Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09
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pion she had one Of the sternest and
most chivaIrous Of men. Andrew Jack
son, President Of the United States
When practically all the women of the
official set in Washington refused to re-
ceive her or attend any reception to
which she was invited Old Hickory let
il he known that unless they changed
their attitude they never could expect
10 he guests at the White House while
lie was in the presidential chair. When
his niece who, presiding over his house
hold. was tirsy lady Of the land. declined
70 meet Peggy O'Neal. the old general
sent her home to Tennessee. Thereafter
until the niece returned and begged for
siveness. Peggy O'Neal sat in the seat
OF honor at state dinners in the White
House
Perhaps il would have been better for
the peace and happiness Of Peggy O'Neal
mad she not had 50 sturdy a defender
Andrew Jackson. Perhaps there would
nave been fewer tears in her bright eyes
Tad her trouble not been made the sub
ject of national discussion. Eut, then, had
i not been for Andrew Jackson's cham
piOnShlp Of her the Peggy O'Neal war
would not have become a queer chapter
IL American history. sle would not have
been entitled to the consideration Of pos
terity. Martin Van Buren, might never
have been President and John c. Calhoun
might not have been crushed as he was
by the hero of New Orleans.
Poor Peggy o Neal, Her sin was not In
being pretty or Vivacious or witty in
being unduly attractive to men. These
might have been overlooked. but her chief
offense was in being a tavern keeper
daughter, and a Washington taVern-keep-
crS daughter at that. OF course, another
reason was alleged. 1t never would have
done for the cabinet ladies of a demo-
cratic government TO have, made their
tight on the tavern issue, however much
they were affronted by the idea of assoc
Ciating with SO lumbly born creature.
80 they were only too willing to accept
any and all stories affecting her good
name. Society. and especially Washing
ton society, more Stilted in those
days than in these. 1t did not look with
particular favor upon jackson himself.
lie was a rude. harsh man, a duelist,
brawler, Indian fighter.
True, he was a great soldier, and there
was suspicion that he might be a great
statesman, but people who prided them
.,elselyes their refinement and gentle
breeding were mildly shocked at the idea
of this rough Westcrrer. who fought
Eamecocks and gamhlcd on horse races.
occupying the seat or Washington.
Adams. jefferson. Madison, Monroe and
John Quincy Adams. They felt good
deal Is many other persons felt when
that other homely westerncr, Abraham
Lincoln. assumed the chief magistracy.
Society has changed a BIT since the days
of Peggy ONeal. Otherwise how could
a woman tavern keeper have become the
only undfsputed leader 81 society New
York ever has had?
The tavern that Peggy MEALS father
owned was called tic Indian Queen.
There Andrew jackson and his wife
lived when they were in Washington,
while Jackson was q senator. The bright
and clever Peggy was the pet OF Mrs.
jackson. who. childleSs herself. gave
mothers love TO pretty Peggy. Never
VAS man more devoted to woman than
was Andrew Jackson TO his wife Rachel
and II for no other reason than that his
wife loved Peggy O'\eal lie would have
been her stanch defender. But there
2 more powerful reason. Mrs. Jack
sons life had been saddened and. Jack
son believed. her death caused by the
evil tongue OF Islander. Knowing what
she lad suffered, he was all the more
ready TO sympathize with another whose
chara cter was assailed And the Peggy
- Neal affair developed at the time when
he was almost heartbroken over the
death or his wife.
There were strange points of similarity
IN the lives of Peggy O'Neal and Rachel
Jackson. Both Were handsome. clever
women Both were married twice The
first husband o. each OF the women was
worthless The second husbands of both
were the best or men Roth women were
the victims OF aSsassins % character.
When Jackson assumed the presidency
~ March $50 he was sore at heart.
one month after his election his wife
had died Throughout the campaign his
enemies had been bitter in attacks. Par
lisan feeling ran higher in those times
than in these and men were more vio-
lent in their language The old, old story
that Jackson had stolen another man s
wife was told 1t was true jackson
thought they were free 10 marry when
they were not, and that they had to be
married again. The fact that there was
some irregularity was sufficient basis for
attack In the heat of the political fight.
The truth was that Mrs. Jacksons first
husband was "A scamp who was insanely
jealous of her and who abandoned her
soon after her marriage. They'll lived in
Tennessee. which at that time was not a
state. The husband, Richards. went to
Virginia and began proceedings for a
bring suit. This he did. The fact was
divorce was not looked upon so lightly
as at present. First Richards had to APP
ply TO the legislature for permission to
divorce. 1t was more difficult to get a
divorce then than now, and. besides.