, 1886-08-12
PRESIDENT rvLeR's TWO WIVES.
His First Courtship and Marriage-where
He Met His Second wife.

His First Courtship and Marriage Where
He Met His Second wife.
/ am Indebted to Gen. Tyler. the son OF
President Tyler, for information about his
fathers marriage. President Tyler was
married twice, and he was the only presi-
dent who was married while In the White
House. Shortly before President Tyler
died he said to his son:
my son, / ave in many respects been
a fortunate man; but in respect to no one
particular have | greater cause to con
graduate myself than in that since l
reached mans estate l have passed only
two years out of the marriage relation;
for 1t has protected and preserved my
moral life"
Gen. Tyler describes his mother, the
presidents first wife. as a d~ark-haired.
fair-skinned lady, with a person which
was n perfect mould of beauty. She was
OF medium size, and looked much like the
Empress Josephine, save that her skin
was fairer. Tyler met her ut II ball given
by one OF the wealthy Douglasses OF Vir-
ginia, and fell in love at once. He was
then about 10 years old, and it was per
haps a year before he became engaged to
her.
ali courtship,r says Gen. Tyler, "was
much more formal than that of to-day.
lie WAS stluOnl ulOHb Will uct Dcioio
their marriage, and he has told me that
he never mustered up courage enough to
kiss his s~weetheart's hand until three
weeks before their wedding, though he
was engaged for nearly five years. He
asked her parents consent before propos-
ing TO her, and when he visited her at the
home OF Col. Christian, her father, on his
plantation, he was entertained In the par
lors, where the whole family were assem-
bled together. As was the custom then
among the better class of Virginian fami-
lies, the lover never thought of going out
riding In the same carriage with his affi-
anced. but rode along on horseback at the
side of the carriage, which always con-
tanned one or more ladies in addition to
his sweetheart to add decorum to the oc-
c~asion.' Presi lent Tyler and his first
wife were of nearly the same age, he being
only eight months her senior. Their we'd
ding took place on his % birthday, N
their married life of Twenty-Five years
was n most happy one.
President Tyler's second marriage took
place two years after the death of his first
wife. Tyler was 81. The bride was a girl
hardly Of her teens. Her name was
Miss Julia Gardiner, and she was the
daughter of a wealthy gentleman of New
York. Gen. Tyler says that IN the second
winter after his mothers death Mr.. Gar
diner and his two daughters came to
Washington on their return from Europe.
They visited the White House one thurs
day evening, and he, as private secretary,
took their cards. they being unknown to
him, and introduced them to the family.
They repeated their visits to the White
House during the season, returning to
New York at its close. AT the opening of
the following season they were back in
Washington, and renewed their attentions
to the president and his family. Alter a
time President Tyler began to look with
eyes of love at one OF the Misses Gardiner,
and finally proposed n marriage with her
to her father and mother. His proposal
was well received, and. the young lady
being willing, the marriage was deter
mined upon. 1t took place in New York.
Gen. Tyler thinks 1t would have been an
indelicate thing TO have had it celebrated
at the White House. President Tyler
lived seventeen years with his second
wife, and had II number of children by
her. She nows lives Mt Richmond, and
receives n pension of 5000 n year from
the government.-Frank G. Carpenter in
Lippincott's Magazine.