Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-07-23
Mrs. Cleveland at Church.

good examples when she goes to church
Our readers may remember that Mr..
Cleveland, as seen at church, did not
bow his head when the prayer was Of
fered; did not join in the hymn or open
the hymn book; fidgeted through the
sermon, and was evidently glad when
it was over, and took no particular part
in the services, except to drop crisp
new bill in the basket when il came
around.
Mrs. Cleveland does all these things
differently. Like too many of her sex,
she appears TO have to attend TO the
praying for the family. When she goes
to church, Us soon she enters the pew
and takes seat she drops her pretty
head upon her daintily gloved hand and
devotes moment to silent prayer. Then
she settles herself for quiet attention
upon the service, nodding pleasantly 10
Mrs. Sunderland, the wife Of the pastor,
whose pew is just alongside that of the
President.
She knows, OF course, that she is the
target OF every eye in the church, and
though she tries to conceal her embar-
rassment she is not able to do so entire
ly. When the pastor gives out the
hymn, she is glad TO turn her attention
to the hymn book and forge. the uncom-
Portable feeling which is the natural re-
suit OF being stared at. When the con-
gregation rises she rises also, following
the hymn through from beginning TO
end sometimes, though not often joining
in the singing. When the minister
leads in prayer her head is bowed, and
it drops little lower when he prays tor
''the Chief Magistrate of the nation,"
with petition for "those that are dear
TO him."
The announcements of the church
meetings which follow the prayer are
listened to with womanly interest; and
when the sermon begins, after the sec.
ond hymn has been sung, she is all at
tention. She does not fidget about and
lean up in the corner and rest her head
upon her hand, as Grover does, but sits
straight and quiet, listening TO the SER
mon from beginning TO end. OF course
she fans herself constantly, for she
would not be woman IL she did not.
She seems occasionly TO remember that
she is being stared at, and bites her lips
nervously, wiping them with her dainty
handkerchief, which she holds In the
same hand which carries jewellcd
smelling bottle, wedding gift from
one of the Cabinet officers. When the
basket goes around she drops her con.
tribution modestly into 1t, and when the
closing hymn is given out finds not
only the hymn, but the doxology corrs-
spending in metre with 1t, and follows
them closely to the end.
When the services end, then comes
the most tryiag time for Mrs. Cleveland.
All eyes are upon her. Oh course she
has attracted more attention than the
preacher, even during the sermon, but
she only divided attention with him
then; now, however, she is the central
and only figure of the moment. All
eyes are upon her as she moves down
the aisle, and every neck is craned to
get A look at her face aud figure. She
tries to app ar unconcerned, bows TO
the people near her whom she knows,
talks a little to those nearest her, and Is
evidently relieved when the carriage
door bangs ard she is hidden from view
OF the crowd that was gathered on the
sidewalk to see her pass from the church
door to the carriage.
Throughout her conduct is full OF dig
nifty ard gentle grace. She dresses for
church with excellent taste, but abso-
lutely plain, usually dark gray, or
black, small pin at her throat, but
nothing else in the way Of ornament,
with high black straw hat tastefully
but quietly trimmed, and black gloves
Of undressed kid.