Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-12-03
L.d,.. or toe white House.

=" II President Cleveland wants to do
y graceful thing" said = gentleman
com mentiDg upon the fact that three
women of the White House in ante
bellum days still live, let him invite
Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Tyler and Mrs. Harriet
Lane TO assist him In his first reception
after the Inauguration. 1t would be
graceful action, and would recall u
fi,od Of interesting memories
And 30 1t would. Mrs. Polk. who
was spoken of by q travelling English
lady as surprising In dignity and
attractions any Of The three queens that
she had seen upon the thrones OF
Europe Harriet Lane, the brilliant
mistress Of the White House, admired
aud bonored by two continents, and
Mrs. Tyler, the bride of the White
House, whose portrait In bridal dress
and veil still hangs in the Green Room.
pointed out to all visitors NJ the only
bride that has ever graced that estab-
lishment - its mistress.
AZ remember her WE'LL" said an old
employ of the White House. 1t ID
forty ears ago last June since she came
here a3 bride Of President Tyler. II wa
roy GUS event, but recalled some very
sad memories, for right here In tue
| great East Room, but few months be-
fore, the mapgled rem aims Of her fathel
had been brought finM the steamer
where he had been killed almost befor'
her eyes. You don't remember thu
bursting of the Peacemaker No
there are not many now in Washington
" no have personal recollection OF tha
sad .,ept Well, the President had me
Miss Gardiner here, and their engage
lment had been made.
She and her father, Mr.. Gardiner, o
Long Island, were visiting Washington
stopping al one Of the hotels here, whel
they were invited by the President :
Accompany q party consisting OF tn
Secretary II the Navy, the President
the Secretary of War and some Others
who were going down the Potomac
ties, a large cannon called the Peace
maker. 1t had been fired repeated,
and was considered entirely safe. u
tht trip it was fred several times wit
/ isfactory results, ard as the boat wa
nearing Washington on the return a.
, were called On deck to witness the las
J shot.
II MIR. Gardiner and the Secretary 9
the Navy, Mr.. Upshur, went on dech
4 and The Pr. sident " as q bout to 20 vine
} Miss Gardiner pIayful'y hid Ills ma
preventing his going. Probably tina
o little action on her part saved the coul
!, try its President, and herself a Pres
y de ntial husband, for when the gun w'
I, fred it exploded, killing the Secretai
:, of the Navy and Mics Gardiner
. father, the cries of the wounded carr.
> ing the news 10 those below that son
terrible accident had taken place. III
was an awful experience for that your
!. girl.
Her fathers remains we're brought
] the White House and lay in state WI
,hose OF the Secretary of the Navy, NJ
fl Upstur. Their funeral took place
/, tie East Roc m, in the presence OF
n very large asst mblsge. The rest
as " ~ that the wedding OF Miss Gardin
and The Pl,sidenr, which had been
NJ for the following summer, was We
u Quiet one, none except the immedia
eI family of the bride attending, ano
o;,gl New York being taken by surpr'
"a " hen the guns began firing in honor
X the event. They came directly ne
~ She was beautiful young woman,
,s. you will see by her portrait In
ito Green Dom.