Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-03
secretary assured him.

secretary assured him.
"Good heavens!" said the minister
from Great Britain as he passed on,
half dazed.
By this time there remained but few
seats, one at all toward the head of
the table or about its middle portion.
Toward the end Of the room, farthest
from the official host, q few chairs still
stood vacant, because they had not
been sought for. Thither, with falter-
ing footsteps, r even these opportunf-
ties should pass, stepped the minister
from Great Britain and the minister
from Spain, their ladies with them,
none Offering escort.
Well disposed to smile at his chiefs
audacious overturning Of all social
usage, yet not unadvised of the serious
ness of all this, Meriwether Lewis
handed the distinguished guests to
their seats as best he might and then
left them as best he might.
At that time there were not SIX va
cant places remaining at the long table.
No one seemed to know how many had
been invited to the banquet or how
many were expected. No one in the
company seemed to know any one else.
1t was indeed a pellmell affair.
For once the American democracy
was triumphant. But the leader of that
democracy, the head of the new ad-
ministNation, the host at this official
banquet, the president of the United
States, Thomas Jefferson, stood quiet
lN, serenely, looking out over the long
table, entirely unconcerned with what
he saw. If there was trouble it was
for others, not for him.
Those at the table began to seat
themselves, following the hosts exam
pie. 1t was at this moment that the
young captain Of affairs turned once
more toward the great doors with the
intention of closing them. Old Henry
was having his own battles with the
remaining audience in the anteroom
as he now brought forward two belat-
ed guests. Old Henry. be sure. knew
them both, and-as a look at the sud
den change of his features might have
told-so did Mr.. Jefferson's aid.
They advanced with dignity, these
two-one a gentleman. not tall, but
elegant, eXquisitely clad in full dress
costume, q mar whom you would have
turned to examine a second time had
you met him anywhere. Upon his arm
was a young woman, also beautifully
costumed, smiling, graceful, entirely at
her ease. Many present knew the two
Aaron Burr, vice president Of the
United States: his daughter. Theodosia
Burr Aston.
Mr.. Burr passed within the great
doors, turned and bowed deeply to his
host, distant as he was across the
crowded room. His daughter courte-
sled also. Their entry was dramatic.
Then they stood, a somewhat stately
picture, waiting for an instant while
seemingly deciding their future course.
1t was at this moment that Meri.
Wether Lewis approached them, beck.
oning. He led them toward the few
seats that still remained unoccupied
placed them near to the official visitors
whose ruffled feathers still remained
n~nsmoothed. and then stood by them
for an instant. intending to take his
departure.
There was one remaining chair. II
was at the side of Theodosia Aston
She herself looked up at him eagerly
and patted it With her hand. He seat
ed himself at her side.
Thus at last was filed the pellmel
table Of Mr.. Thomas jefferson. Tc
this day no nan knows whether al
present had been invited or whether
all invited had opportunity to be pres
ent.
There were those-his enemies, mel
Of the opposing political party, for thu
most part-who spoke. i'll of MI. Jeffer
son and charged that he showed ~
pocrisy in his pretense Of democratic
simplicity in official life. Yet others
even among his friends, criticised hin
severely for the affair of this after
noon-July 4. in the year 1903. They
said that his manners were %inconsist
ent with the dignity Of the highest off.
cial of this republic.
IT any Of this comment injured or Of
Tended Mr.. Jefferson he never gave
sign. He was born a gentleman as
much as any and was as fully ac
quainted with good social usage as any
man of his day. His life had beer
spent in the best surroundings Of his
own country and at the most polished
courts Of the old world. To accuse
him of ignorance or boorishness would
have been absurd.
The fat was that his own resource
full brain had formed a definite plan
lie wished to convey a certain rebuke
and with deadly accuracy he did con
vey that rebuke. 1t was at no endur
ing cost to his own fame.
CHAPTER vi.