Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-14
WHITE HOUsE SCANDAL.
Mrs. whitney Denies the False Re-
norris About President Cleveland.


malicious stories which for some time
past have been circulated in high places
and in low places to the effect that Presl-
dent Cleveland and his wife we're unhap-
Nv IN their RELATIONSHIP each other, and
that his conduct to Mrs. Cleveland had
been at times gross. If not brutal Mrs
Whitney's opportunity for knowing
what she is talking about could not
be better, and her sincerity car
ries the conviction of truth with
il. She has been on intimate terms with
the Presidents family, and her state
ments not only deny out disprove to the
satisfaction Of all fair minds the vile
scandals which have been whispered
from mouth to mouth all over the coun-
try for many months past. While we
have been conPrAtulsting ourselves that
during the political campaign the press
had been restrained from making per
sonal war upon individual regulations
these stories circulated covertly, have
been doing the miserable work secretly.
Mrs. Whitney, indignant at the reports
which reached her ears, constrained her
self to silence until she could do so no
longer. In an interview with the Wash
ington correspondent OF the Chicago
Tribune she says;
81 have held my peace mp to this time
end would continue to do so were it not
for the fact that at dinner party in New
York only two weeks ago no less a gen
tIeman than Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew
amused the guests by repeating many of
the vile stories about the Presidents
conduct towards his wife. ] do not be-
lieyo Mr.. Depew would undertake per
sonallv to vouch for the stories, but be
told them.
The only story told 10y Mr.. Depew
on this occasion in which names were
used or any particular story which ono
could take hold of was the old story
about Mr.. Wattorson, OF Kentucky,
taking Mrs. Cleveland TO the theatre one
night According to the story the Presi-
dent was angry because bis wife went to
the theatre, and on her return he up
braided her, called her wicked names, aud
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 ard knew Mr.. Matterson wrote him
for the facts. Sir. Watterson replied
that he had escorted Mrs. Cleve-
land 10 Albsugh's Opera House that
the President himself did not go be-
cause he was so busy with his work, and
that on their return TO the White House
the President had chatied and laughed
eood-naturedly and courteously thanked
Mr.. Wattcrson for his kindness. How
the ISLANDERS ever started in the first place
] don pretend to know, continued Mrs.
Whitney, "but We have always under
stood that many OF them had their
origin 'on the hill ! shouldn't wish 10
say that Mr.. ingalls, has knowingly set
i'm circulation n false story, but he has
been bitter and vindictiye against the
President. 10 us, who know the Presi-
dent and hrs wife we'll and even init
mately, who know the whole romance OF
their marriage ana OF their welded
life, it is increditable thai any one
should for moment believe that
he has been cruel TO lis wife, and
has ever been 80 much Of a brute
az to strike her. Mrs. Cleveland has
often talked to me Of her relations TO
her husband before their marriage, Of
his tender watchtulness over and 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 aud pretty about itall-
her years of gayety IN girlhood, her ex-
perience abroad as a handsome and win
som girl, but always thinking Of him, and
finally coming back 10 him. She didn't
marry him because he was President
of the United States, and would
doubtless have married him had be
not been famous man, though. of
course, II was only natural that his high
station had a certain glamour aud attrac-
ton for her. We had an excellent OPP.
Dortunity to Judge OF the tenderness and
sentiment Of their relations while they
were with us on our southern trip. For
week we lived together on the train.
We were all amused at their lover like
ness. 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 towards his. She never
passed him without loving touch, or a
kiss, or good hug. We laughed
little at them, and told them
that they were spooney in the
good old fashion. At Oak View this
lsst simmer their life was most
charming. 1t was ideal, a model
for all the millions OF good and
happy homes in this country. We
used 10 SEQ them every day. Often
of an evening we ran over hom our
home at Grasslsnds, which You know
is close by Oak View, and found them
sitting together, the President in bis
house-coat working at his table-for he's
always ct work-and she close by him
with her book. her dogs about her, or
her embroidery in her lap. They made
snch a sweet and simple picture there
that | wish all these scandalmongers
could have looked in on them and been
rebuked With their own eyes. Ii seems
that if people would only use their
reason they WONlu SIC uON ADSufu SUM
stories are. The President is much
older than his wife. Ii is only natural
that be should delight in her companion
ship and affection; that he should do all
in bis power 10 retain her love that he
should be fond Of her and want her to
be fond Of him. Besides, he is gen.
tleman. Since he hes been in the White
House he has never spoken an unkind or
rude word to any one, much less to the
sweet girl be was so fortunate as
to win. On her part, she has de
lighted in making his work lighter by
her gayety and little womanly attentions,
and in filing just the place in his life
she ought to fiji She has been proud
Of him. OF course, as wife should be,
and Mr.. Whitney has often remarked oil
her: She is Just the wife for working
man. The President acknowledges hel
influence over him, for she has taken