Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10

/ IrOIu III
"s2fsssE old, old teacup, on an
| ss.>ss5~ old, old table. with an
old. old lady!" And
she touched her coronet of snow white curls
| with q smile.
"This is an historic table, child" she went
on; ''around it some Of the famous men and
women of two distinct periods Of American
history have sat and chatted over their tea Just
as we are doing this afternoon"
| Whose table was it, and where did it come
| fromr' l asked, examining the stiff, queer
looking legs with awakened interest SIT came
from Shropshire. England. and it was brought
| to Virginia in the year 1920 by Henry TYLER the
founder Of our family in America. Then it
descended to Your great-great-great grand
iatner mere ! became vaguely conscious of an
impression OF undesirable time, and space,
and distance), who was the last royal marshal
OF the colony, and who was the father of John,
the Patriot, and the grandfather of my father
who became President of the United States in
lo4l. SO you see this table has been in good
company. 1t has been the silent witness of
| stirring scenes long ago forgotten by all save
the antiquarian or the historian. Just think
| how many talks it must have heard; how many
state secrets were whispered; how many po-
ntical rumors were discussed how many bits Of
London gossip, brought over by the last new
conner to the colony. were served here with tea
and biscuits century and half ago.
Cannot one imagine bow the family would
gather around this table in the old house at the
Middle plantations and talk over the strange
| thrilling events at the time? What consterna-
| ton there must have been when the news came
that Madam Page, with three other ladies, had
been taken prisoners by the 1ery dauntless
Nathaniel Bacon. One Of your grandmothers
| was Page, SO, of course, there was much
| alarm felt. You see, our people were all
stanch to the royal government then, Polly,
nj nntf f-iEa far he Il
which, later on, John. the Patriot, was proud
to claim, was not yet inscribed upon the family
escutcheon Of the king-loving cavalier ances-
| tors. As you sit by this old bit of furniture
| think of the men who have doubtless sat around
it-Lord Dunmore. Sir William Berkely Mich
olson, Drummond, Bacon and host of others
whose names are familiar in our national his
tory. 1t was this same marshal and lord of
the admiralty court who helped Sir Francis
Nicholson lay off the city of williamsburg
And now. Polly, wish you to remember this.
for 1t brings our table to the second epoch of
its checkered story. 1t was here that John. the
Patriot, framed the resolutions for the confer
ence at Annapolis which led to the Declaration
Of American Independence"
did lie write the resolutions on this?" /
cried, quite forgetting my manners and leaning
both elbows heavily on my ancestor mahogany
table.
Il am entirely satisfied in nv mind that he
did so. though some of the family seem to
n1h oil ha fro, a.
ment nv dear Rnt Won want 20 be ano . Joo
life at the White Honss ~ i;vod ,hnr" ,u',
say?'
LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
My cousin Letitia pushed the gingerbread
closer to me, set her teacup down and sat for a
moment in deep thought. ..Well. dear. I WAS
quite a Young woman when nv mothers deatb
made il necessary for me to assume fine social
duties of mistress at the Executive Mansion
IL seems but Yesterday. and vet have ontIived
home friends kindred and most of Iife,s bonss
It's a drearv thing to be alone-a 6rearv thing
but am rambling off as old women ajwavs do,
As was saving. NV father said 10 me 1vban 7
came TO him from nv home at Annanolis .Ro
member this. INV daughter (and tried to fol-
low his couuseD. yoa can have no favorires
show no favors here Every Amer;can c;,;-on
has an equal claim upon you' Our life was
ordered in the same simple wny Ms it had been
Heretofore. We breakfasted at 3 40 and dined
at 8 o'clock (except on state occasions Of
course). and had n tea served after onr daily
drive. All. those driyesI Those hapnv drives,
This part Of the city was a forest fifty wears
ago. Polly, and it was along here that nv
iatner ana USED 10 urlve IN the sunny spring
ali the ENVIRONMENTS nj nol;.ics, .nd snc;ai
cares and duties. for. in spite of the compare
lively quiet life at the White House, my fathers
time was rarely ever his own.
NOW, slng Lefty. he would say when we
1ouno ourselves Tar from the maoding crowd.
enjoying the quiet OF some country road. And
then would sing his favorite songs, the old
Scotch ballads we both loved so we'll Yes,
people said had voice, dear. and believe it
was true. Nobody sings barbara Allen and
'fe Banks and Braes these days-the present
taste prefers something quite different, am
| told
At this moment an organ grinder struck up
''Ta-ra-ra, and felt that the popular taste
was indeed degenerate.
viii you close the door, deary she said gently
as she drew little crocheted cape about her
shoulders. Il have been very sensitive to
draughts since my last attack OF grip, and that
reminds me that must tell you about the
Tyler grip that was an epidemic nearly half
century ago. 1t was during my fathers admin
istratlon that the Bunker Hill monument was
completed, and the PRESIDENT was invited to al