Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-09

followed. She had been receiving
mure letters than she could answer
Now there were more than she could
take time to open most of them con-
tanned requests for scrapes of her we'd
ding dress. Distressed WON n, an
xious to save a homestead, wrote for
loans OF $4,000 to $4,000, "to save
the old place." One woman wrote to
ask for specified number ef yards Ct
velvet, that was to be Mazarine blue
color, and in addition she wished to
have enough material for wrap. OF
applications for autographs and
photographs there is no end.
To attempt to answer all these let
ters would be out of the question. To
read them all is unnecessary. Ii
Mrs. Cleveland undertook to respond
favorably to all who write to her she
would keep stenographer and pho
tographer constantly at work, she
would gradually rob herself of her
wardrobe, and she would bankrupt
the President. So large part OF the
correspondence is turned over to one
of the executive clerks to be answered
with a printed form signed by Colonel
Lamont, Mrs. Cleveland personally
responding only to letters from her
personal friends.
For many months after her mar
riage Mrs. Cleveland did not venture
out OF the White House grounds ex-
cept to ride. The eager curiosity Of
everybody to see her drew crowds
even to her church door. When she
went shopping she passed from her
carriage to a shop door between two
lines Of scrutinizing eyes. For the
freedom of the thing she walked,
avoiding the thoroughfare, taking
with her Mrs. Lamont or one of her
visiting friends, and latterly great
brown-and-white st. Bernard, pre-
sented to her by New York friends,
and called Kay for its givers. Re-
Gently Mrs. Cleveland has tried to
"shop" on the avenue without car
riage. She and Mrs. Lamont got
along famously for day oil two, sur
prised and delighted to escape general
recognition in their neat walking
dresses and small bonnets. The
shop-clerks spoiled everything, for as
soon as they learned that Mrs. Cleve-
land might be looked for, and she ap-
peared, the word went abroad, all
other business was suspended, ,and all
the people in the establishment gave
themselves up to learn what the
Presidents wife was buying.
The afternoon is short at the White
House and the time spent is we'll occU-
pied. If MRS Cleveland has opportunity
she reads. Kind friends, authors who
wish to have her see their books, and
publishers, send her new volumes.
She gets from three to five day. In
her ambition to know something about
each OF these she finds that she is be-
coming spoiled asa reader. She reads
some light literature, but she does not
as one writer has said, read "Ouida :"
She also finds time to read something
in the newspapers, to scan a magazine
or two, and to enjoy the Epoch. For
study she has no time, much to her
regret, for she finds that her German
is slipping away from her, and that
she can make no headway with her
French.
She gives little time each day to
her pets-for she has others besides
Kay, the st. Bernard. Hector, the
French poodle, famous as the subject
of newspaper paragraphs, does not in
terest her as does the newly arrived
and nobler dog. A canary, a pretty
Ang IRA cat and a parrot have learned
to expect her caresses and attentions.
And at Oak View, now closed for the
winter, she has had a shapely little
Alderney heller, the gift OF MIR. Childs,
and when the President drives in the
afternoon she usually accompanies
him to their country home and finds
opportunity to cultivate the acquaint-
ance OF the pretty creature.
Out of the season of formal recep-
tions and dinners at the White House,
the after-dinner hours are usually
quiet and restiul to Mrs. Cleveland.
There is seldom day that the Presi-
dent does not have a guest or two to
dine with him. The wives of Cabinet
officers frequently call later, with or
without their husbands, for they are
like members of the White House
family. An occasional theatre party,
in which the President joins, varies
this programme.
By and by, when other generations
shall come to look at the portraits OF
Mrs. Tyler, Mrs. Polk and Mrs.
Hayes, and to talk of the wives of
other Presidents, they will dwell with
peculiar interest upon the details OF
the life OF Mrs. Cleveland, here mere
ly sketched, and to speak of her as
the youngest of women to occupy the
place. They may see her portrait,
too, but they will miss the gleam of
the eye, the animated and welcoming
smile, the indescribable cordiality Of
manner that make her fascinating,
and which no camera or brush can
be expected to faithfully transmit
Re. g. Dunnell in the Epoch.