The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-11
Con6ratulatory Messages Pour into
the White House.
MOTHER AND CHILD DOING WELL
The New Arrival Is the First Child Born
to . President I'm the Executive Man
sion--only Two Of the Other Children
Born within Its Walls Now Living.

congratulation. continue to pour In upon
the President and Mrs. Cleveland because
of the sister to Baby Ruth. A large num-
Der were received Saturday, and to-day
messages have come In by the score.
The Sabbath was quiet one at the
White House. A number Of Senators and
Representatives called to congratulate the
President Several members Of foreign
legations were also among the callers
Mr.. Cleveland took short walk in the
morning Mrs. Cleveland and her second
daughter are doing nicely.
The event of Saturday gives distin-
guished little sister to the Baby Ruth
whose advent into this world a little less
than two years ago made the talk Of ma
ton.
Baby Ruth was born Oct. 8, 1891, six
minutes after midnight, the child OF an
ex-President, at the private residence, 6l6
Madison avenue, New York. Yet no child
of king, born in royal palace. was ever
hailed with louder acclaim or more wide
spread expressions Of felicitation for the
proud parents.
The little sister begins her life in the
great White House, a fact which Is In it
self high distinction, and her father Is
the actual President OF the greatest nation
on earth. Yet the national homage
offered to her cannot be more pronounced
than that extended to the elder child Of
the Cleveland household.
Baby Ruth weighed eight pounds at
birth. Her name was decided upon when
she was week old. She owes her sweet,
old fashioned name to Mrs. Clevelands
maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Har.
mour.
Ruth Cleveland was baptized at the Cleve-
land cottage, Lakewood, n. j., January,
1902. Since then her name has been affec-
tionately bestowed upon more Sunshine
Leagues and similar organizations than
any record has kept track OF. She has
been vertable sunbeam to the world,
and the best blessing anybody can ask tor
the little sister just born is that she may
be az bright and happy and useful star,
in the Armament Of babyhood az the little
one she follows.
Curiosity is no longer centered on Con-
gress, but Is fixed upon the inmates, and
especially the new arrival at the Executive
Mansion.
1t is generally admitted here that Baby
Ruth, who Is New Yorker, has now
serious rival In her White House sister.
who will enjoy through her life the rare
distinction of having seen the light for the
first time within historic walls
1t was the desire OF both President and
Mrs. Cleveland to have the interesting
event take place here, which induced the
family to remove from Buzzard's Bay when
they did, as there was no particular reason
other than this TO call Mr.. Cleveland back
to Washington at the time.
Shortly after his return the President
olx po1 h. al Iofi inro
but these are now in order.
This is the first child born to q President
In the White House, though there have
been other births In the Executive Man
sion. or the babies who first saw the light
of day in the old house. only two were
living, until this happy event added an
other. One is Mrs. Mary Emily Donelson-
Wilcox, daughter Of Andrew Donelson,
nephew Of President Jackson and the pri-
vate secretary and confidential adviser Of
sold Hickory" during his entire official
life, and the other is Julia Dent Grant,
the first child born TO Colonel and Mrs.
Fred Grant, and now a young lady just
past sweet l8. Mr. and Mrs. Donelson
had two other children born in the White
House, who, with a grandchild of Presi-
dent jefferson and another of President
Tyler, complete the list.
OF christening tetes in the old mansion
Mrs. Wilcox has said of the event in which
she took the most important part.
"Both Houses were invited, and for q
few minutes l was of more importance
than any of the great diplomats, jursts or
statesmen at the capital Over near the
big window of the east room the ceremony
was performed Uncle jackson holding me
in his arms and Martin Van Buren, stand
ing as godfather, while Miss Cora Living
ston, daughter of the Secretary of State. and
the reigning belle and beauty of that ad
ministration, took upon herself the respon-
soilities of godmother Twas said to have
behaved very well during the ceremony"
When Miss Julia Dent Grant was chris
tened, the. company invited by President
and Mrs Grant assembled in the blue
room, where the ceremony occurred. The
last christening TO take place in the blue
room was during the first part of Presidep:
Harrison's term. when his granddaughter,
Mary Lodge Mckee, was baptized with
water from the river Jordan, and the
clergyman officiating was the baby's grand
father, the venerable DR.. Scott. The pres
ence of four generations Of the family
made notable gathering, and one prob
altx, ,avav bof ofnro oaap at ha Whita HouQa