The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09

building telegraphic Instruments were set.
so that all the dancers could be signalled
at the same time. Mrs. Grants gown
was of pearl satin, made with a train,
with lace fiounces, and worn over i'm
mense hoops. A lace fichu partially con-
cealed her shoulders; her arms were bare
the two-buttoned gloves stopping at the
wrist; around her neck was a string Of
pearls, and a wreath of camenas, with
green foliage, encircles her head. Her in
auagural gown was lavender silk, of the
lutte string" variety, then in vogue,
founced with lace. 1t happened that the
executive mansion was not ready for the
incoming President, and the family had to
wait several days for the annual scrubbing
and cleaning, painting and papering.
When 1 asked Mrs. Grant about her life
in the white house she smiled and said
that it was so long ago she hardly re-
membered it. But at once her eyes grew
tender and reminiscent, and she slowly
added: at was a delightful time; an
ideal existence. We were all very happy
there, and every night our intimate
friends gathered in for several hours. The
general was fond of his friends, you
know. The white house was then almost
exactly as 1t is now, and the receptions
were conducted in a similar manner.
remember that l enjoyed myself so mucn
that is distressed me greatly to think Of
leaving. / never disliked anything more
in my life than the parting, when it came
All my children were little then, and used
to go to dancing school. Nelly was mar
ried in the east room of the white house,
and my aged father, who was an ardent
democrat, died in one of the apartments
up stairs and his funeral was held in the
east room. Washington was not nearly
so beautiful tisen as it is to-day, but life
was simply delightful, society very gay
and the daily routine of our existence was
most enjoyable"
Miss Nelly Grant was still school girl
when that historic wedding took place in
the east parlor. She met yonng Alger-
non Sartorls of England while on
steamer. en- route for America, after "a
cation trip to Europe with her teacher;
and though the President was strongly
opposed to foreign marriages in general
and TO this one in particular, he at last
gave an unwilling consent; and it is sad
that after the brilliant wedding-after his
little girl, the idol of his steadfast heart,
was gone with her somewhat doubtful
husband-he shut himself in his room,
threw himself upon his bed and wept like
a woman.
How many memories cluster about that
great east room! There the dead have
lain in state, and marriages have been
solennized, and the beauty and chiValry,
the rank and intellect of the world nave
congregated. l never enter this people
parlor without thinking of that fearful
April morning when, in the center of the
floor under the white catafalque, Abra-
ham Lincoln lay dead. 1t is a noble room,
long and lofty, with seven immense WIN
dows and eight tall mirrors filling the
spaces between them, and four white mar
bic mantle-pieces, and three enormous
crystal chandeliers, of cut glass, wnicn,
ilra fVafn
the walls hang several life-size portraits
in oil The window draperies, OF richly
wrought lace, give no hint in their fresh
crisnness of the rags and tatters that
were left here not long after the war
when the white house curtains We're scat
tered broadcast over the country, carried
home in bits, by relic-hunters. OF course
re- Garnet has to be often renewed, a.
though during half the year 1t is laid
avvay and straw-matting takes its place.
had n not been outworn by the nations
feet II would have been sad to see the
rand obstruction of the splendid carpet
which the sultan of Turkey presented TO
the United States, some years ago IL was
a magnificent thing-one great rug cover
inc the whole floor. grand and soft. and
flling the place with an atmosphere OF
Oriental luxury. But 1t went the way OF
other much used carpets and has long
been replaced by the best the united
States can do in the way OF carpet "eaN-
ing.
Had the peoples parlor a tongue think
what tales II could tell Of scenes ana nap
nenings within its walls since the days
when Abigail Adams dubbed II the east
room" and dried her washing In II! A rev
~ the men and women who were Intimate
" associated with Ii I'm carrier Gays are
still frequent guests in the white mouse.
chief among them Is Mrs. Harriette Lane
Johnson, who presided over the mansion
during the term Of her uncle, James Bu-
cbanon and is still a beautiful woman,
tbourh an elderly one. She was the
voungest daughter of Elliott Lane, whose
wife was Buchanan's sister. While sun a
SCHOOLGIRL at Georgetown convent aqua
cent 10 Washington, she was LETT an Or
nban her uncle, then a cabinet officer,
adopted her. When he was made minister
"a Inc court OF st. James she accompa-
MED him: and 80 much esteemed was she
Nv Queen Victoria that she was allowed
me same ranking which the wife OF the
minister would have enjoyed. Her hgure
was tall and graceful, her features perfect,
eyes OF deepest violet ana heaa crowned
with golden hair In short, so beautiful
was she that when the degree Of doctor OF
civil laws we're conferred upon her uncle.
the students Of old oxford rose en- masse
and cheered her to the echo. Songs were
dedicated 70 her, ships christened the
"Harriettc Lane IN her hOhofs ana suit
ors for her hand IN marriage were num-
bered by scores. one Of the most notable
social events OF her life In the white house
was the visit Of the Prince OF wales, who
was then a callow youth IN his early TWEEN
ties. A MONDAY reception was held for
him In the east ROOM where he was as
sisted by the president and Miss Lane. IL
~ related that the prince wore blue trous-
ers satin vest lowered with red rose buds
gray coat and no gloves; and at all the
feaats and fetes given In his honor. his at
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