Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

lier." This performance seemed par
ticularly Objectionable to the people,
and there was an almost universal
comment on the subject.
Mr.. Ogle, a member of Congress from
Pennsylvania, was extremely acrid at
what he termed the wicked extrava-
gance practiced by the President at
the White House: That notWithstand-
ing the mansion was kept up at the
expense of the people. Van Buren, spent
besides his princely salary of $4,000
year, and Ogle accused him,of keeping
up palace as splendid as that of the
Caesars. and as richly adorned as the
proudest Asiatic mansion"
This bitter enemy of Van Buren's, who
upbraided him at all times for his
neglect of the people though occupy
the President up to ridicule. charging
that he dined off pate de foie gras,
salade la volatile from a silver plate
with gold knife and fork. and slipped
with golden spoon his soup la Refine
served from silver tureen. and used
green finger cups in which to dip his
lily-white fingers"
While a large majority of the crowd
which was accustomed to going to the
Presidents house on independence day
did not quite understand what these
things were that Van Buren, was
charged with. they believed it was
something unpatriotic. and he was not
the man to execute the laws for the
people.
Old Hickory. who was his predecessor
in Office, was their idol, and though he
had not always presided at the capital
on the national day. they felt that it
was all right, for his patriotism could
not be questioned.
William Henry Harrison, who was
also greatly beloved by the people, died
in April month after his Inaugural
ton, and. on the following Fourth, Presi-
dent Tyler. who succeeded him. gave a
dinner at which John Quincy Adams
twas present. and afterward wrote in
his famous diary: There was turtle
soup from a turtle weighing 300
pounds, a present from Key West. The
President drank wine with every per-
son at the table, in squads" Though the
weather was hot. the amount of wine
taken evidently did not affect Mr.. Tyler.
for the same evening he was out on the
White House square reviewing the fire.
works and mingling with the people.
The Folks gave state dinners at 5
pm, entertaining in quite. dignified
way at all times and making the public
receptions pleasing to their guests.
Lady Bnlwer, wife of Sir Henry, and
aunt-in-law to owen Meredith" gives
lively pictures of Washington in that
administration, describing it a med
ley of magnifcence and squalor. She
attended national celebrations and liked
the evenings at the old National Hotel,
where she met Henry Clay, Winthrop,
Speaker of the House, and Daniel Web
ster, whose conversation was like a
great organ"
When the corner stone of the Wash
ington Monument was laid on July 4,
1850. Zachary Taylor. accompanied by
his family and cabinet, went to the
Monument grounds to hear the days
grafton delivered there in the open air
instead of at the Capitol The old
Mexican hero received great ovation
from the people, rising to acknowledge
their humble salutation, bowling to the
ladies as he said. Your humble servant
ladies'" and to the men. Heaven bless
you, gentlemen"
Gen. Taylor was apparently in good
health when the day began. and in fine
Spirits he drank freely of iced water
while at the Monument grounds, and
after reaching the White House ate
heartily of cherries. with which he
drank iced milk. After dinner he again
ate largely of cherries; afterward he
was stricken with cholera morbus,
which eliminated in typhoid. from
which he died few days later. The
unhealthy condition of the White House
for many years was the cause of much
illness and some deaths.
The last great Fourth of July celebra-
ton given at the White House took
place on the final Fourth of President
Lincoln, in 1864, when it was the scene
of mammoth Sunday school festival of
colored people, during which the Presi
dents guests presented him with a
large gold-mounted Bible bound in
purple velvet.
\ The Fourth of July levee attended
by diplomats. home officials and the
general public was continued for some
years. but went out of vogue after
President Grant established the Gus
tom of taking a summer home at some
resort where he would spend the heat
ed term. In late years the Presidents
have seldom spent Independence day at
the capital, and then only when neces-
STATED by their waiting for the adj
1ournment Of Congress, which. if it sits
on that date, as rule takes no notice
of the nations birthday. The chaplain
usually includes a reference to it in
his opening prayer.
The first reading of the Declaration to
the people was on July s, 1875. from the
steps Of abe statehouse in Philadel-
phia, by the committee of safety, to the
assembled crowd which enthusiastically
cheered each declaration as it was pro-
nounced.
The following July 4, 1777, there was
even a larger and more enthusiastic
celebration of the event, and the people
compelled a captured Hessian baRd to
make music for the occasion, which