The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-09
Walks RAIN OR SHINE.
Mrs. Cleveland Has Become a
Great Pedestrian.
How the Presidents Wife Keeps Her
Flesh-Her Sensible Walking
Costume.

Of Professionalism it would be hard to find
She always did walk more or less, but
since her return to the White House last
fall she has let very few samples of severe
weather deter her from her daily cOnstitu-
tional. That is what it really is-a con
stitutiOnal.
Evory little while it is said the president
Is gaining flesh.
Well, be does nothing to take of the sur
plus.
Although nobody says anything about
it, Mrs. Cleveland has b en- gaining flesh
too. She has also been working energetic
ally to keep it down.
Mrs. Cleveland DOESN'T ride q bicycle.
She doesn't skate or play golf. She
doesn't ride or hunt. In fact, she has
none of the fun of the outdoor life that is
open to women who don't live in an exec
utive mansion and have to keep up official
dignity
Besides the fun, she loses tho exercise
also.
For long time the only outing she had
was when, with the president, she drove
in state in the afternoon. Then if you
met them on 4 lonely road outside Wash
ington they seemed mute and solemn.
Mrs. Cleveland has changed strangely.
She has come to resemble the president.
Both faces wear precisely the same express
sion. They look like twins. Since this
was noticed they arc cited as proof of the
grow to resemble each other.
But Mrs. Cleveland has followed the
presidents example in another point. For
a long time she has been gaining flesh. 1t
was so gradual that 10 one recognized its
extent until Mrs Cleveland herself admit
ted that she weighed 200 pounds, lacking
a couple Of pounds.
With all this flesh on a large frame she
is an imposing figure. Few mon in Wash
ington public life are big enough to hold
their own beside her. Justice Gray, the
giant of the supreme court bench, is one
of those who are not dwarfed as her escort.
Her large frame is a great advantage.
What would seem fat on a woman of
smaller bone is only nassiveness in Mrs.
Cleveland. But this doesn't suit her at
all.
That is why she has taken to walking.
Rain or shine, no matter what is on for
the evening, Mrs. Cleveland is ready for
her constitutional.
Under ordinary circumstances any WON
an in Washington would be delighted to
be honOred with an invitation to keep Mrs.
Cleveland company for a couple Of hours
during the forenoon
Most of them did try it for awhile.
After a couple Of experiences all but the
strongest have been content to make q plea
of sickness.
If it is possible to secure a companion
Mrs. Cleveland finds one. The absence of
O06 uOe54 3 Keep 46E lLU4A blaJ ALdAilJ
She leaves the White House about 10
O'Clock. The hour varies There are no
newfangled walking dresses, nor tourists
clothes, nor divided or short skirts for her.
Her preference is always for a black
skirt. This winter she has usually worn
one OF the wide gored black skirts Of heavy
cheyiOt. Over this she has a short Jacket,
single breasted, with the buttons concealed
under the flap of the coat.
The sleeves of the coat are not abnor-
mally immense. A superb chinchilla cape
of the new winter fashion, very full and
ripply, covers her shoulders. Its high col
lar is turned up only in the most biting
weather.
1t is an immense cape and must have
been made to order to suit Mrs. Cleve-
lands shoulders.
On her head is a little black toque Of
velvet and astrakhan, with a couple OF
wings at tho sido and front. There is
nothing striking or especially fashionable
about the outfit. Tt is quiet and comfort
able and designed for ease also.
The watchmen il the White House
grounds note her passing By and admire
the way she steps off. Once in awhile, if
the weather is too bad for Ruth and
Esther to be out she turns and waves her
hand at the couple of little faces at an up
pa window.
That is great deal for Mrs. Cleveland
to do. Her sole desire usually is to escape
from the vicinity of the White House
without being recognized by tourists
Once outside of the grounds Mrs. Cleve-
land and her companion strike a good
gait. They swing OF down back of the
state department and into the public
grounds, over toward the monument,
though the agricultural grounds and
straight of toward the capitol itself.
Mrs. Cleveland has been seen number
Of times walking around the terrace at the
capitol, enjoying the view Of the city. The
same route is taken back to the White
House.
That is one of her popular walks, be-
cause the roads are good and smooth and
few people are encountered; also, if a tall
lady happens to be seen flying along at
speed almost equal to run, no one thinks
any thing about it over there
Mrs. Cleveland isn't walking for pure
fun, although she does manage to get en-
joyment out of it.
She walks well. Her height and length
Of limb give her a stride that her compan-
ions simply give up trying to initiate.
I'm going too fast for you, 2 she laughs.
81 will walk more slowly"
For few moments the companion
proudly manages to keep side by side with
Mrs. Cleveland. Then the step let's out
again; then just little more, and before
Mrs. Cleveland is conscious Of it she is on
ahead again, with her friend literally tag
ging on behind.
This is what happened to cabinet girl
who was asked to walk with the presi-
dents wife one morning. 1t began to rain
about the time to start.
Its too bad, - sighed the girl, ITO lose
our walk.
"But We AREN'T going to lose it, - was
the answer.
There vas nothing for the girl to do but
accept har fate. In a few moments they
started. Mrs. Cleveland scorned mack
intosh, and the girl had not worn hers.
The rain fell constantly faster. Mrs
/ Cleveland went sPrinting on.