HARRIET LANE JOHNSTON — BEGGS 445 



boarding school in Charlestown, in what is now West Virginia, which 

 she attended with her older sister Mary. After three years there be- 

 tween the ages of 12 and 15, she was enrolled at the old Georgetown 

 Convent of the Visitation. Her Senator uncle felt no fear that she 

 might become a nun, but expected her to be taught "charity and sym- 

 pathy for all God's people." From Wheatland he wrote admonishing 

 her for her lack of application to her studies ; but when, in her last two 

 years, she won high honors, he took great pride in her achievement. 



Hers was the beauty of golden hair and bright blue eyes. Buchanan 

 cautioned his attractive niece never to marry "if not attached" nor 

 with a man unable "to afford decent and immediate support." He 

 warned her to let flattery "pass in one ear gracefully and out the 

 other." His kindness and concern were shown when his proposed 

 appointment as Minister to Great Britain threatened separation. He 

 wrote, "I think that a visit to Europe with me as Minister would 

 spoil you outright. Besides, it would consume your little independ- 

 ence. One grave objection to my acceptance of the mission, for which 

 I have no personal inclination, would be your situation. I should 

 dislike to leave you behind, in the care of any person I know." The 

 post, however, was accepted, and Harriet's elation at the prospect of 

 accompanying him was cooled by a period of waiting during which 

 she was assured that her "beautiful dream" would be "disappointing 

 in reality." On April 29, 1854, Harriet left New York for London in 

 the company of Mrs. Perry, wife of the Commodore. On the advice of 

 her uncle, she brought "no New York dresses as ladies [there] of 

 highest rank do not dress as expensively as in the U. S." 



Buchanan's years of experience as a statesman gave him great poise 

 and dignity. He became a favorite at the Court of St. James's, and 

 his niece's popularity added to his own. Queen Victoria bestowed 

 upon her more honors than were accorded any other foreign woman. 

 Harriet described to her sister Mary the regal dinners she enjoyed at 

 the Palace in her uncle's company, her dancing with the Prince of 

 Wales, and conquests of the heart of more than one wealthy British 

 peer. Her success socially in the aristocratic English Court gave her 

 the self-confidence that was to prove such an asset to her later as First 

 Lady of the White House. 



In an effort to keep her from becoming too vain, the ever watchful 

 guardian said to his niece, upon their return from the second Drawing 

 Room of 1854 Season, "Well, a person would have supposed you were 

 a great beauty, to have heard the way you were talked of today. I was 

 asked if we had many such handsome ladies in America. I answered 

 yes and many much handsomer. She would scarcely be remarked 

 there for her beauty." "^ 



' Hostetter, Ida L. K., Harriet Lane, Lancaster, Pa. Lancaster County Hist. 

 Soc. Pap., vol. 33, No. 6, 1929. 



