TICS OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND. SUNDAY HORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1903
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Bfiffiant Career Than
Her Predecessors?
' ". tTl JVO yovng - girls are watching the
progress 'of the present presidential
' '. campaign ivith more -than ordinary
' interest. For the result of the battle of bal
lots uill mean the elevation of : one or the
other to the proud position of belle of the
White House.
h Will the happy one be Helen Taft or
M ' Xjrace Bryan t
Not only will the winner enter upon a
marvelous social career, but there lies ahead
' the possibility of another White House wed
ding. For who -doubts that either Miss Taft
',: or Miss Bryan will succumb to Cupid's darts
before the term of the next President is
ended?:
' And it will be a glorious thing, too, for
a young girl to become belle of the White
House. A wonderful career will be opened
to her. She may take place in history beside
the most prominent of those who have pre
ceded her-Harriet Lane, Letitia Tyler Sem
ple, the gay , and versatile Dolly Madison,
for instance, to say nothing of a number of
others now almost forgotten.
p
iREVTOUS to that of MIbs Alice Roosevelt the
onlr White Bouse weddings, within the memory
of most persons of today, were those of Grover
Cleveland and Miss France, P. fnlmm in t aa
nd Algernon 8artoris and Nellie Grant, in 1874.
- Only four weddings have been witnessed in the
White House during the last fifty years, and only
(en in all Its history.
Therefore, should Miss Taft or Miss Bryan figure
in a brilliant nuptial ceremony at, the home of the
nation's chief, during the next four years, she will
rot only furnish new and Interesting history for the
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writers of the Ifuture, but
notable national events.
AS WE SEE OURSELVES
Mid '
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life
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those trait which served to render her a sourca of
Interest and admiration. '
"She was fitted, by education and a long residence
in Washington, to adorn the high station she was
destined to fill. and. acquitted; herself there, as la
every other position, with great dignity and self
possession. aha died shortly after the expiration of her
father's term, following her Invalid mother to the
grave within a year."
It Is said that Mrs. Zachary Taylor and her
daughter Betty -rrevef sympathised with the display
and bustle of the White Mouse, and they always
' performed such official duties as were Imperatively
forced, upon them by their exalted position, as a
task that had no compensation for the sacrifices, at
tending it" .
Elisabeth Taylor,' who was the third and youngest
daughter of the old warrior Presidents was 22 years
ol when she assumed the formal duties of the First
Lady of the. Land, her mother being disinclined to
accept this responsibility ofvdlrectlng social affairs.
Although she was Mrs. Bliss, wife of Major Bliss,
Elisabeth was still popularly known as "Miss Betty,"
and was greatly admired by those who were fortu
nate enough to be admitted Into the circle of her
friends. . N
Borne years ago a writer recorded the following:
"When the traditions and histories of the White
House have the romance of time thrown around them,
Betty Taylor will be recalled to mind, and tof her
there will be, a sympathy that Is associated with
youth, for she was the youngest of the few women
of America who have a right to the title of 'Lady
of the White Houe' ", This claim,' however, Is dis
puted by biographers of Mrs. Letitia Tyler Sempie.
who, upon the aeaih . of her mother, became mistress
of the White House at about 21 years.
Mrs. James K. Polk, dignified and cultured, made
her social reign in . the , executive mansion coldly
austere and formal. Among other things she banishod
dancing, as Mrs. .Rutherford B. Hayes excluded wine.
'During his term of office President Tyler, a wid
ower, married Miss Julia Gardiner, of New York,
the ceremony belngperformed In the Church of the
Ascension, New York city.
.- The first Mrs. 'Tyler was an Invalid when her
husband succeeded unexpectedly to the presidency,
so that the direction of social affairs was left in the
hands of their second daughter, Mrs. Letitia Tyler
simple. She continued to discharge those duties until
her father's second marriage.
Xiurlng her regime as lady of the White House Mrs.
Sempie was very aristocratic in her ways. She despised
public show. According-, to her own account, ''Nothing
whatever, preceded by cards of Invitation, was expected
to be consMered In any other light than as a private
affair of the President and his family, with which tho
outside world and the public press had nothing to do.
We lived at the White House precisely as if we had been
In our own home at Williamsburg."
SYSTEMATIZED SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
Mrs. Sempie reduced the public functions of the
White House to a system. Every week she gave two
dinners, to which about twenty guests were bidden.
The first was always devoted to distinguished visitors
"Who had shown courtesy to the President"-, polite
way of Impressing the fact that only those were invited
who had previously called upon the chief executive.
The second of these weekly dinners was to members
of the diplomatic corps, distinguished foreigners In
Washington and statesmen- to whom President Tyler
wished to show attention. The dancing rooms were al
ways open until 10 o'clock. This was the regular pro
gram for every night except Sunday. On certain occa
sions the state apartments were opened for formal baflis.
which, however, closed at 11 o'clock.
Mrs. William Henry Harrison never presided ver the
Wnite House. During the short month that her husband
held the high office of President she remained in Ohio
because of ill health. Intending to com East later In
the year.
Under the brief administration of President Harrison
the mistress of the White House was his daughter-in-law,
Mrs. Jane F. Harrison, widow of bis namesake ion.
She Is recalled as a refined woman of many accomplish
ments, and .made herself very popular during her shoit
stay as the social head of the administration.
President Van Buren's wife had been dead seventeen
years when. In l&ff. he took possession of the White
House. His accompusnea asugmer-irk-iaw, irs. ADram
v an Buren, did the honors' oz me
nun, ana uia mem wen.
, "Stadais is raruhing- in it."
"Afc, but don't xoa think it males ma look too slender V
What more could a young girl wlshf
Up to the present both daughters of the leading
candidates for the presidency have been considered
schoolgirls, as, in fact, they are. But It will not be
long after the Installation of one or tba other of their
distinguished aires In the White House when a new
bud win bloom Into the fulness of social prominence.
And. whether fate and the decision of th bllnt
box elevate Miss Taft or Miss Bryan to that daxillng
supremacy, the . role of White House belle will be
filled fittingly and welL They are girls of excellent
sense and careful training, they represent the best
traditions of sweet, clean, charming young American
womanhood, and either may be trusted to honor the
high position to which she may be called.
A great desl of sense and mental balance Is' re
quired of a young woman derated to surn a promi
nence. Not only this country., but the world looks
upon her with critical eyes.
Her deportment, her friendships, ber escapade,
If there be sny. and especially her love affairs are.
blasoned te the wide., wide world.
There is no concealment; there can be do dodging
ef the limelight ,
Miss Frances Folsom. perhaps, decided to wed
President Cleveland as quietly aa possible, bat when
It was decided that the wedding should take place la
the Whit House she realised that her objections to
publicity must be set aside. -
She did this with the eweetaes and gracioasnees
ef character thst marked her later rule as one ef .
the most popalar mlstreesea of the executive mansion,
foetal life had not beea at hlfrs. tide during the
xisiiBismiwai r sar. vieveiana prwwwni i-rww
tint Arthur was a wISewer. aad his daagkter. Mis
Kelll Art bar. afterward develop 1st sweet
asplratjon for a social career, i The children of the
family were too young, anyway, to branch out IB
social activities. "
Passing over the wadding of Nellie Grant, on
must go back, in seekingfor Interesting events to
illustrate the social careers of White House occu
pants, to tho day of President Buchanan.
. There was "nothing doing" during the administra
tion of President Johnson, and Abraham Lincoln was
too busy with the daily happenings of the Civil War
to pay much attention to the demands 'of society,
even If hta children had bean of propsr ag to meet
them. . -
Harriet Lane, afterward Mrs. Johnston, was the
young, beautiful and brilliant mistress of tho White
House during the administration of her uncle. Presi
dent James Buchanan - - .. L 1
She oocupTed that position when the present King
Edward of England, then the young prince of Wales,
visited this country In 1810. and not only was Great
Britain's preseat roler charmed wlfn the personality
of his hostess, but h was highly pleased by the
lavish hospitalities she extended. ,
Born In 1S31. the youngest daughter of James'
Buchanan's sister, Harriet Lane, she was from early
girlhood a favorite of her bachelor uncle, and her
role as the hostess of noted persons was taken up
before she was out of her 'teens.
When Buchanan was sent by President Pierce to
represent this country at the English court. Miss
Lane, a vivacious young woman of It years, wen
with him to dassla the arallants of London with he
beauty aad wit. Her triumph In the English capital
was Instantaneous and wonderful. Even Queen Vic
toria was captivated. The American girl won all
heart.
ADMIRED BY TWO CONTINENTS
When her and became President af the Co I ted
States Harriet Lane took her position as mistress
of the Whit House with the Sara ease aad grace.
Buchanan's administration waa marked by a series
ef brilliant social functions, aad his haadsoato aloe
was aoeea ef the.
Her reputation for beauty and graceful acconi
pusnments extended ever two continents, and la C
passing in noecitanty or the osecuttv mansion
social Ufa The traditions had ba hit hard during,. it ' "ld . ihi ' Ji e u w! . h iTiS tl
aom. of the farmer admlalstratlona i . rendered ta drawing room of Mrs. Washington and
I lit Miss Lane bacan
Elliot l J eh ns ton. of Baltimore.
ag and left a collection of rare paintings to the
National Galleries of Art. In waahlagton. . .
A Whit Houa bell about whom little bes been
K eMi-red in writing was Miss Mary A. FlUnsera,
tter known as Abigail, daughter of th thlrtala
President of th Volte Statea
According te aocouata. she waa a pis la. sensible
voura wosnsa. open wnoo shuMra oevoivv muca
the executive-mansion for
There waa little of social elegance durtna the admin
istration of President Jackson. Mrs. John Quincy Adams,
although her previous social record had been brilliant,
was a semi-Invalid during her residence at the White
House, so thst her regime cannot be described as more
than commonplace.
She was the sixth In the succession of occupants of
th executive mansion, aad with her closed the list of
th ladles of the Revolution. "A new generation had
sprung up in the forty-nine years of Independence, and,
after her retirement, younger aspirants claimed the
honors," says a historian.
Mrs. James Monroe was an elegant, accomplished
woman who had learned much of tho social ways of the
world through her life at various European capitals.
Her health waa poor during her husband's terms as chief
magistrate, and for that reason her eocial regime Is not
numbered among the brilliant onea of Whit House his-
t0rTo preserve a custom established by hsr prede
cessor," a writer of the time stated, "she gives what
ara termed 'drawing rooms' for th purpose of gratl-
,v (ring the wisnes ana curiosity oi sucn strangers ss
may please to visit her and th President These
ot 'drawing rooms' are conducted on principles of repub-
T, Hcan simplicity, and are widely different from the
snagnlncence ana spienaor oi ine svngiisn levees: the
rooms are crowded, the hum of voices load and the
motto of the company mcessani.-
Waen Mr. Monro bees roe President th Whit
Hons, destroyed by th English during the War of
His bad seen partly rebuilt, but It ottered few com
forts and no Ignc.
Th furniture was not of adequate sort, aad the
debris of th destroyed building lay la heaps about
tba new mansloa. ( Upon direction of Congress. Con
... t than la Pari a rare baaed a silver servle ef
m. aitta. which was forwarded at once, aad which was
sis- 'used .until rplod by a mor modern service la lit.
wfs. Xoliy Maltsea was, perhaps, rhe most notable
mi thibrid of H..rr Vra. Adam. duU nd llou w. prompUy baaUh.d.
. em. aa ......i ua a kmd f stiff na we permitted.
7 . V- V.,,,;;., ,. Th. lira Madison chief Mas was to b popalar and to
help mske her hasbaad o adaioistrauoa aruuaat and
successful. -- ,
-H-r Held." wrol an admirer, "was the parlor, and
with th view ef relraJag supreme tber she bent th
energle af bar mind to th on Id of aecempUsh
merit. br thlrtr-oevonth year eh entered ta
White House. tUl yeathfal la aeparac. Ph
aTwsniisB jftnaar. wav mi I far w mj i dit? ivvwu tmw sswwx - . . . " ' . . . . nK
asd lovabl womanhood, wa too young to take the .?T .f kl, ' no cres. In S-erfect health, th por et great
wl belm daring hr fathers, occupaacy of IB ""'-- '- V7 " . , , . . v . i .1 ih, waits esy of feattir and form sad rr'nt'r srsy la
. Whtt Heos. , mother. -ah waa virtually th Lady of the iTJVaor regard ef her bab4. Mr. Malsn was
act a learned woman, bot-decidedly tsienea ena
aed her sins win ever r-e.a ayBoaysa for all that is
charaaiag aad agreaabta
Presideat Garfield's headship ef th aatloa was
-fee
Ua.u
. , . - . - . . . i . . , va raarirahia write a ewiotib,
irmusiiN oa uiat any cii cr mum . , . .1 , 7 . . .fraitaaai.
K f kl. (inlinms ta an abront aad -bar sneotal attalaanvnU ana ber Intensely MTecttonat
tragi ad. Th family af Pridat Hayes bad HtU aatare, aad covar4 dartng r
brief Ufa .eal