The Portland daily press., 1886-05-29
MISS FOLSOM.
The Future Mistress of the White
House Arrives
In New York After Her Absence
Abroad.
Futile Attempts to EIude the Wary
Newspaper Men.
She Performs Some Literary Work
on the Voyage.

NEW YORK, May 2S.-A more remarkable
effort to avoid publicity was probably never
known than that made by Miss Folsom in
coming to this country. Her departure from
the other side was covered with much mys-
terry, and there were not more than ten peo-
pie on this side who new what steamer she
was really coming here on. Misleading clews
were purposely thrown out by her friends.
People were allowed to believe that they
knew when she would gethere, and how and
on what steamer; so that her arrival here in
the dead of night, the cautious and secret
movement of Secretary Dan Lamont, her
transferred from the deck of an ocean
steamer at 1880 on the darkest night for
weeks, her voyage up the bay, and debarka-
ton at the foot Of North river pier, and
rapid drive to hotel-all savored some
what more of romance and the mystery OF
the Paris of the last century than it resem-
bled welcome to the intended bride OF the
first gentleman in the land. 1t is ineXpliea-
BILE that President Cleveland could not fore
see the absurdity of these movements, and
laid himself open to ridicule lin the manner
her he has,
1t was 10 o'clock last night when the
steamship Noordland of the Antwerp line
arrived off quarantine in the lower bay and
dropped anchor. Almost Immediately the
revenue cutter Ceandler left her moorings
at the Staten Island wharf, and with DR..
Smith, the health officer, and Dan Lamont
aboard, steamed alongside the ocean mon
ster that came putting and swelling after her
laborious voyage and after little parleying
Lamont Went Aboard
and met the Folsom party in the saloon.
In the meantime the baggage had been
brought on deck and transferred to the cut
ter, and in few moments Miss Folsom,
her mother and her counsin, Benjamin Fol-
som, descended the gang plank of the
steamer and were ON their way to the city.
The deck of the Noordland was crowded
with passengers, and as the cutter moved off
the captain of the steamer pulled the cord OF
his whistle, a low, long ana sonorpus Wnlstle
heard for miles followed the rush of steam
from the pipe, and with hats off and hand
kerchiefs waving and crew cheering, Miss
Folsom, at 1880 p. M, in darkness IN
which one could hardly see his hand before
his face, began the short trip that two hours
street, New York. Every endeavor was
made on board the cutter to eyade the re-
porters. The red and green lights of the
cutter were taken down. Every light of any
drawn curtains Of the cabin, was put out,
and first one way and then another the
Chandler headed and steamed in the hope of
throwing the newspaper men OIL the track.
Finding the man9uvres useless, she finally
headed up stream for Twenty-third street,
barge Office. 1t is not yet known whether
Miss Folsom went to the GilSey House or to
the residence of Secretary Whitney. In an
interview with one of the passengers, Miss
in complexion light brunette. Her eyes,
which are blue, are large and beautiful, with
Long Black Lashss.
Her complexion is very clear. Her man
ner is frank and winning, and is remarkably
free from affectation of any description. Her
fellow-passengers all express themselves as
having been greatly charmed with the future
mistress of the White House. Toward the
close of the voyage the cabin passengers of
the Noordland published a single copy edi-
tion of a manuscript newspaper, called the
North Atlantic Spray. Miss Folsom was one
of the contributors to the journal Although
the contributions were all anonymous, it was
generally understood that Miss Folsom's lit
erary effort was an original story, the hero
inc of which is Little Moll," a New York
news girl, who has aroused the sympathy of
the criminal reporter of one of the daily
newspapers. 'Mell'' shows her appreciation
of the reporters kindness to her by prevent
ing her father, a hardened criminal, from
numbering the reporter while the latter is
discharging an unpleasant duty in connection
cation and is finally married to the fortunate
reporter.
The story was well told and afforded much
pleasure to the readers of the little paper On
Wednesday, when pilot boat No. % spoke the
Noordland over 300 miles off Sandy Hook,
Miss Folsom was standing on the bridge near
Captain Nichels. That gentleman then sur
rendered the command of the vessel to Miss
Folsom, who Immediately signalled the engi-
neer to stop the engines. After the pilot had
climbed on board the vessel was started up at
signal given by the fair hand of the young
American lady, who, it seemed, was still in
command. Some newspapers which were
brought on board the Noordland by the pilot
announced the death of Colonel John B. Fol-
som, Miss Folsom's grandfather. They were
greatly depressed by the sad news.
It was stated at the Gilsey House this af-
ternoon that Miss Folsom and party had en-
gagged a suite of four rooms and were quar-
tpred there