The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-11
MR.. AND MRS. CLEVELAND
THEIR DOMESTIC LIFE PRAISED
BY MRS. WHITNEY.

WhlJ0 hOuSS-lnClueuLS at uno White
House, at Oak View and on Journeys
Which Indicate Her Attachment to
Her Husband and His Regard for Her.
From the Ne,O York Tribune.
CHICAGO, Dec. THE correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune at Washington reports
an interesting interview with the wife of
Secretary Whitney. regarding the disagree
able stories which have for a long time been
persstently circulated regarding the
domestic relations of President Cleveland.
Knowing that Mrs. Whitney had been one
of Mrs. Cleveland's most intimate friends
since the marriage, the correspondent de-
termined to call upon her and learn, if posi-
BILE. what she knew about the true inward
ness of tho matter. Mrs Whitney received
him graciously.
81 am glad, very glad" she said war mly,
ITO have this opportunity to be quoted on
this subject. l have been often tempted to
speak or write concerning these stories about
the President. In fact, have found it hard
to keep still, and have several times asked
Mr. Whitney to let me have my say for the
public ear. My indignation has been SO
great that | could hardly refrain from rush
Ing into print. have held my peace, how
to do so were it not for the fact that at a
dinner party in New York only two
weeks ago no less gentleman
than Mr.. Chauncey NJ Depew amused
the guests by repeating many of the vile
stories about the Presidents conduct to-
ward his wife. 1t is Incredible that a man
Of Mr.. Depew's standing and character
should help give currency to such vile
stories, but this instance shows the manner
in which the whole scandal has been stirred
up. do not believe Mr.. Depew would I'M
dertake personally to vouch for the stories
which he told at that dinner, but he told
them, and doubtless most of those that
heard him have since been telling them over
to their friends. Oh, it is shameful
The only story told by Mr.. Depew on
this occasion, in which names were used, or
any particular story which one could take
hold of, was the old story about Mr.. Wat
terson Kentucky taking Mrs. Cleveland to
the tbeater one night. According to the
story, the President was angry because Ills
wife went to the theater, and on her return
he upbraided her, called her wicked names,
and finally slapped her face. This incredible
story was told by Mr.. Depew as having
been started by Mr. Watterson himself. A
gentleman who was at that dinner party and
knew Mr.. Watterson wrote him for the
facts. Mr.. Watterson replied that he
had escorted Mrs. Cleveland to AL
baughs opera house; that the President
himself did not go because he was so
busy with his work, and that on their re-
turn to the white house the President had
chatted and laughed good-naturedly, and
had coUrteously thanked Mr.. Watterson
for his kindness. Thus that story was dis
posed of, and if the people who tell these
lies would only give some names or par
ticulars, one after another could be taken
up in the same manner and effectually dis
posed of. But when a man like Mr.
DeDew, who, one would think has too
much principle to do such a thing, becomes
the means of spreading such stories about
the President of the United States, I think
it time, indeed, that some one competent to
speak comes out in public and denounces
every one Of the stories as utterly false and
baseleSs
How the SANDERS ever started in the
first place, / don't pretend to know" con-
tinued Mrs. Whitney, "but we have always
understood that many of them had their
origin 'on the hill. l shouldn't wish to say
that Mr.. Ingalls, has knowingly set in circu-
lation false story. but he has been bitter
and vindictive against the President. To
US, who know the President and his wife
well and even intimately, who know the
whole romance of their marriage and of
their welded life, it is incredible that any
one should for a moment believe that he
mas Deen cruel 10 MS WIG, ana mas ever
been SO much of a brute as to strike her.
Mrs. Cleveland has often talked to
me of her relations to her husband
before their marriage, of his tender
watchfulnesS over aud care for her, of her
respect and childish affection for him, of
her looking up to him, and Of his looking
forward with some hope to what actually
followed. To us who know the facts, there
has always been something sweet and
tf1ro oh oil ~ in
girlhood, her experience abroad as hand
some and w1nsome girl, but always think
ing Of him, and finally coming back to him.
She didn't marry him because he was
President of the United States, and would
doubtless have married him had he not
been famous man, though of course it
was only natural that his high station had
a certain glamour aud attraction for her.
we had an excellent opportunity to |
judge of the tenderness and sentiment of
their relations while they were with us on
our southern trip. For a week we lived |
gether on the train. We were all amused |
at their loverlikeness. The President never |
passed her without stopping to pat her on |
the head or to put his hand under her chin |
and lift her face toward his. She never |
passed him without loving touch or kiss |
or good hug. We laughed a |
lutte at them and told them that |
they were spooney in the good old fashion. |
Sometimes Mrs. Cleveland would be sitting |
IN one end OF the car reading book If |
she chauced to look up and see the President |
alone, she would throw down her book and |
rush to him like girl, and begin to talk to |
and amuse him. What their relationship |
was then, it now is. There has never been |
any change, and the happy course of their |
domestic life has never been interrupted by |
an unkind word, look or thought. | speak |
with the authority of one who knows.
=, why, at Oak View this last summer, |
Their life was most charming. 1t was ideal, |
a model for all the millions Of good and |
happy homes in this country. We used to |
see them every day. Often, of an evening, |
we ran over from our home at Grasslands, |
winch you know is close by Oak View. and |
round them sitting together, the President |
IN his house-coat working at his TABLETOP |
mes always at work-and she close by him |
with her book, her dogs about her. or her |
embroidery in her lap. They made such a
sweet and simple picture there that wish |
al these scandal-mongers could have looked |
IN on them and been rebuked with their |
own eyes.
4, u seems that if people would only use
their reason, they would see how absurd |
S4Gh stories are. The President is much |
peer than his wife. 1t is only natural that |
ne should delight in her compauionship and |
auction, that he should do all in his power
20 retain her love, that he should be fond
oi uer and want her to be fond Of him. Be-
ir. o. h Is gentleman. Since he has been
III Ine white house, he has never spoken an
10. Ia IAOC