The National tribune., 1901-01-03
Continued from last week

ISOLATED with that of her uncle, james
Buchanan. She was born in the picturesque
village of Mercersberg, Pa. Her grand
father, James Buchanan, came to Amer
lea, from the North of ireland, in 1888,
and settled in Pennsylvania. He married
Elizabeth Spear, a woman of strong intel
lect. Their eldest child was James. who
became President. Jane Buchanan was
the next child. She was his companion in
childhoOd-hiS favorite sister through life.
She was married in 1913 to Elliot 7. Lane,
merchant, who carried on u lucrative
business between the East and the West,
as the great highway passed through
Franklin County. Harriet was the young
est child of Elliot Lane and Jane Buch-
anan Lane. Mrs. Lane died when Har-
riet IVES seven years old, and her father
died two years later. She was left with
an ample fortune. At the solicitation Of
her Uncle James she accepted as II home
that of her uncle. The affection he had
always borne for his sister seemed trans
fcrr2d to her child, and she sought his
guardianship i'll preference to any other of
her relatives.
When Harriet Lane was n simple cOun-
try girl. in the quiet town of Lancaster,
and wandered at will over the hills and
meadow lands of her childhood home, lit
tie did she anticipate a day when she
would be the companion of the mOnarchs
and queens of the world, or the presiding
genius over the household of the man
chosen TO be at the head of this great Ma
ton.
In those days her exuberant spirits, her
wild pranks, often were the cause of ar
raignment before her uncle. which brought
on her many chastisement from the one
heart that loved her best in all the world.
In spite of all the little annoyanceS that
sometimes were disturbing element in
his study. he recognized in her what he
n. l.. L.
and yet he did not foresec all that she was
10 be to him in after life.
A. characteristic story is told of her that
when Il young girl she one day shocked
the Staid prOpriety of her uncle, who, in
looking out of his window, saw her trudg-.
ing through the streets of Lancaster, with
flushed cheeks and hat on the back of her
head, with Il wheelbarrOw loaded with
wood and coal, which she was taking TO
an old woman at the edge of the village,
who, she had learned, was in want, and,
notwithstanding her uncle'S Alas. alas.
what shall l do with that child he was
more proud than angry that she had it in
her heart to do it. When -'r. Buchanan
was in the Senate Miss La was in
school. Her vacations were speI. nth
her uncle, and the finishing course of L.
education she received at the Georgetown
Convent. She became n great favOrite
with the sisters and the pupils. Her Sat
urdays and her Sundays were spent with
her uncle, who was then Secretary of
State. When Mr.. Buchanan was sent as
Minister of the United States to the Court
of st. James by President Pierce, in 1858,
Miss Lane accompanied him and dispensed
the Inequalities of the Ministerial man.
sion. From this time she became publicly
identified with Mr.. Buchanan. 1t was I'M
der the protecting hand of her uncle that
she made her entrance into English So
ciety. Upon all official occasions she
ranked as wife of the Minister. This
question was settled by the Queen herself,
upon whom this Lancaster beauty had
made deep impression. Not only was
she favorite of the Queen, but with all
the members of the royal family. This
experience was of lifelong benefit to Miss
Lane. She was always coming i'll contact
with lord and gentry, politicians and noble
men.
She was with her uncle when he made
his visit to Ostend. when the celebrated
conference was held which ended in the
"0stehd Manifesto" She Travelled more
or less extensively on the continent at this
time.
One instance more of her life in Eng
land ere she bids goOd-by to those most
hospitable shores. 1t was the day when |
Mr.. TennysOn and Mr.. Buchanan received |
the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws at the |
University of Oxford. The house was
packed with lords and ladies' doctors, pro-
fessOTs and students.
When Miss Lane entered the students |
arose in Il body and she was greeted with |
loud cheers, and mUrmurs Of admiration
ran through the audience. Our little wild |
rose Of Lancaster had been taken to the |
bosom of the mother country
Soon after Mr.. Buchanan's return to |
old Wheatland the news of his nomination |
for the Presidency reached him. When |
the result of the election was known, prep |
aratiOns began for the occupancy of the /
White House. Miss Lanes position was |
perhaps more onerOus and more crowded |
with social duties than any other persons /
who had filed the position, for the reason
that Mr.. Buchanan received many official
visits in the capacity of President. The
new Republic was becoming better known
over the world and attracted royal sciOns
from over the sea.
In the Summer of 1860 the Prince of |
Wales was making Il tour through Canada. |
President Buchanan extended an invita-
ton, through Queen Victoria, for the |
Prince to visit the United States ere his |
return 10 England. The invitation was ac-
cepted. 1t was at this time that Miss
Lane did honor to her country by the |
manner in which the Prince and his party |
that an Heir Apparent to the crown of
Great Britain had touched foot upon the |
soil Of the lost colonies. Miss Lane took |
the contracted accommodations of the |
White House and metamorphosed them |
into suites, wherein the Prince and his |
party were made very comfortable for |
their five days stay. 1t is needless to con- |
lecture what the subtcrfuges were in the |
family household to make room for this |
royal party, but Miss Lane was equal to |
the occasion, and so admirably did she Or |
der the Executive entertainment that it |
was with regret that they turned their
backs upon the Capital, the Executive
Mansion and the charming Miss Harriet
Lane.
Forty years have gone by since that
Summer time. The Nation has grown
apace in power in wealth, and in physical
proportions, but the home of the Presi
dent has not increased a cubic foot, and
to-day His Exeellency would be obliged to
vacate again his own apartments if n
royal scion should grace the portals of the
Executive Mansion.
The Prince enjoyed his stay with all
the freshness Of youth unfettercd by the |
grave affairs of state.
When this grcatgrandsOn Of George III |
stood uncovered before the Tomb of Wash |
ington, he did homage and honor to the
man who rent the empire. When he
planted the tree that will shade the sar-
cophagus that holds the ashes of Wash
ington the Great, he bound the wounds
that were made when the last of the
Kings in whose veins flowed blood of Will
lam the Conqueror bowed the knee to the
great General of the Colonies.
When the Prince arrived in England the
Queen acknowledged her gratitude at the
l.. ta,f. q,