Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-06-17
MISS FOLsoM's PICTURE.

The Efforts of a Persistent Newspaper
Man TO Secure the Prize.
Brooklyn Eagle: The history of how
the only authentic portrait of the presi
dents bride was secured for publication
has never been told, and just at the
present time is of no little interest,".
About the time President-elect Oleve-
land began packing up his bachelor traps
preparatory to removing to the white
house, rumor got started that Presi.
| dent Cleveland had wearied of single
| blessedness and about to take q wife.
At that time every influential paper in
the country had o correspondent
stationed ut Albany, whose sole duty
was to dog the steps of the lucky
Butfalopian and detail hot and
smoking for the next mornings Issue
every movement. Dan Lamont was
struck with walking nightmare and
imagined he saw reporters ambushed in
every shadow. at his suggestion the
president-elect put himself under the
care OF couple of detectives, who ac-
oompanled him wherever he went and
kept the reporters at safe distance.
in SO pleasing o relation was started. the
correspondents literally tumblea over
each other in their anxiety to get hold of
the facts, and above all, to secure the
photograph of the prospective bride.
Miss Van pechten, Miss Purln, Miss
Cornell and score of leading society
ladies were lnterrogated in vain. Thpy
vera as ignorant as the press of the
Identity OF Mr.. Cleyeland's attianced.
In turn every prominent singer in the
capital was suspected Of being the one
AT length newspaper man hit upon
the expedient OF pumping the maid SER
wants. The chamberma1d proved to be
good looking and talkative, and it was
through this young lady's propensity to
gossip that not only Miss Folsom was
discovered but the exact date and hour
of the presidents departure from Wash
ington and the route he proposed taking
(Which were jealously guarded) were
ascertalned. The maid admitted that
Miss Cleveland and young lady named
frankie Folsom, of NGnda, were very
sisterly, and asserted that Mr.. Cleye.
land while governor had several times
made trips !. into the country to
visit her. She also limited that
the ladies, meaning Miss Cleveland
and Mrs. Folsom and her daughter, had
within week visited leading Albany
photographer and had their counterfeits
taken and left strict injunctions that no
one should be permitted to copy them or
even 10 look at them.
The hint proved sufficient The two
newspaper men in the plot managed to
get hold of Dan Lamont and suddenly
put the question to him abruptly. Dan
got mad ian unusal thing for hlm) and
informed the newspaper men SO crustiIy
that the future bride of MIR. Cleveland, if
he contemplated taking one, was CON
Germ OF his own and of nobody else, that
they were convinced that they were on
the right track. Next every photo
grapher in town was visited, and a large
establishment, dealing with the best peo-
pie, was naturally suspected of being the
place patroniZed by Miss Folsom. But
the proprietor was obdurate; 30 ruse
was resorted to. Ladies are known fre-
quentiY TO sit for their portraits, order
certain number sent home, and let the
bill run until presented. A reporter who
was not known to the photographer was
impressed into service. He stepped into
tho gallery, walked up to the pretty |
young lady who kept the books, and said
Il will pay Miss Folsom's bill if you
have it ready The bookkeeper turned |
to the ledger and said: "Oh, the last |
lot were paid for, but the new lot are
done. Will you take them?'
The grave young man said he believed |
he would take couple back with him, |
and that Miss frankie could instruct him
what to do. The aHable young lady |
obiigingly placed two photographs of
Miss Folsom in an envelope and handed |
them to the newspaper man who could
hardly forbear giving a whoop of Joy
upon gaining possession of the treasures.
Needless to say the newspapers stimuli
taneously produced portraits of Miss
Folsom, to the horror of that amiabie |
young woman and her accomplished
mother. DAN Lamont almost tainted,
and General Farnsworth is said to have
sworn terrible military oath that he
would slab the base traitor who pub
lished the portrait. But he spared him.
The portrait ID the only authentic one
of Miss Folsom. Tt represents her sitting,
sideface. with the hair cut in flowing
band and drawn up in the pack high
upon the head and secured in wavy
roll. She wears white linen collar of
peculiar shape, turning over somewhat
at tho back.
IT