Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-22
AS WIFE AND MOTHER.
TChicago Times-Herald.i

LChicago Times erald.l
American women look upon Mrs.
Grover Cleveland as n perfect type of
the womanhood which our civilization
has recently begun to develop. She is
for youth, for middle age. old age. She
is for the merry-hearted and for the
weary footed. She always seems to
have the ready power of knowing what
to do and how to do 1t.
The writer once had the honor of
travelling twenty miles in close COM
paionship with Mrs. Cleveland. 1t was
at an excursion on the steamer Baton
Rouge down the Mississippi river in
October, 1887. one of her greatest
talents Is tact. and If success depends
upon grasping the opportunity, She
never lost one. During the trip down
the river an old gentleman. who seemed
quite diiiident, was most anxious to be
presented to the first lady in the
land" Accidentally Mrs. Cleveland
heard of II, and Immediately she ac-
coded to his request. In the course of
conversation 1t was learned that Mrs
Cleveland had known nephew of his
in the East. with nice perception of
the old mans weakness for this
nephew, she spoke of his talents and
his versatile pen. She drew her new
acquaintance out with kindly tact and
happy queries until he was astonished
at his own brilliancy. The consequence
home in the wilds of central Missuori
perfectly happy, praislng the whole
Democratic administration, and asert-
ing that there never had such execu-
tive ability been shown for ages past.
while he insisted Mrs. Cleveland was
the youngest and cleverest woman that
ever entered the White House--not ex-
cepting Dolly Madison.
Mrs. Cleveland Is of about medium
| heigh., but of commanding appear
ance. She was then quite slight, and
very graceful. Her chief charm was
| and Is, her eNquisitely modulated voice
and her thorough mastery of the old
| fashioned art Of conversation.
| When the responsibilities of the White
| House devolved upon her she was very
| young. Her natural sweetness of dis
| position and great idea OF stern duty
only the respect. the admiration and
the love of our own people but of
the whole civilized world. When the
dignity of motherhood came to her she
did not, as many young mothers do,
lose her identity in her children. She
neglected none of her social duties, but,
always cheerful, patient and gracious,
received her friends with u bow and
a smile. SO American women have
come to look upon Mrs. Cleveland as
an ideal mother, alike mindful of what
| she owes to society and ever careful of
the welfare of her little ones.
| She is now the mother of four chill
| dren. Ruth, the eldest, was born in
New York on October 8, 1891. She
| promises to be quite linguist; already
the little girl speaks German as well rs
| English. The second child, Esther
discovered America at the White
House in October, 1898, during Presi-
| dent Cleveland's second administration
She was the first child ever born there
Marian, the third little girl, was born
/ at ral tn, TttI.. I'D &c
consequently now more than two years
old. Now comes Richard f., with his
blue eyes and silky hair, and lungs that
tell us Hes all right"
Mrs. Cleveland Is n firm believer ir
the Froehel system Of education. She
is something of n disciplinarian, ant
maintained n kindergarten at the
White House, under the charge of Miss
Mary Willard, where the children, In
company with few others, for emula-
TONS sake. were taught daily. with
regard to the dress of her little girls
Mrs. Cleveland has shown as much
common sense as in other things
Their clothing is simple. No ricl
laces, nothing ostentatious, Is allowed
They wear sweet, simple little frocks
in which they can play and romp
These children are indeed fortunate II
having so gentle and true a mother
Were 1t possible for them to grow III
and not he an honor to themselves
and their country, surely 1t will not b,
the fault OF the home training, TIL,
home influence or the home environ
ment.