The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-18
THE LADY OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
Who Will Do the Honors at the Executive
Mansion.
Ne,o York Letter to Boston Herald.

Neo York Letter TO Boston Herald
President Arthur is the third widower who
has been President Of the United States
within the last twenty live years. The last
one prior to him was Andrew Johnson. Dur
Ing his administration his daughter, Mrs.
Patterson, the wife Of ex-senator Patterson,
Of Tennessee, officiated a. mistress of the
White House. During President Buchanan's
term of Office his niece, Miss Harriet Lane,
an accomplished Baltimore lady, did the So
cial honors of the Executive Mansion Of the
Republic. The entertainments that she pro-
vided, at which were gathered many OF the
foremost people of the country, the repre-
sentatIves Of foreign nations, and distin-
guished travellers from Europe, are yet de-
tailed with interest by those who had the
pleasure Of attending them. The question
which now concerns society circles in this
city, as we'll as interests those circles where
purely political subjects are discussed, is,
what lady is President Arthur to install as
mistress of the White House during his ad-
mInistration. He was left widower eight
cen months ago, his wife dying suddenly at
his home here, while he was absent at Al
bany at the reelection of the Hon. Roscoe
Conkling to the Senate. She was Virginia
lady, the daughter Of Capt. Herndon, who
commanded the steamship Golden State at
the time she was lost in the Pacific Ocean In
1850. He sank with the vessel. Miss Hern-
don married Gen. Arthur in this city at the
Calvary Episcopal Church. He was Judge
Advocate on the staff of Gen. Yates, Of the
Second Brigade, State Militia, at the time OF
the wedding. His wife was very estimable
lady and highly accomplished. She was re-
lated to the Msury family and others of the
old leading families Of the South. Her
mother died in Paris shortly before her own
death. She was prominent socially in the
national capital in the last generation, and
her charming manners and brilliant conver-
sation are no doubt remembered by many
retired members of Washington society now
living. President Arthur has two children
by his wife, son named Allan, and daugh-
ter, . bright, Saxon-haired girl, who Is at
school at Albany, where one Of her aunts,
Mrs. McElroy, il living. Anumber Of ladies
of moro or less social prominence are talked
of for mistress Of the White House when
the President takes possession Of it. One is
the favorits sister of the President. She is
Mrs. Malvina Haynesworth. She is highly
educated lady. She married Mr.. Haynes
worth, who was attached to the civil service
Of the Confederscy. She was at the South
ct the time the war broke out, and her
brother, the President, and one or two Of his
friends, who were influential with the Gov
eminent, aided In having her sent through
the military lines North, where she Joined
her fathers family. After the war her hus-
band was appointed to position in the
Treasury Department at Washington, and
later to an Office in the State Insurance De-
partment At Albany. Mrs. Haynesworth is
. lady Of about thirty-seven Yeas Of age, Of
medium height and fair complexion. The
President has asked her to do the honors of
the White House, but 1t il now said that her
duties to her own family and the condition Of
ber health compel her to decline the task.
Another lady whs is prominently mentioned
to Hll the position 10 Mrs. Sarah Roosa, who
was . school friend of the late Mrs. Arthur,
and one Of the bridesmaids at her wedding.
She is the daughter of Mr.. Houghwaut, re-
tired Broadway merchant. She was married
to Col. Frank Z. Howe, the agent Of New
England In New York during the war, and
one of the founders of the Union League
club. He was Pension Agent here during
the second term of President Grant. Mrs.
Roosa is now the wife of DR.. ID. b. St. John
Roosa, prominent physician of New York.
Her son, Z. Haugbwout Howe, has recently
been appointed Secretary to the Postmaster
1t New York. Mrs. Roosa Is q brunette,
slender, and above the medium height. She
is very intellectual, aud is known TO the first
society Of New York, Boston, and Washing.
ton. She is . brilliant conversatiofalist and
versed in the ways of official life. Still an
other lady spoken Of for mistress Of the
White House Is Mrs. Bolts, who is . cousin
of the late Mrs. Arthur. She is the wife of
4 relative of the late John Minor Bots, .
| former Governor of Virginia, and makes
her home At Savannah, Ga. She is
now temporarily stopping with her husband
1t the residence Of James Otis, who lives at
Bellep6rt, L. I. Secretary and Mrs. Hunt
were lately guests at the house. 1t is not
| vet decided whether she will accept. Mrs.
AcElroy, asister Of the President, and who
| kept house for him for some time after his
wife's death, Is also talked Of to preside at
the Executive Mansion receptions.