Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-08
WHITE. HOUSE FAvORITE.
How Mrs. Cleveland Found IA New Bo-
SOM Friend and Who She Is.

AwHITE HOUSE FAvORIrE.
How MRS. Cleveland Found "A New Bo-
som Friend and who she Is.
One of the most frequent visitors to
the White House during the past three
weeks has been tall, olive-skinned,
dreamy.eyed girl, who is generally &C
companied to the grounds by venera-
bic old gentleman with one Of the sun
NEST faces in the world. The girl IS
Miss Helen Bancroft and the old
gentleman is her grandfather, the
historian. Miss Bancroft's calls are
not formal or in the line OF
society etiquette. So soon as she
enters the White House she is shown
to Mrs. Cleveland'S apartments, aud
seldom leaves inside Of an hour or two.
As this occurs several times week it
is apparent that the two ladies must have
some interest for each other, and such
is the case. Since the first reception
after the return from Deer Park the
mistress at the White House and the
historians granddaughter have grown
as aGectionate as a pair of school
girls. Mrs. Cleveland saw Miss
Bancroft for the first time at the
reception and fell in love with
Der at first sight, as girls do fall in
love with each other. She took occa-
sion before the reception was over to
get her in corner, have quite a lengthy
chat with her and get her promise to
come to the White House the next day.
The love seems to have been mutual,
for Miss Bancroft is now the most earn
est admirer the Presidents wife has
in Washington, while Mrs. Cleveland
speaks Of the dark, dreamy.eyed girl
as the sweetest creature in Washing
ton."
To those who are acquainted with
both ladies the friendship that has
sprung up between them will be mat
ter of surprise. There are not, per-
haps, two more antipodal natures
among all the society women iii Wash
ineton. They arc different in person,
in temperament, in tastes; in fact, in all
the qualifications which are popularity
supposed requisite to draw people to-
eether. If there ever was case Of ex-
tremes meeting this is one. Mrs. Cleve-
| land, as has been often written, is OF me-
dun height, with a bright, vivacious
face, laughing eyes, and lips that come
very near to pouting. Miss Bancroft
is, on the other hand, very tall for a
woman, has a dark Spanish face, seri-
GUS in cast, with a pair of black eyes,
whose expression has in it something
Of dreamer's even while she is
smiling. Mrs. Cleveland has high ami
nal spirits, loves life and action and
movement, while her friend, since her
arrival in Washington a year ago,
avoided society as much as possible
and devoted most Of her time TO study,
to aiding her grandfather in his literary
work, and probably to dreaming. Mrs.
Cleveland's tastes have become pretty
we'll known since she has been IN
Washington, so the contrast between
the new friends will seem more
marked when a glance is taken
at Miss Bancroft. The girl has been
unique figure in society since she came
here. Though born in America, she
had spent her life since infancy in
Germany. She had studied under the
best German scholars, was fervent
lover Of German literature, and con-
tracted in noticeable way the German
manner. BY the death OF her parents
she was left alone in the world aud
came to America year ago to live with
her grandfather. Everything has seem
ed to her as strange as to foreigner
born. She could speak English fluent
", as her father had carefully taught
her the language Of the land of bel
birth, but she had only vague idea o.
our manners and customs.
When she was introduced into socie
ty by her grandfather she created quite
a sensation, not so much on account o
her beauty, although that was greatly
admired, as on account OF her unique
conversation and mental traits. Itsoor
became known that she was a deeI
scholar, well versed in classic lore az
well as in modern speech, aud was
strangest of all, thinker. Her con
versation, while not marked by pedan
try, had an elevated tone, which caused
her to be looked upon as a curiosity b.
the women whose talk is confined Il
comments and gossip about the events
Of society. The old historian grew ex
ceediDgly fond Of her, began once more
to throw open his doors to receptions
and soon drew a select circle OF friends
around the beautiful girl. The literary
people here are her greatest admirers
Those who know her well say that sh'
is the most brilliant girl at the capita
intellectually. Not only is she con
versant with our own and the German
literature, but she is deep student o
German philosophy. Whenever sh,
meets anybody who shows q DISPOSE
ton to argue the theories Of the ad
vanced German thinkers she is de
lighted, as these theories have been he
favorite studies for years.
Just what it is that draws togethe
this studious, dreamy girl and the ga
mistress Of the White House it is i'm
possible to say, but certain it is tina
the two have become such devote,
friends as only girls can become in tn
susceptible boarding-school days.
The Austris1 Alphine Club has pro
posed to change the name Of the peal
in the Zillerthaler Alps hitherto know