Evening star., 1921-01-09
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Letters of William NJ Thackeray Written In 1853
Describe Vividly Inauguration Incidents When
President Pierce Succeeded Millard Fillmore.

William Makepeace Thackeray was
visiting in Washington in 1853, in the
last days of February and the first
of March, and those who read his de-
lightful letters to his mother written
during this interval will see how
much the capital has changed in re-
gard to celebrating the coming of
new chief executive. Millard FIJI.
more. who was the running mate or
Old Rough and Ready" Gen: Zachary
and the brilliant Briton makes note
of the lack of fuss and feathers
which attended that event. There
was a 1evee, which he attended with
the British minister. Champion. whom
he was visiting, and Il street parade,
which he witnessed through the
kindness of Senator and Mrs. Hamil-
ton Fish. who were also his hosts.
but tho simplicity of those days Is
brought out well in his letter de
scribing dining with President Fill
more on March ;, at which the Pres
ident -elect. Pierce. also was a guest.
The hour was 3. so that both eminent
men could attend Mr.. Thackeays
which began in Willard Hall at 4:30.
Mr.\ and Mrs. John Il. Larner have
an Interesting collection of Thack-
cray letters and notes written during
thoSe days in 1853, addressed to Varl-
Gus public men or their wives who
entertained him for the inaugural
festivities They show clearly that
the event, though surrounded with
soiemnity and every detail possible
IN a republican capital. was impor-
tant politically rather than socially
though the presence of many dis
tnguished visitors at this time gave
an unusual impetus to the functions.
Attraction in Bahnmns.
Sojourners in the south. and espe-
cially those who go to the Mardi Gras
in New Orleans have another attrac-
ton in the Bahamas. where. for the
trst time in several years. Nassau ls|
ready to welcome strangers. and a
line of steamers plies from the Louis
lana seaport to different points in the
vicinity several times a week. Mas
sau ceased to be the lure for Ameri-
can guests some ten years ago. when
the British government. relying on
the Monroe doctrine, removed the
garrison which occupied the pic
turesque coral houses along the
shore. Now. however. the post is
considered excellent for the semi
invalid officers, and it has been re-
opened. AS u consequence, gay par
ties are landing at the old dock. and
the rather obsolete accommodations
offered by hotels of ten yeadrs ago
are borne with patiently. for the OBJ
NtouS DleSSlHS III otHpE uIcttlobS.
Nearly all of the large party of Wash
ingtonians who will go to New Or
leans in February will visit the Ba-
hamas before returning home:
Story Of Senator Chamberlain.
George Earle Chamberlain. senator
from Oregon, who has been so crit
Ically i'll for several weeks. is one of
the group of notable statesmen born
in Mississippi who departed from that
commonwealth to mount the political
+
Chamberlain took his seat in the up
per chamber in 1909 as the result Of
the first primaries held in Oregon,
Mississippi was the mother of SEN
ators. having no less than seven ma
tive sons wearing the toga. conspicu-
ley of Texas. This. when one Of the
Mississippi senators, John Sharpe
Williams. was born in Memphis.
Tenn. was remarkable record. The
Oregon statesman retains the most
consuming love for the great bluffs
above Natchez. where his fathers
plantation was situated and where a
mile down the bank lived the young
lady whom he was destined to marry.
Rarely when the parents of either the
senator or Mrs. Chamberlain lived did
they omit an annual visit. Both the
Chamberlains are the children Of fine
old country doctors. and their ro-
nance was neighborhood affair, be-
X ginning dC the juvenile pdrl1eS or the
Mississippi river in the late seventies
Three of the attractive daughters Of
the senator made their debut here and
enjoyed social honors. but all went
home to marry sons Of Oregon. Mrs
chamberlain has not been in robust
health for some years and has not
come to Washington since the winter
she presented Miss Fannie Welch
Chamberlain, the youngest Of the sew
en- children.
Gays Will BE Missed.
Although there is a feeling of sat
isfaction that Edwin S. Broussard
has been elected to the Senate to fill
the place of his distinguished brother,
Robert F. Broussard. there are many
who lament the passing of Senator
Edward James Gay and his wife. who
was Miss Gladys F'enner of New
Orleans. Mrs. Gay enjoyed a season
of belleship before she went to the
rather remote sugar and tobacco
plantations Of her husband near
Plaquemine on the bayouS. She is
keen historical student and has the
romantic story of the Pelican state
at her fingers ends. 1t was she who
introduced the charming tableau, the
coming of the casket girls into the
French colony, in the Lincoln cele-
bration last winter. Senator Gay is
among the few planters of his en-
yironment who raise that delectable