Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-15

YNFORTUNATEDY Tor Peggy
O'Neal, she was outrageously
J pretty. unusually vivacious, un-
commonly witty and, in the eyes
o. men, altogether charming.
40 woman had so great an influence
ON the political history OF the United
states as did she. For a champion she
had one OF the sterneSt and most chiv-
alrous of men, Andrew Jackson, presi-
dent of the United States. When prac-
TALLY all the women of the official set
Washington refused to receive her
D. attend any reception TO which she
was invited Old Hickory let II 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. Whom his niece.
who, presiding over his household, was
first lady of the land, declined to moot
Peggy ONeal, the old general sent her
homo 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 1t would have been better for
the peace and happiness of Peggy
O'Neal had she not had so sturdy de-
fender rs Andrew Jackson. Perhaps
there would have been fewer tears In
hociEdright eyes had her troubles not
bee. mado tlie subject of national dis
cuss'on But. then. had IL not been for
A1J ew ia ;lSson's championship of her
The Peggy O'Neal war would not have
become Il queer chapter In American
history. she would not have been en-
tilted 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 bclng pretty or vivacious or witty
or In being unduly attractive to men.
These might have been overlooked, but
her chief offense was In being a tavern
Keepers daughter, and Washington
tayernkecper's daughter at that or
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 asSociatlng with
80 humbly born creature, so they
were only too willing to accept any and
all stories affecting her good name.
Society, and especially Washington So
ciety. 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,
brawler. an Indian fighter.
True he was a great soldier, and
there was q suspicion that he might
be great statesman, but people who
prlded themselves on their refinement
and gentle breeding were mildly shock
ed at the idea OF this rough westerner.
who fought gamecocks and gambled on
horse races, occupying tho seat of
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madi-
son, Monroe and John Quincy Adams.
They felt a good deal as 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 woman
tavern keeper have. become the only
undisputed leader of society New York
ever has had2
The tavern that Peggy O'Nears
father owned was called the Indian
Queen. There Andrew Jackson and his
wife lived when they were in Washing
ton. while Jackson was a senator. The
Fright and clever Peggy was the pet
OF Mrs. Jackson, who. childless hersel1s
gave a mothers love to pretty Peggy.
Never was man more devoted to wom-
an than was Andrew Jackson to his
e Rachel, and IL for no other rea-
Jon than that his wife loved Peggy
O'Neal he would have been her stanch
defcnder. But there was a more pow
erful reason. Mrs. Jackson's HE mad