The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-07-19
GOSSIP FROM IHE
NATIONS CAPITAL
Letters of Harriet Lane John
son Are Reviewed.
ROOTS FORMER LIKENESS
Story of PoinSett and His Fine
Diplomacy.
ROOTS FORMER LIKENESS

erai letters written to her by her uncle,
James Buchanan. After the death of her
parents during her infancy, Mr.. Buchanan
though q bachelor, adopted her, and di-
rected her education. Girls colleges, with
their basketball teams and romping class
suppers, were unknown to those sim
pier days, but sweetness of temper and
scholastic endeavor were highly thought
of; and Mr. Bucnanans correspondence
with his niece breathes this idea through
out. In one letter he says:
There IS no wish nearer my heart than
that you should become an amiable and
intelligent woman, and 1 am rejoiced to
learn that you still continue at the head
Of your class. You can render yourself
very dear to me by your conduct; and 1
anticipate with pleasure the months which
l trust in heaven, we will pass together
after the adjournment of Congress.
And in another:
1t is one of the first desires of my
heart that you should become an amiable
and good girl. Education and accom-
plishments are very important, but they
sink into insisnifcance whe ncompared
with the proper government Of the heart
and temper. How al your friends and
relatives would love you-now proud and
happy / should be to acknowledge and
cherish you as an object of deep affection
could / say, she is kind in heart, ami
able in temper, and behaves in such a
manner as to secure the affection and
esteem all around her.
At dinner table at Washington during
the last session a wager was made that
not a person at table could name all the
muses., and the wager was won. Had
you been one of the company the result
would doubtless have been different. L
presume that the muses. and graces are
great favorites with you. Attend diligent-
sy TO your studies. but, above all, gov
ern your heart and your conduct.
On the walls of the antechamber of the
office of the secretary of war hang gal
lery of portraits of his predecessors, re-
sembling in variety of subject and execu-
ton the group of ancestors sold to the
Jews by Charles Surface in the play.
When Mr. Roots portrait is to be added
to the collection he need not waste time
and money in sittings; he can put under
one of the present portraits a legend:
"Elihu Root. ditto TO Mr.. Poinsett," and
every one who knows Mr.. Root at all will
recognize the hit as happy. The resem-
blance of feature is extraordinary.
James R Poinsett Of South Carolina
was secretary of war from 1887 to 1SA.
He had rather an adventurous life before
his cabinet term. and a statuesque one
afterward. In 1909 he was sent by our
government on a special diplomatic tour
of the South American states which had
revolted against Spain; but when he had
conducted successfully negotiations with
Buenor Ayres he crossed to Chilli and en-
tered that country about the same time
that the Spanish authorities in Peru in
vaded it and seized and condemned sew
eral American vessels at Talcahuano. The
CELEBRITY Of Poinsett's response suggests
Mr.. Root somewhat. There were no tel
egraphs in those days which would en-
able him to consult with Washington Tor
instructions; so he took matters into his
own hands. organized an attacking force
OF Chilians. marched upon Talcahuano,
retook the place and released the vessels.
BY and by the news reached South
America that the United States and Great
Britain had plunged into another war
Communications were so slow that by the
time the intelligence had been received
and Poinsett had hurried back TO take
rsart in the fighting. the whole thing was
over. He presently was called into an
yother diplomatic enterprise. this time 10
negotiate. as Minister -Plenipotentiary,
treaty of commerce between the United
States and Mexico. which had just shaken
of the Spanish yoke Spain. however. had
NV no means given UP her pretensions in'
that quarter. and was much CALLED in
pride to ind the American Minister so
fuu Of nthusiasm for the new republic.
From Spanish and disaffected Mexican
sources therefore. began TO come TO MIN
threats of personal violence. some going
70 the extreme OF suggesting assassina-
ton. The Mexican factonists gradually
became worse than the spanish plotters,
end actually set ny the theory that the
United States was jealous of Mexico Mr..
poinsett who was distinguished Free
mason. had established LODGES Of the or
der in Mexico. and these were seized up
m, by hostile Nfexicsns as basis Of accu-
satfons against the American minister
that he was urging the lodges as trysting
Mace for a league OF Conspirators who
were schemeing 10 turn the republic over
to Saain again Poinsett stooo his ground
and showed great force of character. and
generally good judgment and was upheld
by his countrymen.
Another striking experience or his was
as leader OF the anti-Calhoun element in
South Carolina during the heated nulli-
fcatson there Largely on account or
the spirit ne had shown IN various trou-
biesome situation President Van Buren
called him into the cabinet After leav-
ing Il he devoted most OF his attention
to scientific and educational interests. He
was one Of the founders OF the National
Institute established an Academy OF Fine
Arts IN Charleston. and was the author
of work on Mexico and Of many pam
phiets and addresses on serious topics
Secretary Root has TO reason TO Ieel
ashamed Of the facial resemblance. al
belt there is little parallel between Poin-
eetrs public record and his own.
The ''crank" is everywhere IN WASH
4ueton. and at all times; but the warm
pwaather brings out a larger representa-
zion OF HIS type than usual, and when con+
,rees Il not In session he haunts the