River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-27
THE FIRST LADY OF THE LAND.
A Pen Portrait OF Mrs. Garfield Her
Family as seen In Her Own Home
= society Leader who VIII Give
Fine Moral and Mental Tone TO the
CaDifOI.

Detroit Evening News.
Everywhere-in every nook and
corner-there are books. A case in
the parlor contains editions of Waever-
~ and Dickens, French history in the
original, old English poets and dramat-
lists richly bound in black and gold and
a choice collection of miscellaneous
works; in the little hallway leading TO
the dining-room are books, and in the
dining-room itself more books. The
last is CHEEKY room with its handsome
tiled mantel, open fire, pictures and
shining silver. There is everywhere
evidence of the dainty housekeeper.
The pilgrim wandered out through
the back regions of the house, where
the tin wash basin and milk cans, which
were really seen, would no doubt be
deemed objects ofsacred interest to the
enthusiastic adorer, and crossed over
to the detached office, whose walls are
lined with ponderous volumes and
where busy clerks and a peculiar hum
of the wires gives one some idea of the
work done there. A popularity of the
telegraph wires running into Gen Gar
fields office is that the sound of Clevc-
lands church bells is conveyed dis
tinctly over them, thirty miles.
Under tree near the office was
spirited picture. The two youngest
scions of the house and the great New
foundland dog, all three in state of
frantic delight, were chasing coon
which had been sent the general by
train that morning, a sample of the
odd and incongruous quality of the
the presents which are shOwered upon
the family.
Returning to the parlor, the visitor
found Mrs. Garfield seated before the
fire, and received her pleasant and cor
dial consent to the sketching of her
home for the bene it of the public, who
have a natural and loyal interest in it.
To those who would wish to see a
brilliant society leader in the white
house, Mrs Garfield will perhaps be a
Disappointment; but those who have
been led to think of her as a retiring,
mere domestic woman, inadequate to
the position, will also be disappointed.
She is lady of admirable sef-poise,
dignity and thorough culture, reserved
yet affable, and with distinguished
trait Of genuineness. There Is not a
trace Oh dlloClttJIOn dDOub her.
A Mentor gentleman remarked
There isn't family in town, appar-
emily, SO little set up as the Gar
fields"
When asked if she dreaded the com
ing responsibilities $50 much has been
said of her retiring nature), she said
slowly, with her brown eyes fixed
thoughtfully on the fire: Eyes, in
many ways, but it has always been my
experience, so far that one grows fitted
for responsibility as it comes. My
greatest fear is that the time will slip
by, and when it is over | shall have it
to look back to with regret for the
many things that ought to have been
done"
With such spirit, it will be safe to
trust the woman influence in the next
administration. That is going to be an
influence that will be felt, no one
who is acquainted with Mrs. Garfield
doubts. Neither is it doubted that her
career in the white house will com
pare favorably with that OF any of her
immediate predecessors. Her dignity
is such.
Mrs. Garfield though n woman of
equally strong opinions, will not carry
her personal prejudices over the bound
airy line of courtesy, nor will she OPP
pose the appointment of man, fitted
by craftsmanship and patriotism to
conserve in official position the best in
terests of the country, because he
doesn't belong to her church.
Replying to a remark about her re-
luctance to newspaper publicity, Mrs.
Garfield said: Il have seen SO much
that was trashy, untrue aud unjust
published Of Washington people in
prominent positions that [ have be-
come rather disguised. Besides, my
life has been utterly uneventful. There
is really nothing to write of.
Her youth was spent quietly at
Hiram, and there were struggles con-
nected with it in obtaining her educa-
ton, which have doubtless aided in de-
veloping her self-reliant spirit. Since
marriage her life has been devoted to
her family, but she has always given
up good deal of the time to the
rites of hospitality.
BLESS YOU" said local gossip,
they have always been overrun with
visitors. Why, Mrs. Garfield hasn't
hada chance to get acquainted, hardly,
with people here. The same oracle
said: Mrs. Garfield is wonderfully
firm; if she once makes up her mind to
thing, nothing can be coaxed, but
they both have splendid family govern
ment
There isn't better behaved family
of CHI ildren anywhere. They are chips
of the old block, too-wide-awake. in
dependent and full of fun. The little
Abram." he continued, lis a clipper.
The night of the Grant demonstration
he was going shouting 'Hurrah toI
Weaver and when some one tried to
stop him he said he'd 'hOller for who
he wanted to- Mollie is nice girl
She's got her fathers way of making
herself popular. Everybody likes her
Oh, there's no nonsense about any OF
them. The general drives his own
horse to church, and takes care of il
himself, and they are the most mod
est-looking folks that come into the
meeting house"
The gossip continued his anecdotes
| (when the average Mentorian gets
wound up on the Garfield subject-ht
talks until the whistle ofthe locomotive
cut him short, and the pilgrim boarded
the train, with a goodbye tor Mentor
and an uncomOnly pleasant picture
tucked away in his memory of q
charming home, and of the future
mistress of the white house. The lat
ter picture is in person a slender
graceful lady, with a transparency
clear complexion, delicate features and
clear, penetrating brown eyes; hair the
same shade of brown, worn in a braid
ut the back, and frizzed quite in con
ventional style in front. A dark blue
dress, simple lace tie and little or nc
ewelry completed the ladys home ap-
| pearance.
A gentleman well acquainted with
the family remarked, Mrs. Garfield
| looks a little worn now, and no wonder
She has changed a good deal within the
last year. When she got the telegram
announcing the nomination, the tears
came into her eyes, and when she was
asked if she was not glad and proud to
hear it, she said. ooh, yes; but it is a
| terrible responsibility to come to him