The sun., 1903-07-05
HARRIET LANE JOHNSTON.
The Woman who Presided Over the white
House and Made Great Social success.

The Woman who Presided Over the white
House and Made Great Social success.
Harriet Lane Johnston, whose death at
Narragansett was reported in THE SUN
yesterday, enjoyed a wide popularity
here and in England during the career OF
| her uncle, President James Buchanan
She was born at Mercersburg, Pa, in 1888
the daughter of Elliott T. Lane and June
Buchanan. Her parents dying in her girl
hood, she was taken in charge by her uncle
who sent her to the Roman Catholic con-
vent at Georgetown for her education.
She was just out Of school, a handsome
girl Of twenty, clever, of winning manners
and an engaging tslker when Buchanan
was made Minister to England in 1853
There she made wide acquaintance and
achieved great popularity in diplomatic
circles. On Buchanans election to the
Presidency she became mistress of the
White House, and there her charm, good
taste and diplomacy won much renown.
II was while she was mistress Of the White
House that the Prince Of Wales, now King
Edward, visited America She enter
tanned him at Washington, and took him
to Mount Vernon on steamer which bore
her name.
Much to the delight of the Prince, she
invited him to pay visit to fashionable
boarding school for girls near Washington,
where the Prince bowled game of nine
pins with some of the young women. The
Prince remembered these things, and when
Mrs. Johnston was in London, at the time
preparations were being made for his
coronation, he invited her to attend the
ceremonies.
After she married Mr. Johnston they
lived in Bait more and at Wheatland. One
of the anecdotes told of Mrs. Johnston
she was married. The captain of the
Cunard liner was named Judkins, whose
manners were not like those of the captains
of to-day. He sat at the head of the table
one morning and when Miss Lane came in
asked her If she wanted some fruit. When
she answered yes. Capt. Judkins tossed
an orange to her. 1t struck her on the
breast. She left the table and did not
again appear there during the voyage
Capt. Judkins was in the habit OF eating
at the Astor House while in port here. He
was there the day after his ship brought
Miss Lane in when man came in and, seeing
the captain, went to the cigar counter and
got package of chewing tobacco. He
masticated about half the contents OF the
parcel. Then, making roll OF the wet
tobacco, he walked up to the captain and
asked
Are you Capt Judkins?"
"The same, said the captain.
Then the man hit him in the shirtfront
with the wad Of tobacco, and shaking his
fist under the captains nose, said: Maybe
that will improve your table manners.
The man was said to be Mr. Johnston, to
whom Miss Lane was married little later.
One of the interesting events recalled
by Mrs Johnston Of her life in England was
the ceremony at the University OF Oxford,
when her uncle and Alfred 1ennyson re-
ceivcd the degree of doctor OF laws
The demonstration, always boisterous on
the part Of the students. was on this oc-
casion directed largely toward the beautiful
niece of the American minister.
The marriage OF Harriet Lane and Henry
Elliott Johnston Of Baltimore took place
In 1868 after long engagement, Miss Lane
being unwilling to leave her uncle, who,
In his old age, became more and more de-
pendent on her companionship and care
The great sorrows of her life following
the death of her uncle were the deaths Of
her husband and her two young Sons.
Her married life was spent mostly in Balt-
more.
In historic cid st. Paul Church, Charles
and Saratoga streets, in that city there is
memorial on the northern side of the
edifice which Mrs. Johnston had placed
there in memory Of her two sons
Besides this she founded in the church
home on North Broadway, in their memory,
a free ward for children. After several
years of retirement and travel following
her loss of family she went to Washington
for the winter season, subsequently buying
and remodelling the house at Eighteenth
and streets, which was her last residence.
The house contained many interesting
souvenirs of her career, and especially in
its connection with public life. On its
walls there is a portrait OF King Edward,
painted Just after'he left the United States.
1t was sent by him to President Buchanan.
Just under the portrait, in little black
frame, Ia the letter which the Prince sent
with the portrait. The letter was penned
by his Royal Highness on the shores Of
Palestine. where he was travelling. 1t
reads:
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, July4.
Common ding General Dirision Of Philippines.
Manila. p. H.:
Anniversary Of our national independence
is an appropriate day for sending greetings
and congratulations on the completion Of
this great achievement. Another triumph
in the interest OF peace and civilization.
NELSON A. MILES, Lleutenant-Genernl
The funeral of Mrs. Johnston is to take
place IN Mondav at baltimore