Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13

EHIND the unwilling Of WaShingtons
newest memorial raised up to the
honor of President James Buchanan,
lies an enhancing story OF how
~ Washington almost lost this monu-
ment by q few days and how beautiful and
gracious niece, who acted as his First Lady OF
the Land, sought to enshrine his name in q
beautiful sculptural Offering that would out
live the wrath of his enemies
The newly dedicated monument that pays
tribute to Buchanan in Meridian Hill Park Is
the apex of a story that had its beginnings
more than half century ago. Buchanan was
Americas first bachelor President To NIL the
role of mistress of the White House, when he
came here in 1857, when the clouds OF the
Civil War we're already on the troubled horizon,
Buchanan chose his beautiful niece, Harriet
Lane And now the Washington that has we'll
nigh forgotten the bitter strife engendered by
his occupancy of the White House and the
storm that was to beat its full force at Bull
Run, at Gettysburg and at Shiloh gazes COM
Dlacently upon the memorial to Buchanan, mace
possible by the money Of the pretty niece VINO
rode with him to his inaugural in that March
of 1887.
Newspaper and other accounts Of the time
assert that the Buchanan inaugural was
brilliant one. The man that Buchanan rode
beside on the way to Capitol Hill was friend
Of his, for he had served President Pierce as
United States Minister to England The friends
Of Buchanan had high hopes for him, for, said
they, he was a schooled diplomat, . shrewd
lawyer Of unimpeachable probity and . former
Senator.
THE platform of 1856 upon which this Demo-
cratic nominee had conducted his CAM
paign had swept him to victory over Pierce
and Douglas for the nomination. He was
chosen by a plurality vote over the opposing
candidates Fillmore and Gen. Fremont.
The Buchanan Inauguration is described as
0N1fCto
IN the parade were a miniature ship of war
and 1.-The Keystone Club" and a woman dressed
as the Goddess Of Liberty was given high place.
The mayor of Washington delivered an ad-
dress of welcome, and for the inaugural ball
q special wooden building was erected In Ju-
dietary Square, adjoining the City Hall.
This description has been given Of his
pretty niece, whose money has gone to give
him this Meridian Hill Park memorial:
Miss Lane is rather below the medium
height, but has a fine figure and Is Of that
blonde type Of Saxon beauty so familiar to
Christendom since the multiplication Of por-
traits of Queen Victoria. She wore white
dress trimmed with artificial flowers, similar
to those which ornamented her hair, and clasp
ing her throat was a necklace Of many strands
Of seed pearls"
Such was her appearance on that gay in
augural day back in 1857. Mrs. Pierce, the re-
firing First Lady, had been Ill, so that social
Washington looked forward with anticipation
to enjoying a brilliant round of events during
the Buchanan adminiStration-and it was not
disappointed Eminent social gatherings we're
revi"ed after the gloom that pervaded the
presidential mansion during the Pierce regime
due to the Indifferent health Of his wife.
The striking costume Of the Russian Minister
Stoekl aroused admiration and intere1t at the
diplomatic receptions, but the Buchanan ad-
ministration was to witness eminent foreigners
at the White House from East and frtm West.
The year Of 1860 iB set down in tho history