The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02

session. Sn6 Ii expected TO please eE-
erybody, for any offense she may give
Mrs. Cleveland, when she assumed
the position as a youthful bride, was
the target of national criticism, and
how well she bore the ordeal is mat
ter of history. But she was not the
youngest hostess the executive man
sion ever had. Mrs. Bliss, the daugh-
ter of President Taylor, was only sew
enteen years old when she occupied
that place. Mr.. Cleveland was the
second bachelor to be elected to the Of
flee of president Of the United States.
He lost no time in repairing his mat
rimonial deficiency. and meanwhile his
sister acted as first lady of the land
The sister Of Mr.. Arthur, who was the
fifth widower to occupy the White
house, likewise served as it's mistress.
His hospitality was made more famous
by the stag dinners he gave to
friends who could equally appreciate
a bon mot and stew Of terrapin:
The praises of the wife Of President
Hayes are still heard in all social cir
cles She was exceedingly popular
with both sexes and with all classes.
1t is claimed by ladies who may re-
specially be called veterans in soci-
ETY., that her hospitality and open
heartedness made the administration
of her husband a great social success.
She thoroughly enjoyed the nigh po-
stion in which she found herself. and
the White house was always full OF
guests while she governed it. She
kept open house, and was not too proud
to entertain humble relatives from
Ohio for weeks together. Though at
tackled for her prohibition of wine,
which ill-disposed people attributed to
stinginess, her dinners were always
superb. Mr.. Hayes was the only pres
OF
receptions, and his bill for the ''swar-
ry' on one occasion was $4,000 His
wife made calls in very democratic
fashion, and her evenings at home were
most agreeable and informal.
During Grants two terms, likewise,
everything about the executive man
sion was homelike and cheerful. The
marriage of Nellie Grant and Satoris
interested the public more intensely
than any other event that ever took
place there, possibly excepting the
wedding Of Mr.. Cleveland and Frances
Folsom.
Very few ladies who now participate in
cial side Of the administration which pre-
ceded the Civil war. President Buchanan
was the first bachelor president. Neverthe-
less, his was the gayest of administrations,
thanks to his beautiful niece. Harriet Lane.
She was a golden blonde, very clever and
accomplished-in short, the only great belle
Having been with her uncle while he was
minister at the court of St. James, she had
enjoyed every possible advantage Of training.
and her hand was sought by many men of
rank and intellectual gifts. Such accumulated
honors as she received were never before
heaped upon any young woman In the
ties were named after her. Under her
reign the social magnfcence Of former days
in the executive mansion was revived. She
entertained the Prince of Wales and his suite
when he visited this country. Indeed, il
may be said that her reign in the White
house has never been eclipsed, either by her
predecessors or her successors.
1t is thirty years since we have had in
the White house an invalid wife of presi-
dent at the beginning of an administration.
OF course, society people remember with re-
gret the illness of Mrs. Harrison and the
cerements Of mourning which enshrouded the
closed her social and earthly career
The period Of political excitement during
the Johnson administration caused the social
side OF that regime to be obscured Neverthe-
less. when Andrew johnson became president
not much was expected of the administration
in a social way. His wife invalid
and her only appearance in public at the
White house was at a party given to her
grandchildren. Nevertheless, the state din
ners of that regime princely scale
and have never been surpassed. The duties
of hostess were performed by Martha Patter-
son, wife of Senator Patterson of Tennessee.
She was a young woman of much common
sense and she did not hesitate to snub GER
tempted to patronize her. Every morning she
rose early. donned a calico dress and white
milk in the dairy. She found the executive
mansion a wreck inside, the furniture de-
stroyed by vandal rabble, curtains and car
pets cut and torn to pieces and the east
room swarming with vermin Congress ap-
propriated $50 600 for repairs, which she
personally expended, and the present good
condition of the establishment is due large
ly to her efforts
There was another administration which
lacked the social influence of the wife Of the
president. Mrs. Mckinley is an invalid Mrs.
Johnson was an invalid. The wife Of Presi-
dent Pierce in mourning because of the
death of her little boy, an only child, who
Mrs. Fillmore was woman of literary tastes.
She formed the beginning of the White house
library, and it was in the library room that
she used commonly to receive. her friends.
Franklin Pierce was a handsome man. and
one of the most popular of all the occupants
of the executive mansion. During the latter
part of his administration he entertained his
gentlemen friends in a manner so lavish that
only the Arthur administration could be COM
pared with the Pierce administration.
President Folks admin :stra tin was extreme
ly unsocial The president was hospitable
Southern gentleman; but his wife was a
Northern woman, who was always full Of
the only mistress of the executive man
sion who was her husbands private secretary.
having entire change Of his papers. He
used to rely upon her entirely for the regula-
ton Of his business affairs She was a cold
and formal Puritan, caring nothing for So
citey, and the people of Washington were
very glad, Of the relief when the charge of
the White house was taken from her by the
young daughter-in-law of President Tyler,
Mrs. Tyler being invalid.
Concerning the administration of Andrew
Jackson. it is recorded that the niece of the
deceased wife of the president was hostess
of the White house; and her husband. An
drew j. Donelson, was private secretary to-
the president. The beautiful daugh ter-n-law
of the president Mistress of the Hermit
tage." very homelike picture of Jackson
in the White house was drawn by personal
friend of Mrs. Donelson, who wrote:
THE large parlor is scantily furnished
Mrs. Donelson, Mrs. Andrew Jackson Jr,
and Mrs. Edward Livingston sewing
around blazing fire in the CRATE. Five or
six children are playing about regardless OF
documents and work baskets. At the further