The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-19
Ladies of the White House

Ladies Of the White House
The Philadelphia Times prints an in
teresting account of the different womer
who have presided at the white House,
as first lady of the land" since the days
of President Washington. Says our in
formant:
Washington, it is we'll known, married
long before he became President, or ever
Gene. al of the Army. He met the lovely
Widow Custis at Williamsburg during
his service as member of the Virginia
Legislature. Mrs. Washington presided
over the Executive household at the seat
of government, first in New York, then
in this city, with good deal of formali.
ty. Their house in this city was one
rented from Robert Morris, on Market
street, between Fifth and Sixth. It was
here the Friday levees were held, and the
rules were very rigorous.
The first Presidents wife was born a
Jones, that of the second Smith-Abi
gail Smith-so the republic, as far as the
domestic head of it was concerned, was
ushered in with certain democra ic sim.
pGcity. John Adams married bis wife
when she was twenty, and her father,
who was clergyman, preached sermon
on the Sunday after the wedding-so Al
historic old chestnut relates-from the
text: "Johu came neither eating bread
nor drinking wine, and ye say he hath q
devil" During Adams's term of Office,
in 1900, the Government was removed to
Washington. Mrs. Adams was the first
lady of the White House, but she never
liked it, and lived there altogether but
four months. Her picture, by Gilbert
Stuart, represents her as cheerful and
not unhandsome- looking woman of fifty,
with cap, and ringlets of curls wreathing
the edge.
Jefferson went into the White House a
widower of nineteen years standing, and
his diary, lately PUBLISH d by John Bige.
low, shows he undcrsto ID thoroughly the
domestic economies which were necessary
in the matter of providing for the wants
OF the mansion and its hospitalities. His
wife WAS the widow of Bathurst skelton,
Virginia gentleman, and the daughter
of John Wayles of Charles City county,
Virginia. She was said to be beautiful
woman, and Jefferson to have won hel
over other suitors through his musica
voice and ability to play the violin.
Dolly Madison Was one of the most
popular of the White House women, il
we believe tradition, and yet she Ger.
tainly was not pretty, if Prudhomme's
engraving from the picture of Herring
is to be accepted, with the queer turban,
profusion of ringlets, large nose, and
positive mouth. There is, however, 8
glimpse of prettily rounded arm and 8
classic neck through the lace and drapery
that perhaps may have combined viz
her well -attestcd tack and vivacity tc
have given her the reputation sh, Ger
tainly enjoys among the Presidents
wives. She was an F. F. ", Dorothy
Payne, although born in the Pine Tree
State, and in early life h:r parents lived
here ard Dolly actually joined the So
ciety of Friends in this city, althou n ne
doubt rising young Quaker lawyer
one John Todd, whom she afterwarc
married, had something to do with this
Todd died and left her widow with
one son, so Dolly set her cap for some O.
the tre-looking young members of tht
Congress then wont to come to Phiadel
phia to transact the public business
and in 1874 married James Madison, on1
of the most talented of the body.
Mrs. Monroe was the daughter of {
British army officer named Cartwright
distant relations of the Philadelphi;
Cartwrights, who settled in New York
after the peace of 1888, She was one
of four girls. One of these married Mr.
Heyliger, Grand Chamberlain to tn,
King of Denmark; another Mr.. Kno,
Of New York city, whose only daughtc
was he wife of the late Alexander Ham
ilton, son of Alexander Hamilton. tn
first Secretary of the Treasury; thirc
married Nicholas Gcuverneur of New
York. and the fourth Senator Jame
Monroe Il Virginia, afterward Pr, ,sident
The first White House wedding wa
that Of President Monroe's younges
daughter, who married her cousin
Samuel t.. Gouverneur, in 1920. 1t tool
place in the East Room, and was knick
erbocker affair, stylish and high-tonet
for the day. A number of brilliant re
centons in Washington were rendered t.
the tr;dal couple, and the cards were ou
for very swell one by Commodore ''Es
SEX Porter and wife. when it had to Et
given up: owing to the untimcly death o
Commodore Decatur, killed by Barro,
in duel. The deal officer had givcr
the you g couple brilliant party but
few days before at his own home. Al
older daughter OF President Madison
married Judge George Hay of Richmond
Hortensa Hay, beautiful girl, daugh
ter of this match, was the wife of Lore
Rogers, of Baltimore. whom old societ.
people of this city remember. Lad
Rogers died in Paris, aad is buried in Per
Ia Chaise.
Most persons who have read the vol
luminous diary Of the ''old man eloquent
know more or less of Louisa Catharin
Adams, his wife. She was the da1ghte
of i!arvlander named johnson, VII
lived in Lonlon during the Revolution
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