Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-01-21
BY RICHARD sPILLANE.

BY RICHARD SPILLANE.
Unfortunately for Peggy O'Neal, she
was outrageously pretty, unusually vi
vacious, uncommonly witty, and, in the
eyes of men, altogether charming.
No woman had so great an influence
on the political history of the United
States as did she. For champion she
had one of the sternest and most chiv-
alrous of men-Andrew jackson, Presi-
dent of the United States. When
practically all the women of the official
set in Washington refused to receive
her or attend any reception to which she
was invited, Old Hickory let it be known
that unless they changed their attitude
they never could expect to be guests at
the White House while he was in the
presidential chair. When his niece,
who, presiding over his household, was
first lady of the land. declined to meet
Peggy O'Neal. the old general sent her
home to Tennessee. Thereafter, until
the niece returned and begged forgive
ness. Peggy O'Neal sat in the seat of
honor at state dinners in the White
House.
Perhaps it would have been better
for the peace and happiness of Peggy
O'Neal had she not had so sturdy de-
fender as Andrew jackson. Perhaps
there would have been fewer tears in
her bright eyes had her troubles not
been made the subject of national dis
cussion. But, then, had it not been
for Andrew Jackson's championship of
her the Peggy O'Neal war would not
have become a queer chapter in Ameri-
can history, she would not have been
entitled to the consideration of posterity,
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.
Caste.
Poor Peggy O'Neal! Her sin was not
in being pretty or vivacious or witty or
in being unduly attractive to men.
These might have been overlooked, but
her chief offense was in being tavern
keepers daughter. and Washington
tavern-keeper's daughter at that. OF
course, another reason was alleged. 1t
never would have done for the Cabinet
ladies of Democratic government to
have made their fight on the tavern
issue, however much they were af-
fronted by the idea of associating with
so humbly born a creature; so they
were only too willing to accept any and
all stories affecting her good name.
Society, and especially Washington
society, was more stilted in those days
than in these. 1t did not look with par
ticular favor upon jackson himself. He
was rude, harsh man, a duelist, a
brawler, an Indian fighter.
True he was great soldier, and there
was a suspicion that he might be a
great statesman, but people who prided
themselves on their refinement and
gentle breeding were mildly shocked at
the idea of this rough Westerner, who
fought game cocks and gambled OH
horse-races, occupying the seat of
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madi-
son, Monroe and john Quincy Adams.
They felt like many other persons felt
when that other homely Westerner.
Abraham Lincoln, assumed the Chief
Magistracy. Society has changed bit
since the days of Peggy O'Neal. Other
wise how could woman taven-keeper
have become the only undisputed leader
of society New York ever has had?
The tavern that Peggy O'Neals
father owned was. called the Indian
Queen. There Andrew jackson and his
wife lived when they were in Washing
ton, while Jackson was Senator. The
bright and clever Peggy was the pet of
Mrs. Jackson, who, childless herself,
gave mothers love to pretty Peggy.
Never was man more devoted to
woman than was Andrew Jackson
to his wife Rachel, and if for no othe,
reason than that his wife loved Peggy
lO'Neal he would have been her stauncf
defender. But there was a more power
full reason. Mrs. Jackson's life ha(
been saddened and, Jackson believed
her death caused by the evil tongue o.
slander. Knowing what she had suffered
he was all the more ready to sympa
} thize with another whose character wa
assailed. And the Peggy O'Neal affai
developed at the time when he was al
most heartbrokeD over the death of hi
wife.
The Two Women.
There were strange points of simi
larity in the lives of Peggy O'Neal an
Rachel Jackson. Both were handsome
clever women. Both were marrie
twice. The first husband of each of tn
women was worthless. The secon
husbands of both were the best of men
Both women were the victims of assas
sins of character.
When jackson assumed the pres
dency in March, 1929, he was sore a
heart. One month after his election hi
3 wife had died. Throughout the can
paign his enemies had been bitter
attacks. Partisan feeling ran highe
in those times than in these, and me
y were more violent in their languag,
The old, old story that jackson ha
a stolen another mans wife was told.
was true Jackson thought they wel
free to marry when they were not. an
that they had to be married over again
The fact that there was some irrel
II ularity was sufficient basis for attack
the heat of the political fight. I'll
truth was that Mrs. Jackson's fir,