Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-02
rnE PREsIDENT,s BRIDE.
4 Reliable Statement OF tho Lead
ing Incidents of Her Life.

Miss Folsom, whose Christian name, by
,ba way, is not Frances, but Frank, was
norm in the year 1864, and will be % years
aid on July q. She was born IN the
house No. 16S Edward street, opposite the
school yard of the orphan asylum. AS a
cbild. she attended Nine. Brokers
French kindergarten. Later the family
moved from Edward street to the house
now occupied by Mr.. George j. Letch-
worth. in Franklin street. at the time OF
Nr Folsom's death in 1875 they were liv-
inc at the rift House. 1t will be remem-
hered that Mrs. and Miss Folsom were in
Medina when this sad accident happened.
After the funeral they went to Medina,
where Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Folsom's
widowed mother, resided. The Harmon
family had good social position and
owned considerable valuable real estate,
including milling property. While in
Medina Miss Folsom was pupil at the
high school.
Returning to Buffalo in a few years,
Frank entered the Central school, and she
and her mother boarded with Mrs.
Jonathan Mayhem. One of the Central
school teachers has said Of her tnat Frank
learned very readily and seemed to re-
member equally we'll, and thai she ''al-
WAYS put little of herself into her reci-
tatiOns" While enrolled as pupil at
the Central her name used often to get
transferred to the boys lists, and so, in
order that it should sound less masculine,
she temporarily inserted the initial letter
c. after Frank, calling herself Frank
Clara. This explains why her
name now often enormously APP
pears with the initial c. She
was a regular attendant of the Central
Presbyterian church, OF which she is a
member. During part of the time she
was pursuing her studies at the Central
school she and her mother boarded at
Mrs. Carpenters, in the Boston block.
Afterward her mother occupied Mrs. r.
d. Boyd's house IN Franklin street, and
from there Miss Folsom went to Wells
College. Her Central school certificates
admitted her to the sophomore class at
Wells College, which she entered without
preliminary examination in the middle OF
the school year.
Miss Folsom was a great favorite at
Wells College, and her power OF winning
the love and answering allegiance of
many friends is direct inheritance from
her father, for more genial, generous
hearted and cOmpaniOnable man than the
late Oscar Folsom never lived. Her tall,
commanding figure, frankness and sim
certify made her the queen of the school.
She was graduated from Wells College
in June, 1885, her graduating essay taking
the form of a story. The hampers
Of flowers sent to her nearly every
week, beginning about the second
year OF her college life, from the Execu-
tive Mansion at Albany, and the partlcu-
larly abundant supply that came from the
W hite House Conservatives when she
was graduated, was but one OF many
little attentions paid her, the knowledge
OF which her college mates spread abroad
on scattering to their distant homes for
the summer vacations, thus exciting
public gossip concerning Miss FOlsom's
relations to the President.
Miss Folsom has always been in the
habit Of spending her summers in Folsom
dale, Wyoming county, two miles out of
COWlesville, at the residence OF her late
grandfather, Col. John b. Folsom. 1t is
the typical homestead. rambling farm
house set down amid the lovely scenery
Of the valley. SundTy newspaper reports
have made Mr.. Cleveland the benefactor
Of Miss Folsom in a money sense. Such
statements are absolutely untrue. Her
mothers income has always been ample
for their support, and any extra funds
needed were always to be had from the
grandfather, or Papa john" as Miss
Folsom called HIM. and whose recent
death will make her the heiress Of goodly
property.
Miss Folsom's character is that OF an
unspoiled. ingenious girl, full Of Self-pOs-
Sc sion, and with too much common sense
10 be overcome by her sudden elevation.
Her chief characteristic is intense loyalty
~ her mother, who is a charming woman.
Between them exists that perfect conf
dence and sympathy too seldom seen be-
tween parent and child. Miss FOlsom's
life has had it's deeper side. She is old for
her years, and too observing and tactful
10 make any mistakes, which,
even should they occur, would
be forgiven in one 50 young and
inexperienced, obliged suddenly TO
regulate her life by the complicated
etiquette OF society at the capital. One
OF her accomplishments is rare gift OF
letter writing. In dress her taste is very
simple. her common sense is shown in
naming an early date for the wedding. A
p0stpOnement would have brought even
more annoyance in the way Of press Cos
sip, and from the moment or landing to
the day of the wedding every movement
Of the President and the BRIDE elect would
have been subject to the espionage OF pry-
ing newspaper correspondents.
Miss Folsom, outside of "A very limited
circle of intimate friends, is little &C
quainted in Buffalo, and has never min
gled in society here, because since she
was school girl she has never spent but
day or two at a time in Buffalo. Her
only regret at this moment must be that
her father is not living to be present at
tie marriage OF his only child to the friend
who stuck closer to him than brother.
II Is an interesting coincidence that the
Rev. DR.. Sunderland, VINO is to perform
the marriage ceremony, frequently Occu-
pied, while settled in Batavia, the pulpit
OF the Central Presbyterian church of
Buffalo, the church OF which Miss Folsom
IS a member, DIR. Sunderland having been
an attached friend OF the late DR.. Lord,
IFS pastor.
Ibe published prints and photographs
OF Miss Folsom do not greatly resemble
ner. One Of the best likeneBses Of her Is
Oy an amateur photographer. Her hair -
SOFT and brown, of a shade between light
ana dark. She wears it cOmbed back
from her forehead, and loose, WaVy ten
uflls escape here and there. She has
violet blue eyes and rather large nose.
her eyebrows are very heavy and nearly
meet. Tbe chief and striking beauty or
ncr face is her mouth and chin. Mr..
hmmi Farnham, the artist, once said THAT
Miss Folsom mad the most beautiful
mouth he had ever seen.
WEDDING PRESENTS.
The friends Of the President are Won
aeflng what to do about wedding pres
EMS. lie has refused TO accept anything
IN the shape OF gift since he was elected
except from his most intimate friends.
many things that have been sent him
nave been returned TO the donors with