Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
FAMOUSFIRST LADIES
The Mistresses of the Executive Man
sion During the Past Century.
MRS. WASHINGTON DIDN'T DANCE,
But Stayed at Home While George Was
Inaugurated as President.
MRS. TAYLOR'S HABIT OF SMOKING


country has Witnessed is over. Inaugura-
tion day, except in few cases, has always
been an occasion of great display and cere-
mony. But what would the country say
to-day if Mrs. Harrison had remained in
Indianapolis instead of accompanying her
husband to Washington?
Had she done this she would have only
been following in the footsteps of an Illus
trious predecessor, who was none otherthan
the first lady of the land and the wife of the
father of his country. George Washington
was inaugurated in New York, and a week
later held reception which the elite of the
city attended, and though beauty and gayety
were there in full force Martha was not.
She didn't like balls, and as there was
dancing on this occasion this may have been
her reason for remaining away. Mrs.
Washington
REMAINED AT MOUNT VERNON
until May 17-nearly three weeks after the
Inauguration, then left home in her own
carriage, accompanied by her grandchil-
dren, Eleanor Gusts and George Washing
ton P. Custis, with a small equestrian
escort. She was entertained at Philadelphia
by Robert Morris, and at Elizabethtown by
Governor William Livingston and his
daughters. Here she was met by her hus-
band in splendid barge, and she landed in
New York under a salute of 13 guns. Mrs.
Washington held the first of her levees on
the 29th of May, month after the inaugu-
ration, and they were continued every Fri
oay evening from till 10.
The wife of John Adams was a lady of
higher social position than her husband at
the time of their marriage in 1854. Her
maiden name was Abigail Smith, and she
was social favorite in the town where she
was born and reared. There is no record of
an inaugural ball either in Adams or JEFF
ferson's time.
DAsHING DOLLY MADISON.
Jefferson's wife, at the time he became
President, had been dead 10 years, yet the
White House was not without its attrac-
tions of female beauty. Mrs. Madison and
the Secretary of State stayed with the Presi-
dent while his own house was getting ready.
Jefferson's daughter, Martha Randolph,
mother of Mrs. Merkleham, recently de-
ceased, Of this city, lent a charm to the
beauty circle. Jefferson's other daughter
visited the White House only once. She
had married Mr.. Epps, of Virginia, who
was afterward Senator. She died during
Jefferson's administration.
The first Inauguration of James Madison
took place on the 4th of March, 1909 His
wife, Dolly Madison, had peen favorite
figure at the White House in Jefferson's
grand affair. Mrs. Madison wore gorgeous
robe of buff velvet. 1t is said that she
moved and looked like queen. She wore
full strings of pearls upon her neck and
arms, and on her head was Paris turban,
set with bird of paradise plumes. She wore
shoekingly low gowns. She dressed to
please other people. Mrs. Madison was ofa
sunny nature, and her turban was always
conspicuous. She painted and patched and
powdered.
Mrs. Monroe was an elegant and accom-
plished woman. She was Miss Elizabeth
Kortright, a native of New York City. She
and her sister were bellies during the Revo-
lutionary war, and were courted by both
American and British officers, and Eliza
beth was ridiculed for not making a better
match, but this was before her husband be-
came President.
FIRST MISTRESS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
When John Quincy Adams was inaugu-
rated, March 4, 1925, his wife was in such
delicate health that punch bowl, set out
for his private friends, was the chief attrac-
ton of Inauguration evening. Mrs. Adams
ministration of President Monroe, while
her husband was Monroe's Secretary of
State. 1t was gorgeous affair. Her dress
was of steel llama and her throat and arms
were covered with glittering cut steel orna-
ments. Her kid gloves, reaching to the
elbow, were so fine that they were imported
in the she'll of an English walnut. Her
hair was rolled high and decked with
ostrich feathers. General jackson was
there, devoted beau, in blue coat, brass
buttons and pumps. 1t is said that Web
ster and Calhoun INDUCED in the dance
upon this occasion. Mrs. Adams was the
first lady who resided at the White House.
General Jackson felt a gloom, which
spread over society, on the death of his wife,
which was not suggestive of balls and
gayety; but there was some gay company in
and around the White House.
For some months after President Van
Buren took possession of the Executive Man
sion the White House was without mis-
tress. Mrs. Van Buren, had been dead many
years, but in November, 1887, Colonel
Abram Van Buren, the Presidents son and
Private Secretary, married Angelica Sim
gleton, of South Carolina, who had spent
the previous winter in Washington in the
family of her relative, Senator Preston.
She was lady of great beauty of face and
charm of manner, and by her vivacity and
accomplishments was admirably fitted to
shine in the position her marriage gave her.
IN TYLER's TIME.
At the time William Henry Harrison
was inaugurated Mrs. Harrison, his aged
wife, was in feeble health when he left his
home at North Bend for Washington, and
she was destined never to be actively the
mistress of the White House. On the 4th
of April, just one month from his inaugu-
ration, President Harrison died. When
Tyler succeeded to the Office he made the
White House the center of social gayety.
Miss Letitia Christian Tyler, the Presidents |
first wife, was still living, but the state of |
her health required that she should delegate |
her semi-off1cial duties to some men,
ber of her family. These finally de-
volved upon Mrs. Robert Tyler,
who was daughter OF Cooper, the |
Virginia Cooper Tyler acted as Mrs. Tyler's |
deputy some of the most noteworthy reeep- !
tions were given that ever took place in the |
White House. One of the early social |
events of the Tyler administration was the |
children's s fancy dress ball that President |
Tyler gave In honor of the birthday of his |
eldest granddaughter. Dressed as fairy, |
with gossamer wings, wearing a diamond |
star on her forehead and holding silver
wand she welcomed her guests to fairy-land. |
The Presidents third daughter was married |
in the White House on the last day of JAN
uary, 1S42, the wedding being, of course,
brilliant one.
Mrs. Tyler died September 10, 1912. Two
years later. on the 26th of June, 1874, Presi-
dent Tyler married Miss Julia Gardiner /
at the Church of the Ascension in New
York. Mrs. Julia Gardiner Tyler was at I
once installed "a mistress of the White |