The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
THE WHITE HOUSE CHILDREN.
The Little Cleveland Girls Are Bright
and Interesting.
Philadelphia Press.
A. a,,o~x,hoa- l.


AS everybody Is aware. the Presidents
family consists of three daughters, but. as
Miss Marion is as yet hardly nine months
old, her education has not progressed beyond
the cutting of few teeth and the artcua-
ton OF one two infantile syllables the sig
MITIGATION of which is known only to nurses
and mothers. She will be one year old the
7th of next August, at which. date. IL will be
remembered, she was born last year at Gray
Gables.
In comparison with her, Miss Ruth is quite
grown up young lady. She was born Oct.
3. 1881, at No. GIG Madison avenue, New York
years of age. She is the one member Of the
family who enjoys the distinction of having
been born at the White House. an event
which occurred on Sept 3, 1898.
When the little Clevelands begin to cele-
l pirate their birthdays with parties and the
September and October, will be a busy time
OF year for some members of the family.
The little girls are naturally bright, and
a lack Of intelligence in Baby Ruth" as
she used to be called are emphatically de-
MED by her teachers, as well as by those who
ought to know among the friends Of the
Perhaps the best description of the chill
dren can be gathered from glimpse at their
Fraulein Bathman, of Boston. who, by the
way. is not over twenty-one, and extremely
pretty and charming. She met Mrs Cleve-
land at Gray Gables nine years ago, when
the latter went there as bride. Later, Frau
lein Bathman left the City OF Beans to take
charge OF the White House kindergarten.
The school work begins at 9 in the morn
ing. The Cabinet children and few others
such as those of Mrs Mollie Garfield Brown
and Chief Justice Fuller. are adnlitted-ten
or twelve IN ALL
Fraulein Bathman, 1t should be stated here.
is native German, who came to this coun-
try when but ten years of age, and has
grown up In kindergarten work under her
mothers teaching, SO that she is thoroughly
qualified for her task. She is assisted in the
ND on hv ..,f -
German nurse.
Miss Ruth. though only a little more than
four years old mas the 1,n mind OF child Of
years OF age. She is very lively, and never
still minute. Inasmuch as the tots have
had a German nurse for four years, Miss
Ruth can talk the language of the father
land in 8 way that would make a Hoch
Deutscher jump for JOY. Besides this. she
knows by heart the Twenty-third psalm in
English.
All the children have sweet dispositions.
but not without a saving amount of temper
Ruth takes after her mother. She is the most
easily managed, but quick, lively and mis-
chievous.
Baby Marion is going to be Mrs. Cleveland
right over. She is said to be one of the best
babies ever born, and is developing into a
very beautiful little girl Here is the de-
scription furnished me by a friend OF the
family: Miss Marion is really a beauty
and Is the flower Of the family. She has
lovely pink and white complexion, and great
deep blue eyes: she is growing every day
Ike her mamma
The two older children have their meals
with their nurse, and both bow their little
heads and repeat together a brief German
grace Then their heads bob up again in
the cutest way imaginable, presenting a
most charming picture.
The wife of a Senator called at the White
House the other day, and this is the story
she tells me: The Cleveland children mace
their courtesies. but they are retiring with
strangers. A funny thing happened while we
were in the sitting room Miss Ruth picked
up a copy of the last number OF Puck Then
seeing the picture of the presidential chairs
taking wings. exclaimed. as she put her four
year-old finger it,: oh. what a funny
chair" Then discovering the letters c. c.
but not recognizing them as standing for
papa: oh. what q funny mani The com
pany laughed heartily. but nothing more
| was said"
About the 1st OF June the Presidents fam
lily will go TO Gray Gables again. So far as
| can be learned, there are no plans beyond
| this, which leads many OF their immediate
| friends 70 think there Is nothing In the third
l term taik-at least, so far as the Clevelands
themselves are concerned.
| Miss Esther Is said to be the very image
| Of her father. in looks as well as disposition
| strong Of VIII, firm and determined. II she
| Is shat up In he closet for disobedIepce she
| never makes fuss. She Should have been 4
| son, and, indeed was actually 50 announced
BY mistake.