USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90, Vol. III > Part 30
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Under this title a recent number of that delightful paper, the Wide Awake, gives a sketch of the four Thanksgiving Days which General and Mrs. Hayes and their family spent at the White House. We remember that Mrs. Hayes looked back upon those oc- casions as among the happiest of the many happy ones in which she participated. We reprint the article by special permission of the publishers, D. Lothrop & Co., of Bostou. -ED.
Four Thanksgiving dinners have been given in the White House which will never be for- gotten by those who were bidden.
President and Mrs. Hayes made it their home for four years, and they always invited their exeentive family to join them in a gen- uine, joyful Thanksgiving dinner ; the secre- taries and the clerks, with their entire fam- ilies, including the little ones above three years old. Mr. Hendly tells me that "dur- ing his twelve years of official life, there was never anything more charming and homelike than these Thanksgiving dinners, when Mr.
and Mrs. Hayes drew together their personal and official families."
Mrs. Pruden, whose husband has been private sceretary to the Presidents during four administrations, says : "There could be nothing more beautiful, thoughtful and ten- der than Mrs. Hayes' home gatherings in the White House on Thanksgiving Days. She sent us invitations only the day before, that they might be without ceremony, and met us in the upper rooms-with the familiar friend- ship of home people-seldom asking the maid to wait upon us, but herself saying, 'Just step into my chamber and lay off your wraps.' She knew our little ones well by name and face ; she would stoop over to unfasten the little cloaks and caps, just as our own families would do in our own homes."
The first dinner was given in the large state dining-room, which is forty feet long, thirty wide, and "high as a two-story house." Long windows open into the cou- servatory, a wonderful garden of beautiful flowers, where bananas grow, palm-trees
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wave, orchids hang from the high ceilings, and "birds of Paradise" lean their golden heads out from their sheaths of loveliest. green-the flower of "the Holy Ghost " -- and all the lilies of the world seem to bloom against the banks of smilax and roses. As you sit at the table, you see this bewildering fairy land of color and fragrance.
Toward the south, you look across the wide lawn with the little green knolls, the large evergreens, and below them the silver thread of river as it runs toward the sca from our Capital, and the historic Long-bridge, with the old Virginia hills in the distance. Din- ner was always at two o'clock. The table was laid with all the elegance of the grand state dinners, and served in as many courses, lasting until five or six o'clock. "Isaac," the head waiter, often declared to "the Madam " that " they were the best times of all the year."
After the first Thanksgiving Mrs. Hayes used the family dining-room. She said to Mrs. Pruden, "It isn't so large and stately ; this looks more home-like." This family dining-room opens from the long corridor, where palms and azaleas nod as you pass them in the niches by the heavy oaken doors ; and the faces of all the Presidents gaze at you from the walls. The furniture is carved mahogany, and on the handsome buffet, is kept the old solid silver of the " Monroes and the Van Burens," and the gold spoons and forks marked simply, "President's House." You have read, no doubt, of the beautiful china service made to order for Mrs. Hayes. One can read a story from each plate ; "the fishes and birds," some one said, "deserved frames."
In the centre of the table was laid a long mirror, like a little lake, on which sat a silver boat, with silver sails, filled with maiden-hair ferns and roses ; sometimes lilies of the val- ley, and scarlet carnations. One of the tiny children said, "Oh, see, mamma ! there are two boats !"' In this make-believe pond you see the sweet buds and leaves upside down, and trembling with every motion. Beside each plate was laid a small menu card with one's name, and a lovely boutonnière tied with pretty ribbon ; sometimes the boutonnière was only an old-fashioned sweet pink, "just like mother's garden." High chairs were close beside mamma's for the little ones.
The first in official rank was the secretary, Mr. Pruden, who had the honor of a seat beside the President's wife ; while Mr. 'Tlayes led the way to the dining-room with Mrs. Pruden on his arm. The executive clerks and their families passed in next. There were some twelve or fifteen children. I said, one day. "But don't they get very tired with a three-hour dinner ?"
"Oh, no," the mother replied ; "Mrs. Hayes entertains them with such wonderful tact and humor they never ask to move."
Little Eva Pruden was a very lovely child, only three years old. Her wonderful hair almost touched the hem of her little gown, and fell in natural waves, just the color of
gold in the sun. She was a great pet of Mrs. Hayes, and sat next to her at the table.
At one of these dinners, on a handsome glass dish, sat a beautiful white swan. Tall, long, graceful and perfect, she sat in the midst of her rainbow-hued family. Little swans, with throats of impossible beauty, sat all around her-green, blue, red, violet, white and brown.
Isaae was about to dish up a little swan to each little child, when Mrs. Hayes spoke quickly and merrily, "Oh, stop a minute, Isaac ! let's see which they like the best."
Turning to the youngest, she said, " Eva, which do you choose for your own ?" Eva timidly and modestly dropped her head to one side and answered, " I like de deen one, please." So the beautiful green swan sailed across in a pretty dish to little Eva's plate, while the others soon "choosed " their fa- vorite color.
The elder children chatted and felt per- feetly at home with their charming hostess, who told stories, explained the odd customs of the White House, told them all about the wonderful flowers, and the way the gardeners made them into hundreds of bouquets every day, and talked about the good Thanksgiv- ings when she was a little girl, until the three or four hours had passed like magic.
Everybody's health was proposed ; toasts drank, and bright, witty speeches made, not with wine, but with the clearest of sparkling water ; for you know Mrs. Hayes, in her quiet, gentle way, refused to put wine on her own table, even as the wife of the President, and said, "I have young sons who have never tasted liquor ; they shall never receive it from my hand ; what I wish for my own dear sons, I must do for the sons of other mothers. "
It was always a beautiful sight to see that mother with her children. They treated her like an elder sister. Up and down the halls and reception-rooms of the old mansion, with their arms about her waist. her hands over their childish shoulders, talking, visiting and laughing, they could be seen marching any day. An English gentleman met them once in the East Room. quite early in the morn- ing, and said to the minister, Mr. Thornton, afterward, "I shall take home to England with me a charming picture of the President's family."
At last the feast was over ; the philopenas eaten with the laughing children ; the creamy swans and the purple grapes, lobsters of fiery redness and icy coldness, fruits, and vog- etables looking natural as life, but melting away in delicious ices, all coming and going in most mysterious ways. Even watermelons, growing like grandfather's melons in the old grandfather's garden, turning out to be 'nothing but cream, after all."
With Mrs. Hayes to lead the way, the children went through the long corridor, the doors of Oriental glass, under the tall palms and jars of flowers, to the big East Room, for a game of "hide and seek " and " pussy wants a corner."
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"Now, mamma," screamed the Presi - dent's little son, "you catch !" and in and ont the Blue and Red Rooms, the halls and stairways, Mrs. Hayes would run, hide and catch, while the whole honse echoed to the shouts and laughter of the delighted children.
Then at the piano they would sing, and march, laugh and play to their heart's con- tent.
One day a big black pin dropped out of Mrs. Hayes' handsome heavy hair, and it fell over her shoulders like a mantle of black ;
with no annoyance, she picked up the pin, went on with the game, twisting the coil simply and plainly as she ran. She always wore a simple dress ; usually at these home diners some black stuff, of soft, clinging material, trimmed with surah, as a " vest," or " panels "-creamy, rich lace in the throat and at the wrists.
"The secret of Mrs. Hayes' remarkable tact and genius, as hostess and friend, was the mother part of her," was once said of her. M. S.
MRS. HAYES' FRIENDSHIP.
HOW A POOR WASHINGTON LUNCH GIRL EARNED IT.
There was a time when the "treasury girls " in Washington had a grievance and were not backward in airing it. Said one of them :
"So Uncle Sam has had an economical fit ; can't let us have our noonday tea ; 'takes too long!''
"Well, Sarah, it isn't Uncle Sam's time ; still Secretary Mccullough says 'teapots must be banished from the Treasury of the nation ! Every window-ledge in the building has one !' ""
But this grumbling was long ago. It had become almost forgotton when Mrs. Hayes was installed mistress of the White House.
Rachel Myers, a pretty girl, danghter of a soldier, kept a small lunch-room not far from the Treasury for the accommodation of the Treasury clerks, and in plain sight from Mrs. Hayes' windows.
Rachel had so generous a face, ways so modest, and eyes so earnest that Mrs. Hayes watched her a good deal, and one day went in for lunch after the noonday tea had been served to the crowd of clerks.
Taking her seat, asking for a cup of tea and a biseuit, she said, "Miss Rachel, don't you sometimes find this dull and tiresome ?"
"Oh, yes'm !" Rachel replied, "but of course I must work, and the ladies are very kind in the Departments; they hate to come out of the building for lunch, and the half- hour is so short ; but nobody is allowed to have a corner inside any more."
'Why not ?"
"The Secretary turned out the tea-pots long ago, and won't take'em back."
Rachel tossed her head as she added, "I'd rather be a poor girl selling cakes, than to be as mean as the big people over there,"", point- ing towards the White House.
Are they mean, Rachel? What makes you think so ?" Mrs. Hayes sipped her tea, and tried not to smile.
" Well, everything in this whole city has to be just as they say ! They don't help the poor, but only give big dinners, and ride ont in their fine carriages and enjoy themselves ! If they wanted to, there are so many ways of helping poor people."
" What could they do for you?" Mrs. Hayes said, as she laid down her ten cents.
" I should think it would be a great pleasure to do something for girls like you.'
"Oh ! Mr. Secretary can't turn around without asking the President, you know, and the President don't trouble himself about the poor, hard-working women and girls," Rachel said spitefully.
" Have you ever seen the President's wife ? I think she is fond of young girls, and I wouldn't be surprised if she could get you a little room for lunch in the Treasury building. Suppose you go over to-morrow morning about 10. She is always at home then.".
Rachel's eyes danced. "Oh ! how kind that would be; but-I-don't think-I shouldn't know how to meet the President's wife, you know," and Rachel laid her hand impulsively on the dark brown silk sleeve, and the soft, warm, ungloved hand of Mrs. Hayes kindly folded itself over Rachel's.
Promptly at 10 the doorkeeper led Rachel to the private sitting-room of the " Mrs. President.'
Mrs. Hayes met her with smiles and pleas- ure.
"Good morning, my dear," she said.
"Good morning, ma'am ; you see I've come as you told me, but I do wish you'd do the talking for me when she comes in. I feel afraid of the 'great people,' but I love yon.'
"The 'great people,' child, are no greater than you, in spirit; and I hope yon won't despise us any more. I am the wife of the President ! Do you feel afraid now ?"
Poor Rachel ! she laughed and cried, begged pardons, stammered and hesitated ; but the two were ever more firm friends ..
Somehow" a nice corner in the big gray stone Treasury became a cheery, cosy Inch- stand. Everybody knew the tall, fine-eyed girl who made the tea. Many a basket of fruit, many a tempting plate of cakes found their way to the little table, from the " Mis- tress of the White House," and the dainty doylies, marked R. M .. from Mrs. Hayes, were of greater vale than goldl ; but more than "trade," or gifts, or " the honor." was the sweet sympathy of Rachel's beantiful friend .- Cleveland Leader, December 14, 1890.
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CHARITIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
From the Oration of Ilon. J. D. Taylor, M. C., delivered at the Memorial Service in Honor of Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes, in Wesleyan Memorial Hall, Cincinnati, December 30th, 1889.
"No family ever occupied the White House that dispensed such generous hospi- tality, or who were so charitable to the poor as the family of President Hayes. During the four years that Mrs. Hayes was its honored mistress, the hearts of hundreds of poor people were gladdened by her kindness and benevolence, but the greatest care was taken that these acts of charity should not be made public. The widow and the orphan, the soldier and the sailor, the sick and the afflicted, never asked in vain, or were turned empty-handed away, but soldiers and the families of soldiers, and those who were ren- dered helpless by the war, were the special objects of her charity and care.
"A few days since I had the pleasure of meeting, in Washington, Mr. W. T. Crump, who was with Gen. Hayes in the army, and who was also his steward in the White House. Associated with the family in this way during such a long period, he is able to give an inside history which has never reached the public. He said to me that it was no unusual thing for him to take wagon- loads of provisions to the poor in all parts of Washington during the four years of Presi- dent Hayes' administration ; that whenever Mrs. Hayes would hear of a poor soldier who was ill, she would send him to investigate and report. 'I would tell her,' said he, ' how many there were in the family, and she herself would go to the store-room, and would give me groceries-tea, coffee, sugar, flour, meat, eggs-a little of everything, and she would then say to me, 'Now, William, take these things to these poor people,' and at the same time she would give me money to buy coal or anything the family might need.'
"He cited the case of Major Bailey, who came from North Carolina where he settled after the war and remained until he was driven ont. sick, discouraged and impov- erished. He and his family came to Wash- ington and were found by Mrs. Hayes in the northern part of the city, in want and distress, in a house destitute of furniture and food. The major was suffering so from disease that he was entirely helpless. His wife was worn ont with watching, and they and their three children were without fire, food, or sufficient clothing. 'Mrs. Hayes,' says Mr. Crump, ' sent my boy to Major Bailey's with some money and a wagon-load of food and supplies of various kinds, and sent me down to buy bedsteads, chairs, tables, stoves, carpets, dishes, in fact, everything necessary to fur-
nish two rooms, and to make this family comfortable. When I carried these things into that desolate home, Major Bailey and his family cried and laughed by turns, and when the major learned at last by whom these things had been sent, he exclaimed, 'God bless her ! God bless her !'
The next day there was a Cabinet meet- ing, and as soon as it was over Mrs. Hayes called on the members of the Cabinet, for a collection for the benefit of Major Bailey's family and raised $125.
"At the Cabinet table sat Secretary Schurz, who was the colonel of Major Bailey's regiment, and Secretary Evarts, who had a son in the same regiment. Their at- tention having thus been called to the major's needs, he was cared for until he recovered and obtained a position in one of the Departments.
"Hundreds of such instances could be given. The steward showed me entries made by himself for his own purposes, and not in- tended for the public eye, showing that the President and Mrs. Hayes, during the four years they occupied the White House, gave away thousands of dollars for benevolent purposes, of which the public has no knowl- edge whatever.
"The memoranda runs thus :
Jan. 12th. Sent provisions to poor families, and $70 in cash.
13th. Paid for medicine .. .... $145.00
19th. The President gave an old man . 50.00
26th. Mrs. Hayes-Charities .. 425.00
31st. Charities 300.00
And so on during all the months of their stay in the Executive Mansion. The charity of Mrs. Hayes was not the mere 'giving of alus.'
"'Not what we give but what we share, for the gift without the giver is bare.'
"Only a few days since, an army officer, now stationed in Washington, said he should never forget a visit made by Mrs. Hayes to the home of Captain Corbin in the suburbs of Washington at the time his little boy died. A carriage was driven to the door, Mrs. Hayes alighted and quietly entered the home. Inquiring for Mrs. Corbin she was at once shown to her room and soon after was seen with her arm abont the grief-stricken mother, mingling her own tears of sorrow, and whispering words of comfort and consola- tion.'
TRIBUTES TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. HAYES.
No woman that has lived has brought forth such a multitude of expressions of admiration of her life and character, and from the very highest sources in the land. We here annex some of these :
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Rec. Dr. L. D. McCabe .- How well do I remember my first acquaintance with the illustrions woman whose departure has called together weeping multitudes to-day all over the land. Forty-four years since we entered the town of Delaware in a stage coach together. Her esteemed and widowed mother was then returning with her and her two brothers to that city to enjoy its educational advantages. The child's sweet and most natural happy ways drew me to her. I became her pre- ceptor, and more than by any lesson or any learning, she refreshed my weariness, with her always kind, but bright and overflowing spirits. Under the moulding hand of a rare Christian mother, she developed into woman- hood and responsibility, and added a sincere religious experience to her always attractive character. She finished her studies in her school life in Cincinnati Wesleyan Female Seminary, winning the special regard of all her companions and forming the most en- nobling friendships, which have continmed through her life. At the age of twenty-one she gave her heart and her hand to that honored one, who has led her from height to height of all that this world has to give. In all these various and testing positions, instead of relaxing the firmness of her principles, or in the least departing from the spirit and prac- tice of piety, she shed a new charm upon them all and truly made them more illustrious by her unostentatious virtues.
The contact with the world did not spoil that loving kindness of nature. She was always finding some human heart which needed binding up. Much of her divine Lord's spirit she had in a tender regard for humanity, which could brook no unkind word, indeed could brook nothing that could wound a fellow-being, however lowly. She was one bright example before the world of the union of charm of manner with a kind- ness so genuine that it failed under no com- bination of circumstances. Would that the fair picture could be for ever kept before the young womanhood of the world. One who saw her much and studied her most atten- tively, said : "She is the humblest and yet she is the wisest of us all."
Mrs. Allen G. Thurman, in speaking of Mrs. Hayes, said : "I have known Mrs. Hayes-I always called her Lucy-from childhood, in fact, since she was scarcely able to run alone. * * We lived in the same neighborhood. From childhood' Lucy was the sweetest girl I ever saw. She was pretty, but that was not her chief attraction. It was her lovable nature that won all hearts, and her friendship, once secured, knew no change."
From Miss Frances E. Willlard. - No wo- man ever lived who did so much to discoun- tenance the social use of intoxicants as the royal and lamented Christian matron, Mrs. ex-President Hayes. She struck a key- note that rings to-day in ten thousand homes of wealth and fashion, and re-echoes in the grateful memory of millions who, against a
desperate appetite, have formed a holy reso- lution. For such a woman and patriot, for such a wife and mother, we cannot do too much to manifest our reverence. America had not her peer, and never suffered sadder loss than in losing Lucy Webb Hayes.
Mrs. General Grant, in a conversation with Nelly Bly-who in turn told the writer -said that she had never seen anyone so radiantly lovely as Mrs. Hayes. "She was dressed in white silk," Mrs. Grant said, "and her dark hair was combed smoothly over her ears. Her soft black eyes shone like diamonds and her cheeks were as red as roses.'
Mary Clemmer .- Meanwhile, on this man of whom every one in the nation is thinking, a fair woman between two little children looks down. She has a singularly gentle and winning face. It looks ont fron: the bands of smooth dark hair with that tender light in the - eyes which we have come to associate always with the Madonna. I have never seen such a face reign in the White House. I wonder what the world of Vanity Fair will do with it ? Will it friz that hair? powder that face? draw those sweet, fine lines awry with pride ? bare those shoulders ? shorten those sleeves ? hide John Wesley's discipline out of sight, as it poses and minces before the first lady of the land ? what will she do with it, this woman of the hearth and home? strong as she is fair, will she have the grace to use it as not abusing it ; to be in it ; yet not of it ; priestess of a religion pure and undefiled, holding the white lamp of her womanhood unshaken and unsullied, high above the heated crowd that fawns, flatters and soils ? The Lord in heaven knows. All that I know is that Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are the finest looking type of man and woman that I have seen take up their abode in the White flouse.
Gen. W. T. Sherman writes as follows : " Were it not for the fact that I long since committed myself' to. Denver for the Fourth of July, I should come to Fremont to demon- strate my great respect for you and love for her memory ; but as it is I can only trace on paper a few words of sorrow and ask a place in that vast procession of mourners, who would, if possible. share with you that burden of grief. Her sudden and totally unexpected death leaves a great blank in the good and cheerful in this world. How vividly come back to me the memories of her hearty greetings, her beaming face and unavoidable good nature, more especially during that long and eventful trip to the Pacific and back by Arizona, when at times heat, dust, and the untimely intrusion of rongh miners would have ruffled the most angelie temper. Never once do I recall an instance when she ever manifested the least displeasure."
Fred. Douglas. - " Highest, who stoops to lift the low." The fragrance of her goodness
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will linger for ever about the executive man- sion.
Ex-Senator Bruce, of Mississippi. - There never was a woman who graced the White Ilouse with greater dignity. It might, per- haps, be said that my wife and myself called at the White House during that administra- tion under somewhat exceptional circum- stances. We always found her pleasant, kindly, genial.
Senator Allison, of Iowa, writes as fol- lows: "I trust that my long personal ac- quaintance with Mrs. Hayes, and my appre- ciation of her gentle and noble qualities of heart and mind will be sufficient excuse for me to express to you my deep sympathy with you in your great loss ; and what is yours is, in a less degree, that of the whole country, as I know of none more beloved than she was by all good people in every part of the land."
President Angell, of the University of Michigan, writes : "The moral sentiment of the nation deplores the loss of your.estimable wife. Her exemplary life in the White Hlouse, as well as in private life, will shine in history like the stars in the heavens.'
The Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage characteristi- cally telegraphs : " Be comforted with a na- tion's sympathies. What a gracious and splendid woman she was !"
Francis Murphy said he had just returned from attending the funeral services of Mrs. Hayes, who he characterized as the noblest woman in the land, and in speaking of her said : "Her virtues of mind and heart one scarcely needs to be told. The sweetness of her nature matched the beauty of her per- son and the charm of her manners. In her elevated position which she has occupied she never lost the simplicity of character of her private life and girlhood. She was a woman of high and lofty ideas of the purest and best type. Over her whole career, both public and private, lingered an air of gentleness, with malice towards none and charity for all." Mr. Murphy said he had travelled 1,000 miles, to show his respect to the memory of Mrs. Hlayes.
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