The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-10

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Piained, does not at all resemble the
rruggeo and severe type with which we are
AaIuiAi1d IN the portraits of Andrew Jack
eOn: me Donelson mansion in which the
weouang occurred was reckoned among the
vs:,y me residences at the capital, and it
jill stands, quite dwarfed by its modern
rr ~. but few doors from the
National theater on e street. Alas, how
ever, LOT the fate offamily mansions in the
Iowing capital of . democratic people.
me aristocratic house which In 1852 ten
9ered its hospitality to a batch Of presi-
oentlaI candidates. is now dispensing good
cheer to very different class of persons
from behind screened doors. and where
Meisbler sign is conspicuously hung above
the latch string.
ENTERTAINING GHOSTS.
Enormously interesting reading TO q
gossip-loving world would be certain big,
bulky, velvet-colored book that Mrs. VIII
COX regards as chief among her posses
nons--a book which she does not open to
everyday visitors. and of which the Curl
Gus reporter is only permitted small
glimpses. In this huge book so hand
somely bound and carefully preserved. are
pasted and preserved large and interest
ing part OF President Jackson's CORE
spondence. 1t is the private family, social
and political correspondence of several adj
ministrations. There Is curious fascina-
Ton IN al ghosts Of the dead. these shad-
0ws Of buried loves and hates and ambi-
tons. We are all curious to catch these
ecn0es OF great plans and forgotten dreams,
but letters Of the historic dead are pre-em.
inently readable To read for ones self
the fading characters traced by Tyler, Mad
lson and Monroe, by Washington irving
ana Lafayette, by Fillmore, Cass and Van
to read the same letters set up in type.
MIS-. Wilcox regards this collection as
OF extreme historic value, but the state
secrets and social complications stored
away between those red covers would have
created much more of q sensation if pub
hshed in 1840 than in 1892.
Among the letters which Mrs. Wilcox
jealousy guards from the profane news
paper eye, is one in the free running hand
OF James K. Polk, of Tennessee It is q
confidential letterwritten in 1874 Just before
the nominating convention IN 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, q letter very like those of to-
day, in which the man Of letters urges the
appointment of some friend, who,
as usual, is backed up by .
long record of party service. Even
more interesting public reading would the
next letter make, one from Mrs. Donel-
son, 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 administration, and
necessitated formal adjustment of social
relations between the first lady of the land
and the wife of the cabinet officer. This
is the letter in which request for pri-
vate or informal visit from the lady in
question il refused by Mrs. Donelson. It
Is q very fine piece of literary composition,
such lofty and dignifed epistle as is
rarely composed by the latter-day rapid
transit man or woman. Most courteously,
Donelson explains that while her public
position necessitates her receiving all
manner of persons publicly, that in her
private life and association, she aims to
preserve the White House as temple of
virtue.
PRESIDENT JAcKsoN's RECEPTIONS
Another most entertaining letter is from
the same lady to her own mother, while en-
route from Nashville to Washington City
with the presidential party. The letter of
January %. 1899, written on board the
steamboat Pennsylvania; between Cincin-
natl and Wheeling, describes the ovation
given them in the famous place, the
booming of cannon and the military and
civil honors that greeted Uncle ] ackson. /"
In the somewhat stilted, but correct and
beautiful English, she describes the ire
mendous crush, and after infinitely de-
scribing the presidents physical condition,
and how the rheumatic pains in his limbs
were better, she added, s'but his arm is
very lame and his hand is very sore and
swollen from the Misunderstanding he received
in Cincinnati" This letter, which con-
sisted of but one sheet of large-sized paper,
had been sent without an envelope and
sealed with red wax. The postage mark
was fifty cents.
AN INVITATION TO HONOR LAFAYETTE.
Even an invitation to a ball reveals the
stage-coach era and the lack of the tele-
graph. Lafayette's visit to Nashville in
1926 was signalized by grand ball. The
invitation, which was very elegant for
those days and decorated with portraits of
Jackson, Lafayette and George Washing
ton under halo, was worded as follows:
You are respectfully invited to attend
ball in Nashville on the third evening
after the arrival of General Lafayette, or
on the second, should he arrive on Fri
day."
JACKsoNIAN SIMPLICITY.
Because of its age and association and
because We are apt to talk rather much
about the old time democratic economy,
it may not be uninteresting to glance over
a hotel bill of General Jackson's. It is
dated May 20. 1925, and was contracted
during one of those transformations trips
made by the famous soldier-planter before
his political fortune was made. The bill
is made out under the letter head of the
Franklin hotel, afterwards Gadsbys, and
the items for one week run as follows:
Board Zone week. observation-disclosures 80 90
Three servants lone week. ...-..--......... Is 90
For livery, four horses 16 20
Club. ..................... IL 50
Mrs. porelsons board ..-..--........-..... - %
Extra dinners. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 150 90