Evening star., 1937-05-01

discontent had come from the flourish
Ing American Colonies. Faults on
both sides had led to decade OF war
to protracted peace egotlatlonS-to
the establishment of diplomatic rela-
tions-and the last act in the pas
sionate drama was played in the sweep
of courtsy. 1t was left to this grace
full gesture to seal for all time tne
separation between the mother country
and the Colonies that had been bone OK
her sineW, breath of her body. Yet lie
is like that A simple act, curt
speech, brings down the curtain on
play that has run through scenes OK
the highest emotion.
X ING GEORGE saluted Mrs. Adams
and inquired whether she had
taken walk today" 1t was with this
platitude, spoken in a drawing room.
that the erstwhile ruler recognized
American independence.
Abigails reply was polite mo,
sire" but with her native wealth Of
wit she added, when recounting the
scene for her sister Mary, Il could
have told his majesty that had been
all morning preparing to wait on
| him"
Queen Charlotte's query had to do
with a house, Had Mrs. Adams been
able to find one?" and the competent
stranger was able to say she had
found one-in Grosvenor Square. Her
| feelings on the rent situation she
kept, as befitted the wife of diplo-
mat, strictly to herself.
AS a letter-writer, when that form
OF literary expression was an art, abb
gail is a headliner. To the lasting
| good fortune Of posterity she wrote
a minute description of her own dress
and Abby'S to her sister, Mrs. Richard
| Cranch Of Boston. She had charged
her mantua- maker that the dress was
10 be elegant but plain as l can
| possibly appear with decency." and
the London court dressmaker of those
days undoubtedly gave her overseas
customer elegance. The gown was
OF White luteString, covered and full
trimmed with white Grape, festooned
with lilac ribbons and mock point
lace, over hoop of enormous ex-
tent with a narrow train OF
ABOUT yards in length to the gown
waist, which is put into a ribbon upon
the left side. Rufle cuffs for
married ladies'" she adds, and a yery
dress cap with long lace lappets, two
white plumes and blond lace hand
kerchief"
This fascinating picture of her "rig.
glng, as she calls it, was penued
While she waited for Abby to be
oecked IN her finery. But there is
much more to Abigau's letter. ME.
thinks she continues, Il hear BETSY
and Lucy say, What is cousin 5
dress?" Betsy and Lucy were Mrs.
Cranch's daughters), so she goes on for
their benefit: White, my dear girls, like
your aunts, only differently trimmed
and ornamented, her train being
wholly OF white crepe, and trimmed
With white ribbon; the petticoat.
winch Is the most snowy part Of
the dress, covered and drawn up in
What are called festoons. with light
Wreaths of beautiful flowers. the
sleeves white crepe, drawn over the
SIX, With a row of lace round the
sleeve near the shoulder, another half
way down the arm, and third upon
the top OF the ruff1e: a little flower
STUCK between; a kind of hat can
with three large feathers and a bunch
OF flowers; wreath of flowers upon
the hair"
Stunning outfits!' they still sound
and What a pity!' We cannot helm
exclaiming, that they are not in some
national museum.
THE letter shows Abigail In liRhter
vein. Brought up to bake, cook
sew, spin and turn her hand to anv.
thing in the house, she played tho
oackstage part OF busy life till she
reached her 40s Then, at a mo-
ments notice, she was thrust into
leading international role. Not univ
was she huge success in the exact.
ing part, but, like all those who oiva
star performance on the great stage
OF lie, she dared to use her own in.
depreciation. Fifteen years later. whom
she became the first mistress of tba
White House under similar diffcul.
circumstances, she earned the sanoa
applause
Her naturally keen resources had
been developed by responsibility as
young mother. John had always hea,,
away so much on circuit duty tbot
his young wife was left much alona
with their four children on the Braino
tree farm tnoW Quincy. As time went
on and Colonial affairs altered dras.
tlcally, John was sent as delegate -
Philadelphia during the Continento1
Congress years. 1t was on his ohsery-
ant wife that he depended for in.
formation on current trends. Her lot
ters OF this period are little ESSAYS in
miniature on social and economic suhN
Jects, written in a delightfully."- reod-
able vein.
Thus was Abigail schooled for Lon.
don, where her setting became a CONT
instead of a kitchen, and her cleo
common sense kept her undaunta,
among the diplomatic elite. As .Ioh.
IrusloW Adams has aptly REMARKED
Her knowledge of bellies lettres 49,
philosophy was remarkable for
woman OF that, or perhaps any, dav.
Women who successfully combinas
housekeeping and scholarly tasto.
were minus quantities in the eight
| eenth century eAit-