Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-04
what Is Writ Is Writ"

at has been written amid intervals of
leisure snatched from laborious occupa-
ton. and contains many imperfections
but it contains, it is hoped, no essential
errors of fact, and has been certainly pre-
pared with an earnest desire to nothing
extenuate nor set down aught in malice.
AS 1t is, it is respectfully submitted.
What is writ is writ-would it were
worther!''
Upon the inside cover OF this beautiful
volume, which is lined with pink brocade
Is the following inscription in the hand
writing OF President Polk:
northern states In June and July ls47
was prepared by John Appleton. ESQ.,, Of
Maine. who was one OF my suite and ac-
companied me.
Mr.. Appleton, after his return to Wash
ington, prepared this journal from his
notes. and presented 1t to me on the 9th
President Polk having no children, it
was inherited by his grandniece. who
rotary OF War. with the following note:
POLK PLACE. November "a, 1897.
Judge J. N. Dickinson:
MY Dear Sir-Thinking the incosed
diary Of ex-President Polk, In which
find some correspondence Of yours, might
be Of some historic interest and value to
you and yours. 1t gives me much pleasure
to ask your acceptance of the same.
ours very truly,
MRS. GEoRGE w. FALL,
''3O7 North Vine Street
Judge Dickinson naturally prizes this as
one OF his greatest treasures, and intends
some time to publish 1t, 50 that the coun-
try can share with him the interest it
must excite in every one who sees it. The
beauty OF the volume adds much to it's
value. and II the manuscript could be re-
produced in fac-simile. with binding and
all. 1t would be very gratifying.
Desired to "Get Acquainted"
Upon the first page OF the narrative the
writer. Mr.. Appleton. who at that time
was chief clerk of the Navy Department,
explains that:
THE Journey was undertaken with no
political purpose. but with a desire on his
tthe President's) part to observe more
closely than he had ever before had OPP
portunity to do the institutions and the
people of the northern portion OF his
country. aud especially to witness the
condition and to become acquainted with
the inhabitants of the states which COM
pose New England"
Mrs. Polk did not accompany the Pres
ident farther than Baltimore. and his
suite was composed Of Nathan Clifford,
Attorney General. afteFward associate
justice OF the Supreme Court: Edmund
Burke, commissioner OF patents, and Mr..
Appleton, the writer.
Mr.. Appleton was a philosopher, and
occasionally INDUCED In observations
which show the quality Of his mind.
Railroads were new In those days. The
telegraph was still newer and was still
source OF wonderment. Hence Mr..
Appleton comments upon the remarks able
fact that 1.-The news of our departure
was in Baltimore before we reached the
nearest border OF Bladensburg. But mag
were contented. therefore, to abide the
less marvellous but more servicea BILE re-
suits OF steam"
At Baltimore. which was reached in an
time in those days for a railroad-ths
party was received with no pomp Of
ceremony. but with bsaning eyes, with
manly forms. with stout and honest
hearts. with the marks upon their per-
sons which proclaimed their honorable
industry. Glorious as are the achieve
ments Of human skill, man, after all,
has produced nothing so wonderful as
himself, for God made him after his own
image. The President must have been
gratified with the cordial reception and
have hailed 1t as bright omen for his
future Journey
The party was escorted to the Exchange
Hotel by the mayor and members of the
city corporation and q column of troops.
and upon arrival in the drawing room
OF the hotel the President was welcomed
by Mayor Dayeis in a very compliment
airy speech.
THE reply was appropriate and inn
pressively delivered" Is the comment of
President Folks Boswell, but 1t would
have been much more effective had it
been spoken in the presence of the ami
mating spirits of. the crowd. True elo-
quence is tumultuous in its very nature,
and shrinks from quiet and retirement as
from an atmosphere which it cannot
breathe in safety. In this instance. too.
the speaker was not man who could be
embarrassed by the vastness of his au-
dience. but rather one who from his
previous habits in the west, as well as
from the character of his mind. would
have felt far more At home in addressing
a popular assembly than he could pos
stbly feel while addressing a score OF
persons in a private apartment"
The Wines Were "Generous."
At the conclusion of the speeches the
President went out into the rotunda OF
the hotel where about two thousand
people paid their respects to him. and
then he made a tour Of the city. visiting
various public institutions. At $50 O'Clock
banquet was admirably served and
the wines were generous enough to at
tract notice"
At $50 o'clock the next morning the