The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-07

place above all others, prominently
attractive, is the feeling so general tha5 1t
provokes neither comment nor criticism.
When she looks particularly fresh and well
at receDtion all the women rejoice in her
radians beauty. If her gown is one espe-
cially becoming, their pleasure is twofold.
If it is not so becoming, they express regret
that strangers present cannot see Mrs.
Cleveland when she is prettiest." At he
last official reception the personal interes5
in the Presidents wife would have been
amusing had it not been the expression of
universal loyalty and sincere r. gard. There
was not word of criticism, only regret
that ter gown did not do her justice.
Men said: "Ah, if she were in white. 1t
would be our impression of the lovely bride
over again, and just the impression to carry
away, you know"
A senator's wife, noted for dignity and
good sense, said: 81 have felt regret all the
evening that so many out-of-town guests
should not ses the Presidents wife in the
very radiance of her beauty, as we often
see her. She is attractive in any toilet, but
her red Directoire gown is trying, and we
who know her. know Mrs. Cleveland is not
looking as pretty as usual this evening"
The Presidents wife seems to have
profited by the best of official society. Its
hollowness, shams, frivolties, and general
insincerities have not touched her. One
cannot doubt the great diSappoint nent of
the election. She would have been far less
a womanly woman had she been indifferent
to defeat" But the disappointment has
added not drop Of bitterness to the sweet
ness Of her nature. She looks at going
out" from point of view wholly her own,
and not thought of by the many who
regret her departure. 1t was
one morning in the red room, and
before the Presidents plans were settled,
that Mrs. Cleveland talked frankly and
sensibly about herself as mistress of the
white house. 'If our plans were fixed l
should be glad,n she said 1T would, Of
course. be little relief to know just where
we shall live. But am sure people cannot
understand how / feel about leaving the
white house. They think it had, l SUD-
pose, for me 10 give up the life here because
am young. But it is because am young
woman that l feel less regret. If had
lived half or the greater part of my life be-
fore coming to the white house | know |
should have more regret about leaving it.
All of the women who have been
here before me were older than |
am. Most of them had a great deal of a
womans life before called to this position,
and l think they must have been more
sorry to give it up than l can be. You
see," with smile of charming frankness,
II have not had my life yet. 1t is all be-
fore me-the real life and the real home.
After my father died we had no settled
home, my mother and myself. l was at
| school, and then, soon after that came to
the white house. l can't tell you how much
desire a home of my own. Oak View has
given some idea of home life, but even
| there l have felt that it was only Tor short
time. Perhaps if this desire had not grown
| stronger and stronger l should fesl more
regret. AS it is, l am not saddened by the
thought of leaving the white house. One
thing, though, would make me very
sad--if any change should be made
in this beautiful house. 1t is to me,
with all its associations, the most
beautiful house in the world. No other
white house could ever be the same to the
people, l am sure. If there must be "
thing new let it be executive offices, but
never a new white house. 1t is not only
the be utY of the old house that | love, but
| have feeling of reverence for its past.
There has seemed in the busy life here 50
little time for me to think of its history
aud the people who have been here
before me. But sometimes, when / am
alone, and walk through the rooms, and
think of the men who have been Presidents
and Of their wives, the grand old house
gives me feeling of awe. Oh, l C uld not
bear to think of 1t as changed and different
after leave it. / want to think always of
it as it is now and as I know 1.-THE viii e
house Of the people and the Presidents
house" j. E. j.