Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-16
SORROWS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

sensational of these episodes. But the
losses in the families of Secretaries
Blaine and Tracy were scarcely less than
official. The sudden taking off of Walker
Blaine may be said to have come within
the scope OF the presidents immediate
official family, as that gentleman was
assistant secretary of state. The fright
full calamity which destroyed the wife
and daughter of Secretary Tracy will be
recalled by every one. The presidents
relations with Sherman were of such an
intimate character that he is warranted
inregarding the death of the great Te-
cumseh as one of his own personal mis-
fortunes.
There are some administrations that
are doomed to an unusual assignment OF
the gruesome order, but there have
been few so remarkable in this respect
as that OF Harrison. The divinity that
doth hedge round king has never
been known to protectthe sovereign from
death, although he furnishes one of the
few instances in which taxes may be dis
pensed with, as he is the official collector
OF these guarantees OF bad and inefficient
government.
Some very remark able misadventures
have characterized the advent of num-
ber of our Republican sovereigns in the
white house-so sad, indeed, as to have
clouded the whole subsequent careers of
their occupants in sorrow. Like the
actor, the successful politician who has
reached the goal OF his ambition, the
civic mansion OF the republic, has been
obliged to wreathe his face in smiles
while his heart was too weary for words.
A great many people have found it con-
venient to ,lndervalue Franklin Pierce
as statesman, although lie enjoyed the
enthusiastic friendship and admiration
of Hawthorne, which of itself should
have been sufficient warrant of even
presidential worth The elevation of
Franklin Pierce was too sudden for or
dinary mortals. The cup OF bliss had to
be dashed from his hands, or the chalice
poisoned. His entry into the white house
was made dreary and disastrous by
railway accident that killed his only
son. Mr.. Pierce was noted for his gen.
tie and genial personal characteristics.
He was intense in all his affections, and
pangs innumerable must have tortured
his soul as he threw over its emotions
the mantle OF conventional gayety.
Buchanan, also, OF our recent presi-
dents, had very weird experiences
deal that the Scotch would call uncanny.
Some OF our readers are too young to re-
member the celebrated scene of death az
the National hotel in Washington which
preceded the Inauguration of Pennsylva-
MAS favorite son. A great many per-
sons were killed outright. Many other
persons received at that time the injur-
les which resulted in death. No ex-
planation of that lamentable episode has
ever been vpuchsafed the public. The
convenient explanation of sewer gas will
scarcely do. Why should sewer gas be
available for only one occasion? Mr..
Buchanan was stopping at the hotel,
which is still extant on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. 1t was his favor
ite hotel. His health had never
been known to suffer any from his resi-
dence in the National hotel. There is
scarcely room for doubt that the motif
OF this National hotel tragedy was the
death of Mr.. Buchanan. Nearly score
of people lost their lives by this disaster,
and many others died ultimately from
the same cause. Today speculation is
just as enlightened as it was the day af-
ter the calamity was chronicled. In the
threatened death of himself, and the
actual death of many personal friends,
there was enough in the incident to
darken the opening days OF Mr.. Buch-
anan's administration. Not death, but
political causes, clouded its closing
days. Cobb, Floyd and Cass fell off
from their chief, and there was scarcely
anything left of an administration which
had started out under blight.
Lincoln's administration began under
very peculiar circumstances. He was
obliged to enter Washington through
stratagem, and in disguise. That there
was much of gloom impending over the
white house during the war cannot
well be doubted. But the event
which questionless carried most gloom
to the heart of the war presi-
dent was the death OF little Thad.
Those who knew the great Illinoisan
well say that after that lamentable oc-
currence his humor was forced, and that
the tear could be seen lurking near the
smile.
Grants occupancy of the white house
was rather gay experience. Marriage
bells were heard within walls which
were wont to treasure secrets OF state.
Whether the charming Nelly Grantse-
cured her personal happiness by her
marriage with Sartoris the world does
not know. No disaster happened dur
ing Mrs. Lucy Hayes's administration
OF the stolen presidency, although,
strangely enough, that most virtuous
and self-containedo of women, with whom
to drink glass of wine was the sin un-
pardonable, died Of apoplexy at the early
age Of 53.
The charming legends of the Cleve-
lands occupancy Of the white house are
too recent to require recapitu-