The Washington herald., 1913-08-10

VIII sink or swim with MIN, Dy God!
declared jackson.
ment of Mai. Eaton to the Cabinet was
Col. Towson, who informed Jackson
Of the stories in circulation among the
women of Washington. do you suppose
I have been sent to the White House
by the people to consult the ladies Of
Washington as to the proper persons to
compose my Cabinet?' replied the gen.
eral. hotly. In the selection of its menu
bers I shall consult my own judgment,
looking to the great and paramount in
terests of the whole country, and not
to the accommodation of society ard
drawing-rooms of this or any other
city,
In answer to most of the protests Jack
son pointed out that it was Maj Eaton
and not Mrs. Eaton who was to be a
member OF the Cabinet.
The inauguration finally took place. and
announcement was made of the person.
mel of the Cabinet, Maj. Eaton receiv-
ing the office of Secretary of War. Mrs.
Eaton at once entered society, but was
utterly ignored by nearly all the women.
The wives Of John c. Calhoun. Vice
President; John NJ. Berrien, Attorney
General; S. D. Ingham, Secretary of the
Treasury. and John Branch, Secretary
of the Navy, all refused to recognize
Peggy, snubbing her on every possible
occasion. Jackson's devoted. but much
slandered wife. Rachel. had died two
weeks after his election to the Presi
dency. and Mrs. Donelson, wife of his
favorite nephew and private secretary.
was the presiding lady at the White
House.
Di.lil<ed the Beauty.
She Ioathed Peggy. avoided her when
ever possible. and ignored her when
forced into her presence. Jackson in
formed his niece that IL she did not be-
come kindly disposed toward his little
Peg" he would dismiss her from the
Executive Mansion. The execution OF
the request was too painful for Mrs.
Donelson. and she refused to recognize
Mrs. Eaton, with the result that she
was sent back to Tennessee by the Presi-
dent. She was at her home for several
months. but finally returned TO the
White House.
The bachelors and the widowers were
about the only persons now who showed
Peggy the least attention. Secretary oil
State Van Buren,. widower. and Post
master General Barry, bachelor,
pleased jackson immensely by calling
upon Peggy. The other members of the
Cabinet were prevented by their wives
from recognizing Mrs. Eaton. Among
the few who did favor the crest-fallen
Peggy were Col. Thomas Benton and
Isaac Hill. Jacksonian partisans; Lord
the British Minister. and Baron
Krudener the Russian MINISTERIAL OF
whom were bachelors.
Before long the Cabinet became known
as the "Petticoat Cabinet and the
Kitchen Cabinet" and Peggy was given
the nickname of "Bellona.' after the
goddess OF war, a sister of Mars.
In order to please Jackson, Lord
Vaughan gave a ball in honor of Peggy.
She was conducted to the head of the
table by the British Minister. but was
bitterly ignored by the women present.
Nearly every cotillon was broken up
upon the appearance OF "Bellona"
Later. Baron Krudener held a similar
ball in honor Of Mrs. Eaton. The baron
informed Mrs. Huyghens. wife of the
Dutch Minister, that Mai. Eaton would
escort her to the banquet table. She
hesitated for several moments. but finally
Mrs. Huyghens was escorted
to a seat beside Mrs. Eaton. and. becom-
ing insulted at being given a place beside
the despised Peggy. she withdrew from
the banquet hall jackson became so en-
ragged that he threatened TO send the
Minister back to his country.
On one occasion a grand dinner was
given in the East Room Of the White
House. Lord Vaughan conducted Mrs.
Eaton to the table. and placed her at
the post of hd0or at the side of the Presi-
dent. After dinner II was proposed that
the party should retire to the coffee room.
but the ladies present refused to go on
account Of Peggy's being there.
Conditions reached such a serious
stage that Jackson employed r. NJ. John |
son to get the members of the Cabine: |
and their wives to recognize Peggy. II |
was a hopeless task. The secretaries re- |
fused to urge their wives to assume {. |
friendly attitude toward Mrs Eaton. /
Mrs. Calhoun continued to snub BEL
Iona on every occasion, and as a result |
Of this, the Vice President suffered po-
litically in a most serious manner. For
some time there had been an increasing
coolness between Jackson and Calhoun,
and the Cabinet trouble sufficed to bring
affairs to rapid elimination. jackson
the attack on Peggy to be