The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-29
TIKI NATIONAL TRIBUNE wAsHNGToN c. YnJRsDAY

character, she could not b forgiven her ante
cedents. Her career was an eventful one.
The misfOrtunes that followed her from tho
day Of the death of her illhstrious benefactor
are almost Incredible and, were they written
without embellishments, would be called a
romance. She died In this city few years
ago, alone, in great poverty and desolation,
after seeing all her gloEy and friends depart.
For years. persons who attended the Metro
politan Church here, Nw each Sunday
little old lady with no tTnce of beauty left in.
her pinched and wrinkled face, clad in shabby
genteel garments, slip qliistly into seat on
the side aisle, near the alssz. listen attentvely
to the sermon, and as quietly withdraw Mt it's
close. Few knew that this was Mrs. Eaton,
who was once the most conspicuous woman in
President Jackson's official circle.
Mrs. Donaldson was woman Of remark
able beauty; dark auburn hair, brown eyes,
fair complexion, lips and brow cxquisitely
nodded, and slender, symmetrical figure.
Her picture strongly resembles that OF Mary.
Queen of Scots. Her wardrobe was very ele-
CANT. The dress she wore at the Inaugural ball
is still preserved, and even in this day OF cx-
travagance would be greatly admired. 1tisan
amber-colored satin, brocaded with bouquets
of rosebnds and yiolets, and richly trimmed
white lace and pearls. Though Mrs. Grnndy
was given little space in the newspapers OF that
day, this dress was graphically described. 1t
was presented to Mrs Donaldson by the
Presidcnt-elect, who loved his niece as his
own child, always calling her "my daugh-
ter, MS term of endearmcnt Her yivacity
and quick repartee delighted him.
On one occasion foreign Minister, desiring
to compliment her, said Madam you dance
with the grace of Partisan / can hardly
realize you were educated in Tennessee.
Count, You forget that grace is q cosmopo-
lite, and like flower, is found oftener in the
woods than in the streets of city, was the
spirited reply. At dinners, dancing parties,
receptions and on all occasions-and there
were many in those days Of genuine hospi-
tality-Mrs. Donaldson presided gracefully,
greeting all with much cordiality of manner.
At the close of Jackson's first term no COM
plants were heard Of b0orishness, or inhos-
pitable administration; hence when the iates
decreed a second term of the Jackson regime,
there were
NO REGRETS OR UNKIND PROPHECIES
of shortcomings in the courtesics of the
White House.
Jackson, however, was determined to re-
lieve himself Of much Of the irksOme detail
of entertainments. The long drawn out din
ing of officials including the members of
both Houses Of Congress- was trying to his
patience. The pr0miscu0us levees were In
tolerable to him. After entering upon his
second term, he invited the ladies Of the Cab-
net to a consultation on matters Of etiquet,
where he explained that he wished to be re-
lieved from the odious ordeal Of affairs Of
ceremony.
1t was resolved that the President should
the night before Christmas, 1885, to which he
could invite persons entitled to such consider
alton, and thereby avoid the promiscuous
crowd of q public levee. The guests assem-
bled ut nine The ball was in the East
Room. The supper was served i'll the West
Room at II o'clock, and the company dis
persed by halfpast twelve; but those who
were not included in the list of guests were
much dissatisfied, and the following, from
contemporary paper. shows how impossible it
was to adjust social affairs then, when the
city was comparatively in its infancy and the
population small.
AN UNINvITED's COMPLAINT.
A little set Of exclusives is now formed
under the immediate patronage of the Prcsi-
dent who has set himself to the grand object
of separating the true and acknowledged
fashion and rank of the community, from con-
tact with those who are not exactly Of the
right sort. The social institutions of Wash
ington have too long, in his estimation, borne
q resemblance to the political institutions Of
the country, and admitted respectable per-
sons from every mart of the country. without