Evening star., 1901-02-16

1
| Journey to Washington. The politeness, OF
| member from Virginia procured me
| convenient seat in the Capitol: and an hour
| after Mr.. Jefferson entered the House.
| when the assembly of American senators
| rose to receive him. He came, however, to
| the house without ostentation. His dress
| was of plain cloth, and he rode on horse
| back to the Capitol without a single guard,
or even servant in his train. dlsmounted
| without assistance and hitched his bride
| to the palisades" Davis Travels in Amer
| lea, 1896, p. I'D.
A Popular Story.
This story has been restated so often
| during the century and so frequently re-
peated by recent writer's, the popular be-
| lief in its truth has become so widespread
| that many unwilling to accept its de-
nial. And as matter of fact, the Davis
story of the horseback ride and hitching
| post did have it's counterpart at later
| date Mr.. jefferson walked into the office
| of President and rode on horseback out OF
| it. Miss Sarah, the daughter of Thomas
| jefferson Randolph, In writing of her
| father, says:
''At Madison's first Inauguration he was a
lad of seventeen years and was his grand
fathers sole companion as he rode, In those
days of republican simplicity, up Pennsyl-
vsnia avenue on horseback from the Presi-
dents house to the Capitol. where grand
son and grandfather dismounted, hitched
their horses to the palings, and later went
| into the congressional hall to see the gov.
| ernment pass from his hands to those or
his friend" Our Early Presidents, 1891, by
H. T. Upton, page 1sW.
He entered the hall Of the House or
Representatives about the time Mr.. Madl-
| son left his private residence in this CITY,
| F street between 18th and 14th streets
northwest. accompanied by the military ana
civic escort" (National Intelligencer, March
6, 1909. The Travels in American, . by
| Davis, was published in London. In lso5.
He could not, therefore, have connected MS
story with Mr. Jeffersons eccentric esca-
| pade of March +, 1909 1t Is not, however,
| improbable that the latter event has added
| such force to the story of Davis as 10
create and maintain the popular belief.
Regime of Simplicity.
1t was not however, writes Mrs. Upton,
the original intention of Mr.. Jefferson to
inaugurate the regime Of republican SIM
plicity" without pomp and display. she
adds:
Mr. jefferson himself. like Washington,
was fond of horses, handsome equipages
and handsome dress, despite what has been
said of his republican simplicity. de may
have ridden horseback up to the Capitoi
for his inauguration, as goes the myth put put
he meant to have fine coach and four TOT
the occasion-only Jacky EppeS did not get
to Washington with them in season. he
may sometimes have been carelessiy at
poraneous record, in his white coat. scarlet
breeches and vest and white silk hose, III
to figure on a Watteau fan"
The accession Of Mr.. Jefferson was the
climax of a bitter and fierce political con-
test between the federal and republican
parties, the issues of which were, in some
respects, not unlike those of the last eiec-
| ton The electoral college failed to make
a choice and the duty devolved on the
House of Representatives, which, after a
protracted controversy, chose Thomas Jel-
ferson. The republican party came into
power under the leadership Of Its ablest
and most experienced statesman, VINO had
filled during many years of continued ser
vice many high places. The time ana CIR
cumstances were rife with evil forebodlngs,
but notwithstanding the bitterness and par
tisan rancor of the popular controversy
the failure of the electoral college to MAKE
choice and the strain of the fnal strus-
gle In the House of Representatives, the
simple and unostentatious inauguration tes-
titled to the abiding faith of the people IN
government by the people ana 1or the
people and so likewise will the coming CEN
tenpial anniversary attest the confidence
of a law-abiding people in the stability OF
the government.
White House Receptions.
The first Inauguration of Mr.. Jefferson
was the beginning of the era of "repupli-
can SIMPLICITY which he sought to estab-
nsh as the rule and guide OF official life.
His intense aversion to monarchal govern
ment and detestation Of court etiquette and
ceremonies led him into the extreme of So
| cia1 simplicity ana lnlOTlndlty. llc IOuSi'
the phantom of Imperialism with the sh1b-
boleth of social equality, and sought tc
abolish the system of official and ceremon-
ial intercourse formulated and put INTO
practice by Washington, which, with sligh'
modifica ton continues in operation at the
{ present time. He abolished the drawing
rooms Of Washington and John Adams, bui
held two receptions, New year Cay aho
the Fourth of July.
Everybody was admitted, without regard
to order or rank or the comfort OF the
guests. Persons were also permitted TO cal
at other times. as they mign1 % p,ease; s;shat nt
n to see the President, socially or officially
Mr. jefferson did not, however, abolish the
+, state dinners. They took place as usual
and were conducted with quite as mucf
ceremony as during the administrations OF
Washington and John Adams. The fact tina
. Mrs Madison the wife of the Secretary o.
. State sometimes assisted by one of hi:
: daughters who might be on visit to the
President presided on such occasions Il
- conclusive assurance, If any We're needed
that the state dinners did not lack in any o
the appointments of elegant refinement ant
l | ceremony of cultured people in high socla
:. life.
y Contemporary writer's agree in the state
c ment that Mr.. Jefferson always appeared
II in public in the dress of an unostentatiou
| citizen At the first inauguration, the In
: teIIigencer says. his dress was that of
: plain citizen, without any distinctive badg
r of office" His dress as he rode to tn
II Capitol writes Davis was of plain cloth h
} Senator Mitchell of New York, who attend
h ed Mr. Jefferson's first New Year day re
# ception, January, 1902 in gossipy lette
is to his wife, writes: His dress and man
i ners are very plain; he Is grave. or rathe
t. sedate but without any tincture of pomE
q ostentation or pride, and occasionally ca
smile and both hear and relate humorou
If stories as we'll as any other man of socis
le feelings "-Harpers Magazine, April 1875
1T p. 746).
jefferson Entertained Well.
The senator is also responsible for tn
e. statement that President Jefferson had ger
le orally eight or ten persons to dine with hiI
every day. The dinner was neat an
plentiful" and the company was easy an
J. sociable" No healths were drunk at tn
1, table nor any toasts Of sentiments give
,e after dinner. Every one drank as h
- pleased and conVersed at his ease. I'm tn
o' way every guest drank to the digestive
IN social point and no further.
ar Senator Mitchell seems to have been
favorite guest al many social dinners an
. on other notable occasions, which gave hi
, opportunities for observation which cou
n not have been enjoyed by many, but
l. fails to note the crude and discourteous il
10 novations and informalities alleged to hay