential candidates, is
now dispensing good cheer to very differ
ent class of persons from behind screened
doors, and where a Weisbier sign is con-
spicuously hung above the latch string.
ENTERTAINING GHOSTS.
Enormously interesting reading to COS
sip-loving world, would be a certain big,
bulky, velvet covered. book that Mrs Will
cox regards as chief among her possessions;
book which she does not open to everyday
visitors, and of which the curious reporter
is only permitted small glimpses In this
huge book so handsomely bound and care
fully preserved, are pasted and preserved
a large and interesting part of President
Jackson's correspondence. 1t is the private
family, social and political correspondence
of several administrations. There is a
curious fascination in all ghosts of the dead,
these shadows of buried love and hates and
ambitions. We are all curious to catch
these echoes of great plans and forgotten
dreams, but letters of the historic dead, are
pre-eminently readable. To read for one 8
self the fading characters traced by Tyler,
Madison and Monroe; by Washington
Irving and Lafayette, by Fillmore, Bass and
Van Buren,, is infinitely more interesting
than to read the same letters set up in
| type.
Mrs. Wilcox regards this collection as of
extreme historic value, but the state secrets
and social complications stored away be.
tween those red covers, would have created
much more of sensation if published in
1910 than in 1892.
Among letters which Mrs. Wilcox jeal-
ously guards from the profane newspaper
eye, is one in the free running hand of
James K. Polk of TENNESSEE 1t is conf
dental letter written in 1874 ust before the
nominating convention in B Baltimore, and
Mrs. Wilcox hints is of compromising
character and for the possession of which,
the descendants of the eleventh President
| would pay good round sum- Alongside
the autograph of Polk, is that of Washing
ton Irving, letter very like those of to-day,
in which the man of letters urges the ap-
pointment of some friend, who as usual, is
backed up by the long record of party SER
vice. Even more interesting public read
ing would the next letter make, one from
Mrs. Donelson when mistress of the White
House to Mrs. Eaton, wife of the secretary
of war. 1t relates to the notorious Eaton
scandal which set polite society by the
ears during Jackson's administrations and
necessitated q formal adjustment of social
relations between the first lady of the land
and the wife of the cabinet officer. This is