The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-08
CHAPTER XIV.

BENJAMIN HARRISON, PRESIDENT.
Remarkable Women have Filled the White
House-What Wonders have the Years
Wrought-Mrs. Adams Lost in the Woods
Mrs. Harrison Found O City Fair to Look
Upon-Mrs. Mckee and Her Children.
The White House a High Social Center.
James @. Blaine, Secretary of State-The
First Incumbent, Thomas Jeferson-The
Cabinet Centennial Year.
In looking back upon the wives of the
Presidents the verdict must be that, with few
exceptions, they have been women of remark
able intelligence and rare qualities. But
what wondrous changes have been witnessed
since the line began Mrs. Adams, ON her
troublous way to the Capital, was lost in the
MB. Benjamin Harrison was brought tri-
umphantly over rivers and mountains and
whirled into the Capital City surrounded by
the luxuries Of a palace car.
Mrs Adams in 1900 found there and there
small cot without glass window" inter-
spersed in the forests; in the city few build
ings amid bogs and morasses. 1.-THE White
House," she wrote, is upon grand and
superb scale, but not single apartment fin
ished." Mrs. Harrison found q city fair to
look upon; the grand and superb" house
dim with age, and the people clamoring for a
home worthy the Chief Executive.
Mrs. Adams found the lighting of the
apartments "tax indeed, !" when wax tapers
and tallow dips were the illuminating power;
and thus it came that one servant was pro-
vfded for this position by the powers that in
those days footed all the household bills,
from dish fowls to gold spoons
Mrs. Adams said In 1900, "bells were
wholly wanting; so great an inconvenience,
i do not know what to do" In 1889 Mrs.
Harrison had but to touch button to put
her into communication with the remotest
corner of the house. Did not little Ben
jamin, when alone one day in his grand
fathers Office, climb to his table, and by q
touch here and there with his baby hand, set
the whole force of secretaries, clerks and
messengers on a chase to do his majesty's
biddingp
And, too, Mrs Adams was distressed for
wood. She "could not even see..wood for the
trees, F" it all having been burnt up by Briesler
to dry the walls Of the house before their
coming; and so she had to 'shiyer, shiver,
no wood-cutters and no carriers"
As we come along down the line of fair
and stately women who have lived under this
roof, we find many names whose influence
over the rulers OF the Nation has given to
pos.erity spotless and heroic memory; and
we have still another to add to the line of
the ladies of the White House. Caroline
Scott Harrison honored her station by her
rare qualities Of mind and heart moro than it
could honor her. Born and reared in an at
mosphere of justice truth and intelligence,
she not only ornamented the White House,
but honored American womanhood. With
her family around her, with her daughter,
Mrs. Mckee, and the grandchildren, who
touched the Nations heart, sweet domestic
picture was presented.
DIR. Scott, the father of Mrs Harrison,
and Mrs. Scott Lord, the sister, made u
marked feature in the social and the home
life of the White House. The venerable
father was not only the object of devotion to
his daughters, but he enjoyed the respect of
hosts of friends.
From the days of Abigail Adams to the
present, the cares and responsibilities resting
upon the presiding lady of the White House
had increased in geometrical progression,
until the position was far from being q
| fiowery bed Of ease.
BY the people the Presidents wife is
thought Of as the social leader and queen Of