The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-17

courtesy must have been Unborn. Many
who knew him commented on his i'm
perturbable dignity He had the face
Of an aristocrat. Finally. it was not
the least Of his attributes in feminine
eyes that even when he first came to
Congress and first made his way UP
leafy Capitol Hill the chapter OF senti-
ment had already closed for him"
7 There was nothing in Buchanans ap-
pearance, says one historian, nor in
his attitude toward life in general that
| suggested the tragic episode Of his
youth 1t is only in retrospect that we
realize the glamour il cast over his sub
seQuent years. Nature reacts through
various channels. and in him she sought
/ her outlet in an unabating mental &C
tivity He was a student all his life"
| The rising young bachelor widened his
| life TO include his beautiful niece soon
after he entered the Senate In 1916. He
had taken a house in F STREET, on the
site of what is now the Adams Build
ing. a house which John Quincy Adams
had occupied for many years. There he
studied and wrote and buried himself
deep in the famous impeachment of
Judge Peck. in the fight against Cal
hOun. IN the acquisition of Texas, in the
esta blishment of a national. independent
treasury, and Eastman Of intellect as
he was-in a serious attempt TO dispose
Of the slavery question by suppressing
discussion Of it in Congress.
A Breath of Mountain Air.
His sister Jane, and her husband. E.
lot Lane. died while Buchanan was thus
occupied. and Harriet. the youngest OF
Inc four children, became an orphan In
nar- INF Ann w hag.
choice exclusively that she should at
tach herself to her uncle. Buchanan
was somewhat abashed but deeply
touched by the regard Of his little kins-
woman. He did not finch. On the con-
trary he opened 70 her at once his
room2. formal brick house in Ian
caster, and set up his niece IN It as its
prospective mistress and its greatest
treasure.
"she came into Buchanan's life
writes one who loved Harriet Lane.
like q breath Of wind from the noun
tain side, fresh, sweet. and wild Bucn-
anan was distraught. His bachelor IA
bitat was in confusion. He was a man
Of theories and ideals This oft OF
youthful life that had elected to invade
the quiet of his ways was a being CT
impulse. however. generous. health AMI
shirts. A sense of his superiority. how
ever. penetrating her youthful intelll-
gerce. gave him an influence over her
that was productive OF such satisfac-
tory results as she grew TO woman
hood"
At first he committed this young ward
to the care Of some venerable spinsters.
Then. at the age Of twelve. she went
to boarding school IN Charlestown, W.
Va. Then In 1916 he brought her TO
Washington, not 10 his great home in
+ Street as yet, but the Academy %
the Visitation in Georgetown. One sun
day IN every month, for three years.
she was driven down the main business
street in the old town, past Union Tav-
ern, with its ornamental loafers in tight
breeches and dress coats, along Penn
sylvania Avenue 10 the Presidents
house, and then 10 the home Of the
great Mr.. Buchanan. beyond the Treas
ury Department. There was little road
making In Washington then. and her
carriage was, no doubt, often buried in
dust and stuck IN mud, and If the
weather was clear her journey was fire.
quently enlivened by scattering fowls,
bellicose goats barking dogs. and
squealing pigs.
Associated With Great Minds.
II was IN the year which followed her
graduation from the convent that she
and her uncle grew really to know each
other Mr.. Buchanan, st1l Secretary Of
State, kept her by his side constantly
introduced her always 10 his distin-
guished guests. led her 20 talk with
everybody. and permitted her 10 grow
day by day 20 possess him entirely.
We have a glimpse OF her IN those
days In the testimony OF admiring