The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-05
WHITE HOUSE QUEENS.

AItiluI - tIt ICSlutlIl VINO lldo
entered the White House a widower His
term there has been brilliant one, for he
is not only familiar with and informed of
the details of social life, but his sister, Mrs.
McElroy, who has been the acknowledged
mistress Of the White House during his
term, is also quite accomplished i'll social
way. Very retiring in her looks, and
without ambition for public Reorganization,
however, she has been seen little by Wash
ington generally, and has been known
personally to circle extremely limited.
Under Garfield $ administration the social
features had scarcely developed.
Under Hayes the White House was
open to all OF society, thousands attending
their receptions, and lunch tables Were
spread at their evening entertainments for
many hundreds.
Under General Grant the White House
was gay, but there was not that democratic
freedom which marked the regime of Mrs.
Grant successor as mistress of the White
House.
Another term back, Mrs. johnson, was
mistress of the White House She was an
invalid, and entertained but little, rcceiy-
ing her visitors in her chair. Her daughter,
Martha Patterson wife OF Senator Patter-
son, entertained in her stead, renovating
the war-stained and tattered habiliments of
the mansion with rare taste upon the small
allowance of $50, 900 which Congress made
for that purpose.
Mrs. Lincoln. who presided. was mis-
tress of the White House in a time OF great
turbulence and national tribulation, and
there IS small wonder that the reeollee-
lions of her time there are not agreeable
ones to those who were here during that
period An ambitious woman. with little
experience outside a country town when
called here, deprived of the counsel of her
husband by the constant attention to public
affairs which his duties required, stricken
with grief during the years of her stay by
the loss of her favorite son, Willie, the
painful experience of her time III the White
House illuminated with the assassn's shot
which was heard around the world.
Preceding Mrs. Lincoln. Harriet Lane
the adopted daughter of James Buchanan,
who was the only bachelor President we
have ever had gave to Washington society
one of the most brilliant social adminstra-
lions it has ever had.
Mrs. Pierce her predecessor, was a SEN
sitive, shrinking woman, who had seen her
son killed by railroad accident but a
short time before her arrival at the White
House, and who dnring her stay there at
tended to social duties only because they
were duties.
The next in order. tracing back, is Mrs.
Fillmore. who was more strongly marked
as literary woman than any since Abigail
Adams 1t was her taste for books which
established the library now in the White
House. her husband having through her
solicitation asked Congress and obtained
an appropriation of $500 for White
H ,use library.
No sadder woman ever reigned mistress
of the White House than the wife of Pres
ident Taylor. She had accompanied her
husband in all his war experiences, caring
for him in camp, and consulting with him
upon the field. Daring the Presidential
contest she prayed daily for Cass' election.
1T is plot. She said, to deprive me of
the comforts of Il home, which | had ex-
pected to enjoy. now that the war is
ended She came to the White House
only as matter of duty. her daughter
Betty Bliss, being pushed to the front to
bear the burden rs mistress of the establish
ment. When her husband died within the
walls of the White House she was heart
broken, and during the two remaining
years of her life never mentioned the White
House unless nee essity compelled.
Mrs. Polk. who proceeded Mrs. Taylor
still lives in the city of Nashville She is
the only woman who has ever held the
position as private secretary to the Presi-
dent. she having held that position through
choice during her husbands term. She
was a woman of great ability, quite As
familiar with the affairs of State As her
husband. and even more 50 as to details.
Sarah knows where it is, was President
Folks customary remark when ANY docu-
ment or book WAS wanted. She did not
ever neglect her social Duties and was
spoken of by an English lady as not being
surpassed in beauty, style or dignity by
any of three queens whom she had seen.
Under Tyler the White House had two
mistresses His first wife died there dur
ing the early part of his administration, and
her successor, Miss Garner, of New York
afterward became known as the bride of
the White House, being married to Pres
ident Tyler in the Presidential mansion.
Mrs. Harrison never occupied the White
House as mistress, her health having
prevented her from coming here with her
husband. whose death followed a month
later, before her arrival.
Van Buren, was also a widower when he
entered the White House, and his daugh-
ter was its mistress.
jackson was also a widower when Ii en-
tered the White House. having become 81
but few months previous, and under tbs
most painful of circumstances. His wife
| who was a heautiful woman had married