Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-14
THE FIRST LADY.
She Makes Her Own Bed. Feeds Her Birds
and Sometimes Blackens Her Shoes.


She Makes Her Own Bed. Feeds Her Birds
and Sometimes Blackens Her Shoes.
| Washington Letter in Detroit Tribune
''You ought to see the Kensington WORK
Mrs. Cleveland is doing" said White
House servant to your correspondent
| yesterday afternoon. eyes, indeed" con
tinued the old colOred lady when surpris
was expressed at Mrs. Cleveland doing
needlework, ''she is the best I ever saw
at it, You wouldn't think she had tt
! time between the society matters an
talking to the president but she made
dozen of the prettiest ornaments alread
before she went away on her summe
trip
girl in one of the downtown miIlin
cry stores where stamping is done says
sh a ua s1rrr>-i7a>7 *t>~-~%I 90 500
after the mistress of the white house re.
turned from the Adirondacks, to hear hen
inquire what there was new in designs 70!
pillow-shams. A half-dozen girls at worA
on the under trimmings of the new cone
shaped fall hats looked up in amazement
but when Mrs. Cleveland, who was with
her mother, went out one of them said:
'"Thats nothing. Mrs. Cleveland has
knit her own stockings more times than
one, I can tell you. And she has mad
her dresses, too. Much as she is alb
sorbed with the society of the White
House. She has done more work IL
needle art than any other fashionable
woman in Washington. What is more
she makes her own bed. feeds her birds
and-she sometimes bIackens her shoes
herself"
The girls laughed and wanted to know
| Ill
from, when the speaker replied that sh,
got it from Mrs. .CIeveland's maid, ano
continued:
''DO you know what the president say.
when his wife shows him what she is do,
ing with the needle? No. Well, he says
What girlr and sometimes there is /
half suppressed sound which we ali love
! Of course, he kisses her pretty often, anG
I don't blame him. | heard the other
day that the president played peek-a-boC
one afternoon just as senator came into
his Office, and that there was very rapid
movement of some one going out of that
office; I mean lady went out very quick'
and the president grew red in the fac "
when the senator held up his hands an,
said Now, no apologies, Mr.. President
we were all that way once Mrs. Cleve5
|
and | hope her ambition to stay theJ
another term will be realized. The
president is so kind to her mother.
too. He asked her to spend the winter
| at the executive mansion, and she
will probably do it. Somt
one asked Mrs. Cleveland how she HkeG
the place, and she replied that she hat
only one objection; that it was publ,
place everybody's house, and that pee
pie came and went just as though it wa
a department. She likes a quiet pla-
sometimes, like they are going to have IL
the country for she is gtrlish yet"
The girls in the store where Mrs. Cleye-
| land trades say she is good buyer and E
pleasant customer. One day while ST.
was shopping for the summer trip sh
surprised the girl who waited upon liz
by excIaimlng, when told the price of tn
article:
II don't believe you charge everybody
so much!''
eyes, indeed, the same price to every
one,' replied the girl. ''But why do you
think we should charge you more thar
! other peOple?"
Because you might think 1 would no
| protest" was the answer.
| Mrs. Cleveland smiled pleasantly, ant
| the girl, who was very neat and pretty
was taken somewhat aback to learn afte
ward who her distinguished patron wa
Another young lady who has Otter
waited upon Mrs. Cleveland at store wa
| agreeably surprised one morning to be
told that she could lay aside for herseh
| duplicate of the article purchased ''fol
kindnesses.''
If Mrs. Cleveland doesn't cease h
| cleverness she will yet win over all c
those hauteurs in the maiden class WI
were prone to speak i'll of her when she.
| outstripped them all and got the bach
elor president. The ladies of Washin
ton do not report success in becoming al
ouainted yith Mrs. Folsom, who is small
er of statue than her daughter, young
and fresh looking and quite agreeable.