Evening star., 1939-06-04

Buchanan-became Minister to
Great Britain, and took his favorite
niece to England with him to be the
presiding lady of his household.
Buchanan Relative.
Harriet Lanes mother was the
sister of James Buchanan, and. fol-
lowing the deaths of Harriets
father and mother, he brought his
niece to Washington and had her
educated at the Visitation Convent
in Georgetown, perhaps for just such
contingency as subsequently arose
ever so many times, when he was in
the official limeljght.
1t was due to this training, there
fore, that Miss<Lane was able to
gain the favor of Queen Victoria
and to receive special royal consid.
Grafton, and it is said she was one
of the most popular ladies who ever
figured at the English Court in the
diplomatic circles of foreign coun-
tries. 1t was due to the admiration
the Queen held for her that by
special direction she was accorded
the same social rank on ceremonial
occasions as that held by the wife
of a minister. Indeed, as an early
account says: She was often in
vited into the closer relations of
family hospitality by England's
sovereign, and in the train of suit
ors for her hand were gentlemen Of
ancient nobility and glorious deeds
in war and craftsmanship. A queen
in her own right, she preferred an
American sovereign when marriage
engaged her thoughts, to the most
distinguished of the titled subjects
OF foreign state"
AS Mrs. Johnston, she resided for
awhile at the northeast corner of
Eighteenth and I streets, and when
visiting the city later in life, after
having moved elsewhere, she
stopped at the home of Isham H.
Hornsby, 1922 Rhode Island avenue,
the Hornsbys being old friends.
Harriet Lane Johnston was an
ardent lover of art and music and
the first great stimulus to the Ma
tional Collection of Fine Arts oc-
CURED in 1906, through the terms of
her will and during the administra-
ton OF her uncle. James Buchanan,
| her interest in the Marine Band
and her influence with the Presi-
dent, resulted in that band being
considerably enlarged
Connaught as Guest.
Ten years after Prince Albert Wis
tied the United States, his brother,
Prince Arthur, the Duke of Con-
naught, visited this country and,
OF course, came to the Capital. He
arrived in this city on January 27.
1870, and The Star tells us he went
to the National Theater to hear
William Tell" He also took a
drive around the northern part of
the city and stopped at the Soldiers
Home.
The big event upon this occasion
was a ball given in the princes
honor by the British Minister. Sir
Edward Thornton, whose official
residence was then at 1927 I street
NV, where is now the Army and
Navy Club. Prior to this, however,
the Prince dined with the Secretary
OF State and Mrs. Fish.
The ball was one of the biggest
and most brilliant affairs given in
washington up to that time. The
hall was decorated under the SUPER
vision Of Mrs. Thornton, who had a
special bouquet of roses prepared
for the prince by John Douglas, the
florist. Seven hundred invitations
were issued for this event, which
took place in the Masonic Temple,
still standing at the northwest cor
ner of Ninth and F streets, the
building having been only recently
completed at the time of the func-
tion.
Notable People.
Weber's Band, stationed in the
gallery, furnished the music, and
played, most naturally. God Save
the King" and America" and fur
| (SaA pPOCTOR po0a N.QN