The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-22

political circles in which circumstances had
placed her.
On Mr. Adams's return TO America he was
elected United States Senator. In those days
Washington was quite the opposite of the
Washington of to-day. Then ladies thought
il quite privation IT, leave the gayeties of
larger cities TO he kept here for some eight
months But Mrs. Adams found ii very con-
genial TO her. as many Of her relatives wese
living here.
When Mr. Madison was President Mrs.
Adams sailed with her husband to Russia,
where he went as United States Minister It
was no holiday trip hundred years ago 10
cross the Atlantic When the country called
Mr. Adams to this position, Mrs Adams
nothing daunted. left her two eldest children
in America, and taking the youngest, not two
years old sailed from Boston in August and
arrived in 81. Petersburg the last of October.
Their six years stay in Europe was an era
of intense interest In the history of the
world perhaps, there were never such Won
drous scenes enacted. Napoleon seemed TO
have the destinies of the Old World in his
grasp. The war between England and Amer
lea broke out in the meantime. and communi-
ton was entirely cut oil. British ships cruised
about our ports to capture vessels, and hostile
cannon Numbered in the Capital OF our
country.
Mr. Adams's biographer says: :" He lived
in St Petersburg poor, studious and secluded,
on the narrow basis of the parchment of his
commission, respected for learning and talent,
but little given to the costly entertainments
OF an opulent and ostenatious circle"
Mrs Adams grew weary of her cherries
abode in that far northern city Of architect
ural splendor. The entertainment of Russian
mobiles and oriental extravaganza had no at
traction for Mr. and Mrs. Adams while their
country was in danger. Mr.. Adams met the
American ambassadors in Client, leaving Mrs
Adams to follow him to Paris
Spring came al last, and she set out with
her boy following in the wake of furious
war through a country where passion and
strife were rampant; but her courageous spirit
carried her through, reaching Paris in time to
witness the enthusiastic delight which greeted
the return of Napoleon from Elba, and the
flight of the Bourbons.
Mrs. Adams. soon after reaching London. in
MAY, 1885, found her husband appointed
Minister to St James, and after a separation
of six wears she was reunited TO her children.
III 1917, when Mr.. Monroe succeeded Mr..
Madison as President, he appointed John
Quincy Adams Secretary of State. He imme-
United States. They arrived in Washington
Sept 90. 1917. For eight years Mrs. Adams
occupied the place Mrs Madison had so charm
ingly filed for the same length Of time.
No sectional bitternesses were taken into
Mrs. Adams's drawing rooms but the ever
present and never-settled
QUESTION or SOCIAL PRECEDENCE
assumed such proportions at the time Mr.
A - tot hot -
necessary to discuss it in Cabinet meetings
History gives ms many instances where affairs
of state have become grayely involved in these
seemingly petty affairs of society. and this
Republic has not been exempt from these en-
ENGAGEMENTS, as the following extract from
Mr.. Adams's diary will show:
Jan. > 1slS.--At the office had visits
from Mr. Gaillard, the President pro tenn OF
the Senate, and his colleague Judge Smith,
and had conversation with them on various
subjects. Mr.. Gaillard finally asked me il
there had been any new system OF etlquet
established with regard 10 visiting, TO which
j replied: Certainly none 10 my knowledge
j was, myself, determined TO make no ques-
ton of etiquet with anyone: but have been
negligent in paying visits, for absolute want
of time. They said there had been a rule
adopted by Senators as long ago as when
Aaron Burr was member of that body. and
drawn by him, that the Senator's should visit
only the President of the United States and
Mr. King had lately referred them TO a book
in which il was recorded. told them it was
the first information / had ever received OF
the existence OF such rule.
Il have been five years member of the
Senate, and at the commencement of every
session had invariably paid the first visit TO
all the heads of the Departments, excepting