Ten Years in Washington or, Inside Life and Scenes in Our National Capital as a Woman Sees Them ... to Which Is Added a Full Account of the Life and Death of President James A. Garfield

CHAPTER XXI.

Chapter 21142 wordsPublic domain

WIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS—LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

A Social Queen—“The Most Popular Person in the United States”—The Slow Days of Old—Traveling Under Difficulties—Political Pugnacity—Formality _versus_ Hospitality—Big Dishes Laughed at—A Foreign Minister Criticises—Advantages of a Good Memory—Funny Adventure of a Rustic Youth—A Strange Pocketful—Putting Him at His Ease—Doleful Visage of a New President—Getting Rid of a Burden—A Brave Lady—Waiting in Suspense—Taking Care of Cabinet Papers—Watching and Waiting—Flight—Unscrewing the Picture—After the War—Brilliant Receptions—Mrs. Madison’s Snuff-Box—Clay Takes a Pinch—“This is my Polisher!”—Two Plain Old Ladies from the West—They Depart in Peace—Days of Trouble and Care—Manuscripts Purchased by Congress—Last Days of a Good Woman—Mrs. Monroe—A Severe and Aristocratic Woman—Madame Lafayette in Prison, 192