Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-24
the nrst society circles of New York, where she

omcer. she never entered the White House,
inaugurated her health was precarious and
would not permit the journey. He died a
lived until February, 1864. President Tyler's
n pnh VINE was Letitia Christian, daughter OF
ginia. Tyler was at the time OF his marriage a
young law graduate from the office of the
celebrated Edmund Randolph, but his political
John Tyler, and 70 this honor OF the father the
| son succeeded, and from thence to the Presi-
dency. Miss Christian was a noted eastern
President assumed the White House duties.
Her health was feeble at the time and she died
daughter Of Prssident by this union . WAS
gentleman named Waller. Three grand:
/ cn1ldren or this President, sons of Lgh foot
| Jones, who married the eldest daughter, fought
In the confederate army. One of them, Rob
| Robert Tyler. daughter-in-law of this Presi-
denf, acted as the White House mistress after
his wife's death. She was a lady of great
culture and manners, the daughter of the ira
gedian cooper. Her eldest child, Letitia, was
born in the White House.
| A PRESIDENTS BRIDE.
| President Tyler renamed a widower but q
short time, paying the Johnsonian compliment
TO his first spouse by soon selecting another,
Miss Juliet Gardiner, of New York. She was
| the daughter of the wealthy gentleman who
| owned GARDENERS island, familiar to many
naSal people as near the roadstead in East Long
Island, where the naval practice squadron, with
the Annapolis cadets, spends much OF its sum-
mer cruising and exercising. Although Mr..
| only one-to marry in the high office, the cere-
mony was not performed In the White House,
York, june, is14 Alter the Sedding ~ grand
reception was given in the Executive Mansion.
Mrs: Tyler and Mrs. Polk, with Mrs. Garfield
and MIS-: Grant, are living widows of ex-Presi-
dents. They all draw pensions from the govern
ment. Mrs. Polk, now living at an advanced
age - Nashyille, was one of the most admirable
hos had no
was Miss Sarah Childress, born in the country
that the pen OF Charles Egbert Craddock has so
| married james X. Polk, then a member of the
tennessee legislature, in her nineteenth year.
he went to Congress the following year and for
speaker in 1886. In 1889 he became governor
of Tennessee, and Mrs. Polk presided with grace
as they came to the WHITES House she proved
one OF the most agreeable and popular of
nostesses. Many innovations or rather changes
during Mrs. Folks residence at the capital,
notably the one of dispensing with refresh
ments during the levees.
TAYLOR AND FILLMORE.
The wife of old Rough and Ready was a men,
Der Of the extensive family of Smiths Margaret
Smith. Maryland girl-daughter of a plain
farmer OF that state, and their married life for
many years was the prosy one of an army
couple on the frontier. The first home they had
really was when in 1S4O Col. Taylor went to
| the United States barracks at Baton Rouge. 1t
was while stationed here that Jefferson Davis
| met and wOoed old Zach's second daughter
much against the fathers wishes, who disliked
| to see his children subjected to the same wan
dering existence he had led his spouse as an
army officer. Lieut.. Davis was then hand
some young subatern, and the seeding ele-
ment was SO strong in him even at the time that
he ran away with Miss Taylor, who died
| shortly after their marriage and before the
stern Old parent had become reconciied to the
| elOpment.
Miss Betty Taylor, the youngest daughter. was
| the mistress OF the White House during Presi-
| dent TaylOr's short incumbency. She became
the wife OF Major Bliss, TayIors adjutant gen
era! In Mexico, and was a charming woman.
well known in her youthful days In this city,
where she went to school. The wife of the Presi-
ington society and, like Mrs. Garfield, never
liked the White House Or enjoyed the life there.
Mlliard Fillmore, the second "Accidency' -
married New York school teacher, Miss Abb
gail Powers, before he became, like Cleveland q
Buffalo lawyer. She performed all the public
social duties devolving upon her by reason of
her husbands political eminence with great
grace and intelligence. When he became Chief
Magistrate she was not in very good health and
few weeks after the close Of his term died at
Wizards hotel, Washington, of an illness prob.
ably much fastened Dy her attention to the on.
erous requirements OF her station. President
Fillmore survived his wife twenty-one years,
dying in 1874 at Buffalo, and both lie buried
with an only daughter, in the beautiful Forest
Lawn cemetery OF that city.
PIERCE AND BUCHANAN.
Franklin Pierce-pronounced Perse up in Bos
doin college. The president of the college then
and for many years was Rev Jesse Appleton.
Jenny Appleton, daughter of this college pres.
ident, became Mrs. Pierce, and her husband at
the Time OF the marriage young New Hanp-
shire lawyer and Congressman, became after
wards President OF the United States The first
few years Of official life at the White House Mrs.
P1erce's life was Swallowed with grief owing to
the death of their only son a few weeks before
the inauguration in frightful railroad acct
dent, in which Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce were also
gloom he, arlv
Of the social regime OF their term.
-, Many iying persons remember the incidents
| manners of Mrs. Pierce and the hearty cordi.
atty OF the President at the levees and state
receptions. Mrs Pierce died at Andover, Mass,
during the val, and the ex-President at Con.
cord In 1853. Both are buried in the cemetery.
| not far from the spot where the embattled
farmers fired the shot heart round the world in
that pretty New England town.
James Buchanan was bachelor, and every
body recalls the presiding lady or his stormy ca
reer In the White HOuse-Harrlet Lane his
n1ece-whO was wel-knOwn in her youth in the
society of this city, Lancaster aud Pittsburg. IT
WAS AZ beoIord springs she met the young Bal
| land In 1866. The White House never had a
more accomplished domestic and social head
she was hostess that the Prince of Wales visited
the United states and was entertained at the
Presidents mansion: Albert Edward bore away
win MIN, as the story of the day comes down
70 us, warm appreciation of the grace and
| beauty OF Miss Lane.
IN LATER DAYS.
OF Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of the Great
Emancipation; Of Mrs. Johnson, who was Eliza
McArdle. and OF Julia Dent Grant, the wife of
the Silent Captain and President who has so
lately passed away, the public of to-day is
familiar. Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Grant both
took prominent part in the social duties of their
stations, as did Mrs. Hayes and Mrs GarfieId-
the former Lucy Webb daughter OF DIR. James
Webb, Of ChilicOthe, Ohio: the latter Lucretia
Rudolph, daughter of ZebulOn Rudolph of
Garrettsviile, in The same state. Lincoln lost a
son, his tavOrite Tad. in the White House.
Nelly Grant, the Generals beloved daughter
was married-a brilliant wedding-in the same
place.
President Arthur assumed the Chief Maeis
tracy widower, and although rumor was very
Tree with his name during his term he did not
marry. His deceased wife was a daughter of
Capt. HerndOn, of the United States navy the
gallant officer who went down on the Central
America. James Buchanan and Grover CIeye-
land were the only two bachelor Presidents.
and II the latter marres Miss Folsom this wear
1t will leave the Pennsylvania President alone
In the celibate list OF Chief Magistrates. -Four
Presidents were widOwers at their Inaugural.
tOn-Jefferson, Jackson, Van Buren, and AR.
thur sixteen were married when they went
into the White House. One alone President
John Tyler, married while holding the Execn.
| tive title.
why Men Smoke.
From the st. James Gazette.
number Of literary men smoke simply to