The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-03-21
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Some Historical Reminiscence-The Drama
of Life Enacted There.

WASHING TON, March 1.-THE Presi-
dents House is like all other mansions
in America, from the humblest to the
greatest. Within It's portals the drama
of life has been enacted as in millions of
other homes of the land. 1t had been
built. however, nearly half century
before President brought his bride
home there. John Tyler, the fifteenth
President of the United States, was the
first who brought bride TO the White
House. He had been married in 1913.
and brought his wife, who had been Miss
Semple, with him to the presidential
mansion when, in Aril 1S41, he succeed
ed President Har ison, but she siokened
and died at the White House, and in 1874
he brought Miss Gardiner, of New York,
as his bride. He had married Der at her
home on Staten Island, New York.
President Cleveland was the only Presi-
dent who married his wife at the white
House. On the I'd of June, 1856, he was
married there to Miss Frances Folsom, of
Buffalo, N. Y.
Mrs Washington never entered the
White House as its mistress. Mrs. John
Adams came first 10 the line of eminent
ladies who breathed the Potomac malaria
within its precincts. Mr.. jefferson, Gen
eral Jackson, Mr.. Van Buren,, were wido-
wers, Mr. Buchanan an old bachelor, and
MIR. Cleveland a Young one. Mr.. Jet1er-
sons daughter did the honors tor him.
Mrs. A. Donelson and Mrs. Andrew
jackson the younger, were the leading
ladies Of General Jackson's household.
President Van Buren's daughters and
daughters-in-law made the White House
gay in his time, and Miss Harriet Lane,
who did the honors OF the White House
for her uncle, President Buchanan, is
still remen bered in Washington by
hosts Of friends whom she entertained.
Miss Elizabeth Cleveland presided over
her brothers household at the Executive
Mansion until Miss Frances Folsom be-
came the President bride, and the only
lady who was ever married to a Presl
dent in the White House. The wives OF
all of other Presidents have enjoyed the
triumphs and troubles which attend
what is called the first lady of the land,
nobody having discovered the second
lady. 1t is said that General Jackson's
wife died OF excitement at his election to
the preidency, and she never entered the
White House. On the other hand, Mrs.
Willard Fillmore, having spent nearly
three years as the honored lady of the
White House, died few days after she
left it.
The first funeral that ever came from
the White House portals was that OF
Gen. VIM. Henry Harrison, who served
his country one month al President. The
Presidents mansion witnessed the funer-
ais OF Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State
and Thomas w. Gilmer, Secretary of the
Navy, both killed by tho explosion of a
great gun on the United States steamer
Princeton, in 1874. Gen. Zachary Tay
lor, President of the United States, was
also buried from the White House.
President Lincoln's funeral came forth
from the same portals. President Gar
field wasbrought forth on mems shout
ders to die at Elberon by the seaside,
and later the victims of the burning Of the
mansion of Secretary Tracy were laid IN
state in the East Room and their funeral
took place from the Presidents House.