The National tribune., 1900-10-25
'.STORIESm|
AheMAZZGRAG|
Copyrighted, 1900, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
James Monroe.
By MARY s. LOCKWOOD.

I powers on the Western Continent. at
taches to Mr. Clay; but as President Mon
roe stood godfather at the baptismal font,
it took his name, and has ever since been
known as the Monroe doctrine"
! The policy of Mr.. Monroe on the whole
was most popular, and his Administration
succeeded.
| The social side of the Executive home
did not begin with the inaugural of Presi-
dent Monroe, for the White House had
not as yet been given over by plaStererS,
painters and architects after the visit of
the British, which left it in ruins. The
household remained at Oak Hill for some
| time, the President riding home on horse
back Saturdays, some 33 miles, returning
on Monday.
1t was 1918 before the Executive Man
sion was made ready for occupancy.
The White House when they entered
it was meagerly furnished. The furniture
was not of a kind betitting the home of the
President, and the grounds surrounding
the house were covered with the charred
and blackened debris of the old building
Congress sent to Paris for q silver service
OF plate, and the stately furniture which
adorned the East Room was purchased in
Paris. Each piece was ornamented with
the royal crown Of Louis 18th. This was
removed and the American eagle took its
place before it was shipped from Paris.
Ii is in the recollection of many the state
illness of the East Room, with its new
adornments, which are always associated
with a long roll of names of women and
men who have played their part in the
countryS dramatic history.
The Monroe furniture, like the actors.
has had its day, and the going, going,
gone was the last echoes of the Ameri-
can eagle chairs.
Mrs Monroe mingled little in society
She was frail in health and was retiring
by nature. She was an accomplished
woman, and possessed a dignity of man
ncr which peculiarly fitted her for the po-
sition. The two daughters, Eliza and Ma
ria. resided at the White House during
their fathers Administration. Eliza was
married to Mr.. George Hay, who became
Judge Hay through John Quincy Adams.
Mrs. Monroe not being able to assume
the duties. Mrs. Hay was the acting
first lady" A reader of events in
those days will be convinced that Mrs.
Hay was at least a spirited woman, with
obstinate tendencies. One writer has char
acterized the social world of the early
years of the Monroe Administration as in
state Of elemental earthquake, upheaval
and cyclone. 1t was then that the sense
less war was begun by Mrs. Hay of who
should call first" That and seating at
state dinners became burning questions in
the families of the heads of Departments,
senators ana REPRESENTATIVES, DuL tne
seismic action did not show its full power
of undulatOry motion until the marriage
of Maria Monroe to Samuel L. Gouyer-
neur, which took place in the White
House. She was the first daughter of
President to be married in the Executive
Mansion. This was home wedding, and
but few friends were hidden. A week
later a brilliant reception was given in
honor of the event at the White House.
The following simple announcement is to
be seen in the InfeLligenccr of that time:
Married
"On Thursday evening last. in this city,
by the Rev. MIR. Hawley, Samuel Law
renee Gouverneur. of New York, to Miss
Maria Hester Monroe, youngest daughter
of James Monroe, President of the United
States.''
The simplicity of all this, compared
with what might have been, only empha-
sizes the difference between the then and
the now.
Mrs. Hay had made it impossible for
any social intercourse between the ladies
of the foreign embassies and her.
self by refusing to call upon them,
owing to some question of precedence. and
had informed the legations through Secre
tary Adams that she was not going to
visit or receive visits. And so it came
that when her sister Maria was married
Mrs. Hay would not permit the foreign
Ministers to pay formal visits of congratu-
lation, for she thought it improper for her
sister to receive and return visits which