Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-17

INNS. hAnhisoS = INDIVIDUALITY AND BENEVo-
LENcE-THE vIcE-PREsrDENCY As SOCIAL
fAcToR-MRs. MOTIONS SOCIAL EXPERIENCE
The oldest couple to enter the executive
mansion as President and presiding lady were
the grandparents of the distinguished citizen
who will enter the same high Office on March
4, 1889, or lacking but one year Of an even half
century later. William Henry Harrison, the
ninth President of the United States, was just
sixty-eight years of age when he embarked in
the high Office to which he had been chosen by
the wings, and his wife, Anna Symes Harrison,
a native of New Jersey, was two years younger.
While the most advanced in the allotment of
years his demise took place in the infancy Of
his career after one months residence in the
executive mansion.
The youngest person to enter the Office Of
President was U. s. Grant, at forty-seven, and
the youngest wife was Frances Folsom Cleve-
land. at twenty-five, the bride Of the White
House. The youngest presiding lady OF the
mansion was Elizabeth Tyler Waller, at nine
teen, daughter of John Tyler, President Harri-
sons successor. and the first Vice to come into
possession of the Office to which he was con-
| stitutional heir presumptive. The prospective
President, when he enters the Office to which
he has been chosen, will be about midway be-
tween his ffty-fifth and ffty-sixth year, or
about the age of Martin Van Buren,, Zachary
Taylor, and Rutherford B. Hayes.
| PRESIDING LADIES'
/ Mrs. Harrison will enter the executive man
sion as presiding lady at about the age of Abb
gail Smith Adams, wife Of the second, and
| Eliza McArdle johnson. wife of the seven-
| teenth President. Since Mrs. Washington in
| augurated the social regime of the Presidents
household at New York, then the capital. there
have been thirty-two presiding ladies. Eight
4 q WI nf ia
| Mrs. Washington. Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Madison,
/ Mrs. Monroe, Mrs. J. Q. Adams, Mrs. Harrison.
| Mrs. Dehlia Christian Tyler. who died while
| her husband was i'll Office. and Mrs. Julia Gard
ner Tyler, who married the President in New
York when she was but year older than Mrs.
| Cleveland when she married.; 1Irs. Polk. Mrs.
Taylor, Mrs. Fillmore, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Lin
coin, Mrs. johnson. Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Hayes,
| Mrs. Garfield and Mrs. Cleveland
The remaining fourteen presiding ladies were
Jefferson's daughter, Martha Jefferson Ran
| dolph. or. when absent. the wife Of Secretary
Of State Madison; Mrs. Emily Donelson. wife OF
President Jacksons private secretary, and Sara
I Yerke Jackson, wife OF his foster son; Angelica
/ Singleton Van Buren,, the wife of the Presi-
| dents son and private secretary; Elizabeth
| Tyler Waller, the Presidents daughter and
Mrs. Cooper Tyler, his sons wife; Elizabeth
Taylor Bliss. married daughter of President
4 Taylor; Mary Abigail Fillmore. daughter Of
President Fillmore; Harriet Lane, the niece of
James Buchanan; Mrs. Martha Johnson Patter-
son and Mary johnson Slower married daugh-
tiers of President Johnson; Mary Arthur Nc
Elroy, and Rose Elizabeth Cleveland. sisters Of
| the last two Presidents. Mrs. Harrison's expe-
rience in politico-social affairs has been con-
/ fined to six years residence at Washington as
/ the wife of Senator, but during that time, in
| that distinguished circle of representative men
| and women of the states. she formed acquaint-
| ances and friendships which now in her pros
peetive elevation to the place of highest rank
| IN the social world are recalled with pleasure
by those who still mingle in public affairs and
society at the capital.
FAMILY CIRCLE OF THE PERSONAL---VERY.
| The marriage of Benjamin Harrison and Miss
Carrie L. Scott took place in 1853, when the
former was just twenty years of age. Her
father was then president of the Oxford female
college. in which town she was born. Gen.
| Harrison met ner while student at the same
/ place. They began their married life at North
Bend, Ohio. the site of the family homestead
| for two generations. but a year later they
started afresh for themselves at Indianapolis.
| Here they began in a small way. Young Harri-
/ son was not long in making start in the prac-
tice OF his profession. and the new household
| was soon cheered with the presence of boy
| now grown to mans estate and an influential
citizen Of Montana. Two years later daugh-
ter. Mary Scott. added to the joys of the home
OF the rising Indiana lawyer. When her father
came to the Senate she assisted her mother in
her social duties and formed large circle of
| friends, who are hoping that the fact of Mrs.
Mchee,s residence in Indiana. ellis may not de-
prlve them OF again enjoying r presence this
| time as part of the interesting domes-
/ tic household of the executive mansion,
| after the fast approaching termination of the
present administration. With Mrs Harrison
/ will not only be her interesting daughter but
the wife of her son, Russell b. Harrison. who is
| also well known as one of the bellies of the sem
/ atorial circle when her father, Senator Saun-
| ders, represented Nebraska in Congress These
| three ladies. mother, daughter and daughter
ln-law. all trained in the social methods of the
highest circle OF official social life next to that
| OF the executive mansion will make an inter-
estlng and entertaining group of ladies to do
the hOnors of the Presidents social surround
| Ings for the next four years.
MRS. HARRISON
is lady Of strong individuality, great kindness
| of heart unaffected manners and easv social
grace. She also has defined taste for art
with genius for its application by skillful
manipulation of the brush. In many respects
| she unItes the strong character of Mrs John
Adams. with the vivacity and fondness for good
| works of Mrs. Madison. While she has always
been an active laborer in the church, she has
never interfered with her husbands right to
decide certain matters in his own household,
| and IL is certain that there will be no seeking
cheap notoriety in matters which are neither
| affairs of state nor of ethics among people ac-
customed to the ways and proprieties of polite
| society.
! vICE-PREsIDESTs FAMILIES.
1t is remarkable fact that the ladies Of the
families of the Vice-Presidents have always
borne somewhat exceptional and unimportant
part in the social life Of administrations. Po-
htically the vice-presidency has always been
regarded as sop to some powerful but de-
feated party faction, officially it has enjoyed
the casting vote of tied Senate. of which
body 1t was but the igure-head. and socially il
has never been represented with that CON-
handing dignity and affuence which the second
place in the scale of official precedence de-
serves. In the recent selection of the Presi-
dent and the Vice-Presidsnt the second place
has secured citizen not only of wealth. but of
public experience as legislator and diplomat,
and lady Of the highest social attachments,
and at the same time of republican simplicity
Of life and manners worthy of the women OF a
great republic.
MRS. MORTON
!, belongs to one of the best families of the En-
pire state. Her father, Vim. 7. Street, was a
public-spirited citizen of Pougekeepsie. and
her uncle Alfred B. Street. was well known as
leading citizen OF Albany. The environments
of her young life were therefore calculated 10
give her all the experiences and training which
would fit her for the high places in the social
scale which she has already filled and to which
she has been called. Mrs. Morton is well re.
membered in Washington for the elegance OF
her entertainments when her husband sat in
the popular branch Of Congress. She was also
I nnucb admired her heautv hoino NJ <lx