Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-10
Ex-PREslDEMT euCr.NAN's NIECE.
"A Story About the Youngest Mistress the
White House Has Ever Had.

A Story About the Youngest Mistress the
White House Has Ever Had.
There came to the capital last winter
very beautiful woman whose fine face
and noble carriage attracted much at
tention. She dressed in deepest mourn
ing, and her dark blue eyes looked grave
and sorrowful.
She was Miss Harriet Lane before she
was married to Mr.. Elliott Johnstone,
of Baltimore, and while her uncle, Mr..
Buchanan, was the president she was
the mistress of the White House. Her
Baltimore home was luxurious and hap
py. They had great wealth and their
hospitality and kindness made them
widely beloved. Mr.. Johnstone died
some years ago, and Mrs. Johnstone's
visit to Washington last year, with her
two sons, was the first in long time.
At a dinner given in her honor at the
house of a foreign minister the gentle
men recalled old times, old friends and
White House "reminiscences as they
smoked in the library. 81 can tell you
astory of the most lovely lady the White
House ever boasted off," said an old
white haired diplomat.
"Once upon a time knew little girl,
eleven years old, who was as wild as
deer, graceful and gay, and full of pranks
and capers and generous, big hearted
nonsense generally. She cared nothing
for the remarks of people, and stirred
up the old Pennsylvania town to great
fun. Though she was born aristocrat,
she was most absurdly unconscious Of
propriety. You never saw young thing
SO tall and straight, with head like a
statue and hair exactly the color of yell
low corn.
"Her uncle, with whom she lived
gave grand dinner one day to some
foreign friends, and as l knew them all
well was honored with an invitation.
We were awaiting dinner as we chatted
in the drawing room, and I was Won
dering that the pretty little mistress Of
the house failed to appear. Miss Har-
riet's uncle was very proud of her. 7
heard him remark to Senor L, 4 wish
you to meet my little adopted daughter.
She is quite remarkable
"Just then he stepped to the window
as if looking for her. Suddenly turning
he said: Excuse me moment. IL
will return-soon, and hurried out of a
side door to the piazza.
81 followed him. He hastily called
the cook, the butler, the coachman, and
returned to the house flushed, excited
angry, leaving me to settle the trouble.
''In time Miss Harriet entered the
drawing room, dressed in charming
gown of pale blue, her bonny hair fas-
tened with ribbons like the sky, her
violet eyes deep and dark as pansy,
her fair cheeks blushing. She was quite
the mistress of her home and ready to
presented to her uncle's stately guests.
Everybody was delighted with Miss
Harriet.
"'And have you enjoyed this lovely
day? asked one of the distinguished
men.
"'Oh, very much indeed, thank you
But catching her uncle's eye she blushed
down to her throat.
"Now, this is what Mr.. Buchanan
and had seen before dinner.
"Down the main street of Lancaster
Miss Harriet, trundling a wheelbarrow
full of wood. Her hat was hanging on
one side Of her head, her face was as
scarlet as poppy, her young arms were
braced strong and straight, her bare
hands grasping the handles of the wheel
barrow like those of peasant girl Of
Italy.
t'When the guests had departed and
we three, Mr.. Buchanan and his niece
and /, were sitting before the open fire.
place late that night, the courtly old
gentleman asked in despairing sort of
tone, Harriet, what were you doing
when saw your
".Why, Uncle James, was on my
way to old black Tabitha's with load
of wood because it was growing cold SO
fast. She really had not stick
"You all know that after graduating
at the Georgetown convent Miss Harriet
went with her uncle to the court of st.
James, as he was then the American
minister. Queen Victoria was so pleased
with the beautiful American girl that
she ranked her, during their stay, as
wife, not daughter, of the minister, SO
that the kind hearted little tomboy of
LoiSooCOl ptSCdiAO' OllO VI 'OliO Ill pO AeSuiSo
of the diplomatic corps at st. James. In
Paris she was called the girl queen, and
when Tennyson and Mr.. Buchanan re-
ceived the degree Of doctor of civil laws
at the same time at the University of
Oxford the students cheered her en-
masse.
"Much the same admiration was given
her at the White House. She was called
the golden beauty as she stood beside
the courtly gray old man, the president.
The Prince of Wales never forgot his
visit to America, especially to the charm
ing first lady of the land. He sent her
beautiful remembrances on his return
home.
"Her marriage was brilliant one,
and l know that her life as wife and
mother was more to be admired than all
her conquests. l saw her beautiful
bride, but she was Thousand times
handsomer that breezy afternoon wheel
ing the wood to Aunt Tabitha. Wash
ington Post.
The quickest time and best service
from Los Angeles to the east is made
by the Santa Fe route. The equipment
not excelled. Tourist sleepinu-car oX-