The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-25


House.
Mrs. Taylor was more familiar with
the frontier and army life than with
society, SO she delegated the duties OF
mistress of the White House to her
daughter Betty, wife of Col. Bliss.
Mrs. Bliss was a brilliant hostess and
the White House was very gay for a
year and half.
Then Gen. Taylor's death brought
a new mistress, Mrs. Fillmore. She
was in delicate health, but bravely
took part in all social formalities,
although her daughter relieved her at
times. Miss Fillmore was only
twenty years old, but most accom-
plished and successful as a hostess.
Both mother and daughter died in
Washington shortly after leaving the
White House.
Mrs. Pierce was in mourning for her
lost son when she entered the White
House, but she performed her social
duties with quiet dignity. She held
receptions in the Blue Room, and pre-
sided at all state dinners.
Under the administration of Harriet
Lane, the brilliant niece of the bachelor
President, Buchanan, the social
triumphs of the White House became
celebrated indeed. Most remarkable
of her successes was the entertainment
of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, at
the White House in 1860.
During the terrible years Of the war
Mrs. Lincoln had little opportunity to
show her ability as an entertainer, and
the death of her son Willie was
another terrible blow. Indeed there
was opportunity for but one very
brilliant affair, the New Years recep-
ton of 1865, and shortly after that the
nation was plunged into grief by the
assassination of the President.
Mrs. Johnson being an invalid when
her husband became President, the
duties OF hostess of the White House
were delegated to her eldest daughter,
Mrs. Patterson. She was a lady of
great executive ability, and under her
direction the mansion was refurnished
with elegance and taste. In this she
was assisted by her sister, Mrs. Slower,
and state dinners became feature of
their administration.
Mrs. Grant brought large family
of children with her to the White
House, and the debut and marriage of
her daughter Nellie, was an event of
Importance, being followed by the
introduction OF her daughterin law,
Mrs. Fred Grant. In addition to
many friends and kinspeople, Mrs.
Grant entertained the Duke of Edin-
burgh, the Grand Duke Alexis, of
Russia, King Kalakaua and the first
minister from China, while her closing
reception was especially brilliant.
Mrs. Hayes was a winsome and
cheerful hostess, who won success in
spite of her defiance of precedents in
abolishing wine from the White
House. For this she won the esteem
of temperance people everywhere, and
such was her talent as an entertainer
that even society did not miss the
accustomed stimulant to sociability.
President and Mrs. Hayes celebrated
their twenty-ffth wedding anniversary
and the coming Of age of their second
son in White House.
Hrs. Garfield's reign at the White
House was brief, for sickness seized he1
soon after her arrival, and the death
of the President seven months after his
Inauguration ended it entirely. Grand
ma Garfield, the aged mother of the
President, was remarkable parsonage
IN the executive mansion at this time
President Arthur installed his sister
Mrs. McElroy, as mistress Of the White
House, and she was assisted in al
social functions by Mrs. Frelinghuyser
and her daughters, accomplished
entertainers all of them.
The sister of President Cleveland
also assumed the duties of social heac
of the White House, but was sup
planted after year by the President
bride. The triumphs that were wol
by this lady are so fresh in the mind:
of the people as to need almost NJ
review. Her tact and ability wer
equal to her beauty, and her you'll
made more remarkable the socia
success she achieved. The ofhcia
entertainments during this periot
were perfect in form, with the ad
ditional grace of enjoyability.
Mrs. Harrison came to the Whit,
House fully qualified to become it
queen, her residence in Washington a
wife of Senator Harrison, having givel
her full knowledge of all the function
of official society, while her owl
charming personality had won for he
host of friends. She was Furthermore
ably assisted by her daughter, Mrs
Mckee, her daughterin-law Mrs
Russell Harrison, and her nieces, Mrs
Dimmick and Mrs. Parker, while hel
father DR.. John Scott, added dignity
and her grandchildren grace to thi:
remarkable family circle of four gener
atoms. Not only was Mrs. Harrison &
model entertainer, making all socia
events-public, private, and official
successful to the highest degree, bu1
she was practical housekeeper of rare
attainments. Under her administra.
ton the White House was repaired
and refurnished with all the economic
as we'll as aesthetic improvements o.
the age. Mrs. Harrison preserved the
home circle as we'll as entertaining hel
personal friends, and at the same time
attended most scrupuously to the
social duties pertaining to her official
rank. The great public too, as we'll
as official society, found in her a
friend as we'll as an entertainer. She
Won the hearts of all with whom she
came in contact opI r. &c a ,,,,tter ~