The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-10
The Sorrow Which Fur
roWed the Face of
Andrew Jackson.
Aaron Burr'S Strange Call
on Dolly Madison in
the Garden.
~ AsHINGToN eyes turn to the

Of the workingman's hammer. The
note Of the bugle and the march OF
troops portend to the resident of the
Capital an event fraught with signih-
canoe TO him commercially and the
kerr OF the saw and rumble and rat
tie Of falling lumber arouse in him
fear for the historic old mansion. an
apprehensive interest IN its safekeeping,
which must surprise even the most in
different OF the Presidents fellow
townsmen. Yet day after day. quieter
events transpire from the White House
which might well make Washington
hold its hand to its ear and look on
with straining sight
All the years that have elapsed since
Adams brought the Nations Capital
thither have not changed that old ana
beautiful building-the years. that IS,
between 1900 and 1900 It's garden-a
beautiful sunken garden 1t was IN those
early AdministraJions-was once be-
tween the Mansion and the Presidents
Square. as Lafayette Park was called.
After the war a decade or so a con-
servatory was added to its west side.
The grounds have been now and then
rearranged. But the White House has
stood as It stands now. less the recent
arcade additions. since the day when
sturdy wOrkmen repaired the damage
done by Admiral COckburn's invaders
and gave il its first coat Of white paint
Sol has ever opened its doors TO new
masters, and new mistresses. so 1t has
bade old ones farewell. so it has looked
on brilliant parties and heart-sick sor-
row; and so its walls have been charged
with stories brighter with laughter or
heavier with grief than any shown upon
the stage. Yet Washington passes It
by. the old White House. with interest
in it only when the Administration
changes or new President puts it n
repair.
A New White House Regime.
In the year 1923 change of Admins
tration occurred without the modern &C
compartments Of tramp and bugle. This
change was, moreover, of an extraord-
mary significance; for it brought TO the
White House the first man OF the peo-
pie. TO Washington the first rotation in
public Office. and to the nation the first
idol of the people. The new President
came from the Senate-a strange and
unfamiliar sound attaches to Senator
Jackson'-and he came because all the
politicians ana all the precedents form
ed by forty years could not keep him
out. Through eight years he remained
working and lighting In a long room or
the second floor. where tall, south win
dows let in shafts Of sunshine, and a
big rocking chair stood hard by the fire
in the open CRATE. and from that room
he directed the campaign which foistec
a willing successor on unwilling party
leaders.
II some reader Of The Times We're Il
stop those people who rush by the Whit,
House these days and ask them what
sort OF a man was Andrew Jackson
what answers would he get? "OIc
Hickory" The Hero Of New Orleans.
"A stalwart." "A man who feared moth
ing but the devil. and mighty little Of
him." a life so singularly checkered, o.
etc, The father OF the spells sys-
tem''-so they would run as long as tn,
reader cared TO listen. It would do sucl
passers-by good TO read the testimony 0,
one who knew President Jackson II
those days. and who. as a little child
met with much kindness at his hands.
The Personal Jackson.
Wounds and rheumatism went fol
much in the look Of pain fixed on hi
thin face" reads that record. but tn
true instinct Of a child felt the sadness
and loneliness that made him so gentle
and 50 pleased to have a bright, uncon
scious anectionate little life near him
Among my earliest memories Of th
White House is the impression that
was TO keep stu and not hdget, OF shoy
pain. even II General Jackson twiste
his fingers a little too tightly in m
curls; he liked my father 20 bring m
when they had their talks. and woul
keep me by him. his hand on my head
forgetting me. OF course. in the interes
Of discussion-so that sometimes hi
Ions, bony fingers took an unconsciou
grip that would make me look at m
father but give no other sligo.
II knew he was very sorry becaus
his wife had died; after they reache
Washington-just before he was lnaugu
rated-and I knew they had had a lon
and happy life together. More tina
this / did not know, for children wer
kept young then"
The air Of abstraction and pain. III
sorrow because his wife had died" an
the "long and happy life" they ha
lived together-these things throw
new light on the stalwart old warrio
OF New Orleans, and they indicate ais
the pervading. chilling influence Of
story which hung low over the Whit
House and IS now a part Of its past.