The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
THE PRESIDENTS WIFE.
Outgoing Lady of the White House
VIII he Missed by Friends.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-No mistress OF
the White House was ever less spoiled by
her social elevation or retired from the his
toric mansion more universally regretted.
Mrs. Cleveland is so essentially a woman's
woman that nothing can ever destroy her
place in their estimation. Especially TO
young women she is the perfect ideal. and
the first is yet TO be found who, favored
with her acquaintance, does not adore her
Though occupying the very highest position
in the land, with her an old friend is an old
friend STILL and those of her mates who
were chums at school are no less chums
now. The fact that some of them have
gone out into the world TO earn their own
living has made no difference.
That Mrs. Cleveland favors woman's
work in all lines where woman's work is as
good mems has been frequently shown
The last Photographic group of the Cabinet
ladies, made the other day, pour prendre
congo, which will pass into history the
circle which existed at the close of the
Cleveland administration, was executed by
young lady. The picture is a beautiful
one. The ladies, with Mrs. Cleveland in the
center, are grouped in one corner of the art
lists attractive studio, in front of a large
open fireplace. surrounded by bric-a-bra
and art treasures Afterwards Mrs. Cleve-
land posed alone, for the first photographs
of herself made since 1884. She wore the
beautiful gown and jewels of the New
Years reception. and it is safe TO say that
the picture will be found in many house.
holds long after Mrs. Cleveland has retired
TO private life.
Again, in the decoration of the house at
Princeton, Mrs. Cleveland has shown her
generous interest in self-supporting women
having employed one to superntend the
decorations and furnishings of the future
home in Princeton. AS BELTS the old colon
ial mansion house. its interior has been
treated in the fashion of that period, and
all its adornments are characterized by ex-
ceeding simplicity. The residences sits well
back from the street. half hid in deep shade
and strawberries, with pillared portico in
front and Conservatives on either side, is
stately and homelike. The woodwork
throughout is painted white. and besides
the recent addition Of steam-heating ar
engagements, there are several deep. wide
hearths with brass andirons for glorious
wood fires. The Woodley furniture. which
is of the old colonial date. has already
been sent to Princeton. Mrs. Cleveland
has a passion for collecting antique furni-
/
the New York home, where Ruth was
born. she had a ''grandmother's bedroom -
fitted I'D with a hand-woven rag carpet
twisted white aid yellow. hit-and-miss
stripes and alb. a high-posted bedstead.
upon which her own Dutch ancestors may
have slept and other similar relics In her
parlor was antique spinnet like that at
Mount Vernon. upon which Nelly Gusts
used to ''perform'-for the od-fashioned
ladies played the piano." you know. 1t
is beautifully carved and inlaid. and al
though as musical instrument ii has
ceased to be more than sounding brass il
viii harmonic well with the general tone
of the colonial mansion at Princeton. An
other valuable bit OF antiquity, at present
In the White House, is queer little writ
ing deSk set up on slender legs; beside
which Mrs. Cleveland spends an hour or
two every day. She has no private secre-
tary. as she ought TO have. and her CORE
spondence. all of which she undertakes 70
reply TO herself. is something astonishing
She IS the first Presidents wife. at least
for many years. who has done this unaided
Mrs. harrison had the efficient assistance
OF her daughter and her daughter-in-la law
| ployed Mrs Hunt. the daughter of Gar
fieidSS secretary of the navy. Perhaps IL
was on this account that the last card
reception given at the White House SUI
fered-or rather number of people suf-
fered severe heart-bUrnings from a fancied
slight somehow large number of invi-
.
list never reached the people 10 whom they
should have gone-whether because the
clerks who addressed the envelopes lost a
sheet or skipped a page, viii never be
known. Among the omitted ones were sew
eral ladies of the diplomatic corps. wives
OF senators and representatives, and
! others prominent in society Of course.
they said nothing, until their absence was
commented On-tnen surprise and attempts
at explanation. However, the absentees'
places were rather more than filed by the
impertinent. nontnvited guests. who man
aged somehow TO evade the ushers and
crowd in without cards, and made them
selves quite at home in the White House
Just now the presidential family are en-
gagged in the unique task OF looking over
and disposlng OF four years accumulation
OF gifts. IL is labor which all Presidents
from Washington down have had TO per-
form before leaving the executive mansion
monials which their successors are bound
TO receive; but none CT them ever had quite
so stupendouS job on hand as Mr. and
Mrs. Cleveland. partly owing to the unex-
ampled popularity OF the latter, and also
no doubt, because the population of the
United States grows larger year by year
Since the ith OF March. 1898. seldom a day
! ages to the White House-gifts OF every
| imaginable sort from ali parts of the coun-
| try. and the great, roomy garnet OF the
mansion contains thousands upon thou
sands OF them. Nine-tenths OF them have
/ never been opened. and now Mrs Cleye-
/ land insists that they shall all be looked
| over and some wise disposition made OF
| with them is "a puzzle. Perhaps the most
numerous articles In the inventory are
sporting outntS--guns, game baskets.