Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04

died were her niece. Miss May Kennedy
Miss Speers and other relatives, the former
of whom has made her home with her aunt
of recent years.
The funeral will take place from the resi-
dence of her brother-in-law Mr.. Josiah Lee
Johnston, 113 West Franklin street Balti-
more, tomorrow Sunday morning.
Sketch Of Her Life.
Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston was born at
Mercersburg, Pa. her mother being a sis
ter of James Buchanan, afterward Presi-
dent of the United States. Left an orphan
at seven years. with comfortable fortune.
she was adopted by her bachelor uncle and
spent her girlhood at Wheatland, his man
sion, near Lancaster. Pa. A part of her
school girl life was spent at the George
town Convent of the Visitation, at the
period when her uncle was Secretary of
State and when her er-Sunday visits were
made at his home. When, in 1852 Mr.
Buchanan was made minister to the court
of st. James, she accompanied him abroad
and presided over his London home with
the dignity and grace that was eminently
characteristic of her maturer years. She
was received at the English court with
great cordially and at subsequent notable
events in the life of Queen Victoria and of
the present sovereign was honored by in
vitations. She attended last year the coro-
nation festivities, being especially invited
by King Edward.
In the White House.
During President Buchanan's residence in
the White House the Prince of Wales was
his guest for five days. This visit renewed
the pleasant intimacy between the English
queen and the fair young American,
which was marked on the part of the
former with pleasant remembrances from
~. fiu1a of the interesting events
recalled by Mrs. Johnston of her life in
England was the ceremony at the Uni
versty of Oxford, when her uncle and
Alfred Tennyson received the degrees of
doctor of laws. The demonstration. always
boisterous on the part of the students, was
on this occasion directed largely towards
the beautiful niece of the American min
lister.
Her Marriage.
The marriage of Harriet Lane and Mr..
Henry Elliott Johnston of Baltimore took
place in 1868, after a long engagement
Miss Lane being unwilling to leave her
uncle, who. in his old age. became more
and more dependent upon her companion
ship and care The great sorrows of her
life following the death of her uncle were
the deaths of her husband and their two
young sons. Her married life was spent
mostly in Baltimore.
In historic old ST. PauIs Church, Charles
and Saratoga streets, in that city, there is a
beautiful memorial window on the northern
side of the edifce 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 men,
CRY a free ward for children.
Her home in Washington, after several
years of retirement and travel following
her loss of family. she came to this city
for the winter season. subsequently buying
and remodeling the house at 18th and I
| streets. which was her last residence.
Interesting Souvenirs.
This house contained many interesting
souvenirs of her career. and especially in
its connection with public life. On it's walls
| there is a portrait of the Prince of Wales
| painted just after the prince left the United
States, and sent by him to President Blu
chanan. Just under the portrait in black
| in little black frame is the letter which
the prince sent with the portrait. The let
| ter was penned by his royal hghness on the
shores of Palestine. where he was travelling
| 1t reads:
JAFFA, March %, 1862
Dear Mr.. Buchanan:
Permit me to request that you will accept
| the accompanying portrait as a slight mark
of my grateful recollection of the hospital BILE
reception and agreeable visit at the White
House on the occasion of my tour in the
United States.
Believe me that the cordial welcome
which was then vouchsafed to me by the
American people, and by you as their chief
can never be effaced from my memory.
I venture to ask you at the same time to
remember me kindly to Miss Lane and be-
leve me, dear Mr.. Buchanan, yours very
truly, ALBERT EDWARD
Her Beauty and Grace.
Mrs. Johnston represented the grande
dame of the old school. AS girl, when
she was presiding mistress of the White
House her portraits gave evidence of her
beauty and grace. These comedy attributes
seemed to increase with her years and
Washington society for the past ten years
whenever she appeared in public has con-
tinuously expressed its admiration and re-
spect. ROBBED in black velvet a favorite
costume, with her splendid diamonds and
pearls there were not often seen gala
occasions at the White House, more
distinguished face and figure.