The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-22
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Some Historical "reminiscences = Tn
Drama of Life Enacted There.

Washington Correspondence Baltimore Sun.
The presidents house is like all the
other mansions in America, from the
humblest to the greatest. Within Its
portals the drama of life has been enact
ed as in the millions of other homes in
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
a bride to the White House. He had
been married in 1918, and brought his
wife, who had been Miss Semple, with
him to the presidential mansion when,
in April. 1871, he succeeded President
Harrison, but she sickened and died at
the White House. and in 1874 he brought
Miss Gardiner. of New York, as his
bride. He had married her at her home,
on Staten Island, New York. President
Cleveland was the only president that
married his wife at the White House
On the Cd of June, 1885, 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 in the line OF eminent
ladies who breathed the Potomac malaria
within its precincts. Mr.. Jefferson, Gen.
Jackson, Mr.. Van Buren, were widowers,
Mr. Buchanan an old bachelor, and MIR.
Cleveland a young one. Mr.. Jetfersons
daughter did the honors for him. Mrs.
A. j. Donelson and Mrs. Andrew Jack
son the younger were the leading ladies
of Gen. Jackson's household. President
Van Buren's daughters and daughter-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 re-
membered 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-
come the presidents bride, and the only
lady who was ever married to preSi
dent in the White House. The wives of
all the other presidents have enjoyed the
triumphs and troubles which at
tend what is called the ''first
lady of the land" nobody hav-
ing discovered the second lady.
1t is said that Gen. Jackson's wife died
Of excitement at his election to the presi-
dency, 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. William Henry Harrison, who
served his country one month as presi
dent The presidents mansion witnessed
the funerals of Abel p. Usher, secretary
of state, and Thomas W. Gilmer, secre-
tary of the navy, both killed by the ex
plo5ion of great gun on the United
States steamer Princeton, in 1914. Gen.
Zachary Taylor, president of the United
States, was also buried from the White !
House. President Lincoln's funeral |
came forth from the same portals. Pres |
dent Garfield was brought forth on |
mems shoulders to die at Elberon by the |
seaside, and later the victims of the burn |
ing of the mansion of Secretary Tracy |
were laid in state in the east room, and /
heir funerals took place from the presi
Tents house.