The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-13
The Dignity of the Nation win Surely
be Maintained.


years and who will now represent her count
rywomen at the court of Spain, is lady of
historic ancestry. She was Miss Lizzie
Pitts Merrill, daughter Of Charles merrill a
native of Maine, who went to Michigan in
1S45 and amassed large fortune, which he
left to his only daughter. Mrs. Palmer's
grandfather on her fathers side was Gen.
James Merrill, one of the leading citizens Of
Portland He married Mary WinslOw di-
rect descendent of Kenelm Winslow, a
brother of Edward Winslow, and one of the
historic governors of the colony of Massachu-
setts. Mrs Palmer is = relative of James
Bowdoin, who was minister to Spain during
the first administration of Thomas jefferson
and was subsequently associated with John
Armstrong of New York as joint commission
er Tor the negotiation of a commercial con-
vention with Carlos IV, king Of Spain. His
service at the Spanish court extended from
1904 to 1907. Mrs. Lizzie Merrill and Mr..
Thomas Palmer were married in 1S45. MT.
Palmer was then manufacturer, but in the
course of life Of active business accumulat-
ed large fortune. His election to the Unit
ed States Senate In 1888 gave Washington a
delightful acquisition to its social life In Mrs.
Palmer. She shows a striking example to
her Huguenot ancestry through the Bowdoin
family. She has all the grace OF manners of
the French, with the unaffected attractions
and sincerity Of the American woman. No
one ever entered Washington social life who
SO quickly took a position of leadership and
whose departure Is so regretted.
MIR. Whitelaw Reid, who was Miss Eliza
beth Mills, was born In New York city. Her
father, Da lei Ogden Mills, a native Of
pioneers of 1s4S to California, where he
established the celebrated Gold Bank. He
was also widely interested in mining and
founded the Bank of California. He after
wards transferred his investment to New
York, where he erected the largest office
building in the metropolis. He then return
ed to his native place in Westchester county,
where he now makes his home. His life
has since been devoted to notable charities
in the city Of his residence. Mrs. Reid's
mother was Jean Templeton Cunningham
Her father, James Cunningham, was one of
the early successful shipbuilders of New
York, and the first to take steamboat to
the Pacific coast. His family residence still
stands at lrvington, a spacious granite
signs. Mrs. Reid was educated at first at
home in California and New York, by a
govsrness, and later at a fashionable board
ing school, and her finishing school years
were passed at Paris. In 1881 she became
the wife. Of the distinguished editorial sue
cessor of Horace Greeley. Mrs. Reid is very
attractive in appearance, She has light
brown hair, arranged in rich waves over a
iine forehead and brought together in
brown bu '5,Anos aras ae tne Dack. her
indicative ssof genial nature,
sometimes enforced with pair of glasses.
Her fine figure, of medium height, is always
tastefully attired in gowns of subdued tints,
which were well adapted 70 her blonde com
plexion. Mr.. and Mrs. Reid passed their
honeymoon in Europe, and as they are ia
miliar with French, the language of dipo-
macy. they win feel quite at home in the
French capital. They will be accompanied
by their two children, boy of seven and a
girl OF five. who have been under the tuition
OF a French governess and therefore speak
the language. 1t is Minister Reid's purpose
to secure fine hotel in the most fashionable
part OF the capital Here Mrs. Reid win en-
tertain in the same quiet manner which has
characterized her social hospitalites at
home. The American colony will have oc-
ccasion to feel proud of the new minister and
his wife. 8MM
The selection of Robert T. Lincoln to rep
resent the American government at the court
of St. James, the first court on the diplO-
matte list. is tribute to the memory of the
President who controlled public affairs at
time when the relations between the indie
pendent republic and the mother country
were more sensitive than at any other period
In the history of their International rela-
tions: The duties of the legation will be
largely social. The training of Mrs. Lin
coin IN the court life of the republic will
therefore make her representative type of
the refined manners of the daughters
Of America. Mrs. Lincoln was born
In Iowa City, but on account of her
fathers ia. long service In public
lie nearly all Of her youth up to
Washington. She received her finishing
education at one Of the fashionable schools
at New York. She is the daughter of James
Harlan, Senator of the United States from
1855 to 1865. He then resigned in order to
accept the appointment of Secretary of the
Interior. He held that position year, when
he was reelected to the Senate, from which
he retired in 1878 From 1882 to 1885 he was
presiding Judge of the court of commission
ers M q Alabama claims. II was during his
son met the daughter of the Senator from
Iowa, and in 1868, after he had returned to
the Senate the second time, Mr.. Lincoln and
Miss Harlan were married at the residence
of the bride in Washington. They immed-
ately established a home in Chicago. Upon
the succession of Garfield to the Presidency,
Mr.. Lincoln was chosen Secretary Of War.
which position he held through the adminis-
tratlon : ration of Garfield and Arthur. When Mr.;
with his family to Chicago, where they have
since made their residence The family of ]
the new minister to Ensiand consists of a 4
grown daughter, Mary and son, aged IL, |
and daughter, 1S, wbo VIII aceomyany their |
first visit to EaropI as she spent six months |
there in 1872. Ms. Lincoln is a lady of !
pleasing presep.e, OF excellent manners hut
The marriase of Ida Marie Honore to Col |
Fred Dent Grant, SON of the President Of the |
United Stgtes, at Chicago in the fall of 1874, |
was an Nent of national interest. Miss
iasa, nsHseSAs ss nssg nTscogniSed belle in Chicago
gave her prominent position in the Social
world very rarely attained by one so young.
She was born in Louisville, Ky. Her faith
er, III. III. Honore, and mother, Elizabeth
hal 10 alvx &C.,
lies. In 1855 they went to Chicago where
Mr.. HonOre made his name famous for his
enterprise and public spirit in the inter-oce-
anic metropolis. The buildings known as
Lloyd, Rawson and Honore blocks were
some Of the products of his energy. Col
and Mrs. Grant have an interesting family.
Julia, the eldest, was one of the very few
children born in the Executive Mansion, and
son. Ulysses s., was born. at Chicago on
July 4, 1881. Mrs. Grant will be very popu-
lar In diplomatic and court circles at Wen
ma. She is dark brunette. She has the
manners of lady accustomed to the CON
ventionalities and proprieties of polite So
ciety 1t will be her first yis-
to to the pleasures of her life abroad. MIS- Mrs
Grant is a superior musician. both vocal and
instrumental and also speaks German and
French with great fiuency. She also exhibits
remarkable taste in her toilets, which, with
her striking beauty, will add greatly to her
The person to whom the President largely
owes his nomination is John c. New. One
of the Prosidcnt's nrst acts was the consider
alton of his name for cabinet place or a
prominent mission. Circumstances pre-
vented the accomplishment of the former,
and Mr.. New declined the latter. Having
his choice he preferred the consul general
ship at London, post of liberal returns in
salary and perquisites, and less exciting in
its social REQUIREMENTS sSe.a It Aid Ii ccisl % ranR N
1esRsGta6S 1gasl u mission. Mrs. New is favorably
remembered in Washington during the
term Of her Husbands official career
as assistant secretary Of the
treasury She was Miss Elizabeth
McRae, daughter of John H. McRae Of
Cumberland county, Virginia. Her father,
native of that State, belonged to one Of the
Oldest families. He was planter and own
er of a large estate and one of che finest TO-
bacco plantations inVirginia. he has never
taken an active part in politics himself, al
though his father for many years served in
the Virginia legislature as Whig. Several
of his ancestors were also distinguished in ma