The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-09

When Jackson was elected president his
wife said to those about her; For Mr.
Jackson's sake | am glad; for my own
never wished it, would rather be a door
keeper in the house of my God than to
dwell in that palace in Washington"
There is Il popular story that it was while
making preparations for her departure
from the Hermitage that this gentle soul
received the rude shock which caused her
death. She was like a mother to every
servant on the estate, and wishing to leave
all comfortable TOR the winter, made trip
into Nashville 20 purchase supplies and
clothing for those who were dependent on
her Weary from her shopping, she went
into the parlor of n hotel to rest while she
waited for the family coach to carry her
back to the Hermitage.
Suddenly she heard her name spoken in
an adjoining room, and her character as.
sailed in terms of base and cruel calumny.
For some tire she sat there motionless,
listening to the accusations against herself,
which had been circulated during the cam
paign and which her chivalric husband had
carefully kept from her knowledge The
popular tradition adds that she was soon
after seized with spasmodic disease of the
heart. OF this account the historians only
say that it is not certainly proved, and Par
ton adds that she had known of the Sian
ders against her long before the fatal seiz-
ure on Dec. II. 1928. The inscription upon
the tomb tells you
Here lie the remains Of Mrs. Rachel jackson,
wife of President jackson, who died the I'D of
December, 1928 aged siXty-one years. Her face
was fair. her person pleasing, her temper ami
able. her heart kind. She delighted in relieving
the want Of her fel How turps nd pult
that divine pleasure by the most liberal and
unpratending methods. TO the poor she was I,
benefactor; TO the rich an example; to the
wretched a comforter; to the prosperous an or
nament. Her piety went hand in hand with
her beneyolence, and she thanked her Creator
for being permitted to do good, A being so
gentle and so virtuous SANDER might wound,
but could not dishonor; even Death when he
bore her from the arms of her husband, could
but transport her to the bosom of her God.
And if at midnight you could walk
through the old mansion | doubt not you
would see another lovely ghost fitting
through the great rooms-beautiful Emily
Donelson, the niece of Rachel jackson and
mistress of the White House during her
uncle's administration. Emily Donelson
strongly resembled Mary Queen or Scots
and possessed much of the fascination of
the White Rose of Scotland. The gown
she wore at the first inauguration ball is
one of the precious relics. 1t is of amber
satin, brocaded with violets and trimmed
| with pearls and lace. 1t was a present
| from the general, and even at that day
| was described ut great length in every
newspaper in the country.
And it is this old mansion, so filed with
| historic and gentle associations, that the
| Nashville ladies are working vigorously to
save from the hand of the spoiler They
are now making preparations OH a grand
scale for Colonial bali or reception at the
| Ponce de Leon, st. Augustine, in March
at which many unique and interesting
| features will be introduced. General and
Mrs. jackson, the cabinet and foreign
ministers of his administration and theil
wives will be personated by prominent 50
ciety people of Nashville The lady who /,
to personate Mrs. jackson will wear arti
Giles of dress which belonged to the gen
erals wife and also the jewels presented Il
her by the people of New Orleans
The ball will be opened with minue
and closed with an old fashioned Virgins
reel. Many of the most valuable relics vii
be taken from the Hermitage to exhibit a
this ball, and one of the attractions will b,
the generals old body servant an ageC
negro who never wearies talking of tn,
| glory of his master Jackson's sword, pre-
scented by the citizens of New Orleans, will
be carried by the gentleman who person
| ates him.
An effort is now being made by prominen
southerneIs to interest New York societ,
people in this affair, and specially to enlis