The National tribune., 1901-01-03
STORIESqI
|AAeWAZGLRMGI
By MARY S. LOCKWOOD.
James Buchanan.
copyrighted. 1900. by The NATIONAL TnrnrSE.

| il the announcement of the Prince of
Wales safe return 10 his home. Contrary
winds and stress of weather have much
| retarded his arrival, but we have been
[ fully compensated for the anxiety which
| this long delay has naturally caused us by
| finding him in such excellent health and
spirits, and so delighted with all he has
seen and experienced in his travels.
He cannot sufficiently praise the great
c. diality with which he has been every
.iere greeted III your country, and the
friendly manner IN which you have re-
ce!vcd him; and whilst, as q mother | am
| grateful for the kindness shown him,
/ feel impelled to express at the same time
! how deeply | have been touched by the
many demonstrations of affection person
ally toward myself which his presence has
called forth.
Il fully reciprocate toward your Nation
the feelings thus made apparent and look
upon them as forming an important link TO
connect two nations Of kindred origin and
character, whose mutual esteem and
friendship must always have so material
an influence upon their respective develop
ment and prosperity.
The interesting and touching scene at
the grave of General Washington, to
which you allude, may be fifty taken as
the type of our present feeling and, L
trust, of our future relations.
The Prince Consort, who heartily joins
in the expressions contained in this letter.
wishes to be kindly remembered to you, as
We both wish to be to Miss Lane. Be
iieye me always, your good friend,
VICTORIA II"
The Prince also wrote the following let
ter:
"JAFFA. March %. 1862.
Dear Mr.. Buchanan: Permit me to re-
quest that you will accept the accom-
panying portrait as a slight mark of my
grateful recollections of the hospitabla re-
ception and agreeable visit at the White
House on the occasion of my tour through
the United States.
Believe me, that the cordial welcome
which was then vouchsafed to Inc 10y the
American people, and by you as their
Chief, can never be effaced from my MEM
DRY.
Il venture to ask you at the same tine
to remember me kindly to Miss Lane, and,
believe me, dear Mr.. Buchanan, yours,
very truly, ALBERT EDWARD"
The portrait above alluded to in this
letter was painting of himself, by Sir
John Watson Gordon, and sent to Mr.
Buchanan. The Prince also presented
Miss Lane with set of engravings of the
royal family. AS these were personal
gifts they are, of course, now in her pos
session.
he White House, in all of its appoint
meh,- nd decorations, was individuaIizcd
to des.er never surpassed during Miss
Lanes regime.
When South Carolina took the initiative
step in secession, the position of Mr.. Buch-
anan was an unenviablc one, and it is well
known that Miss Lane, in a most dignitied
manner, held her position in the social
world without wavering and bore her part
of the burdens that rested so heavily upon
her uncle. During the last weary months
of his Administration, when he was ha-
raised on every side, his patriotism
doubted in the North and without friends
in the South, he always turned to Miss
Lane as the one rock on which he could
lean.
To descant upon motives of men and
weigh their characters as developed in
those days is foreign TO our purpose. 1t is
not for us to compare the course pursued
by one party with that of another. Pos
terity will draw the line between them.
The virtues which have ennobled our coun-
try, and the errors which have disgraced
it, will stand out in bold relief upon the
scroll when the pen of history traces the
images of the past in their glory and in
their decay.
In the records of those days of discord, |
time will soften the lurid colors in the |
picture and make lis more forgiving to- |