Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-19
when Harrison came to Washington, and
she never lived in the White House.

4
General Tyler. the son of President
Tyler says that his father was married
twice, and ne was the first President who
was married while in the White House.
Cleveland being the second. Shortly before
President Tyler died he said to his son:
My son, have In many respects been a
fortunate man; btu in respect to no one
particular have greater cause to congratu-
late myself than in that since / reached
mans estate 1 have passed only two years
out of the marriage relation, for it has
protected and preserved my moral life
General Tyler describes his mother, the
Presidents first wife, as a dark-haired
was perfect mold of beauty. She was of
medium size. and looked much like the
Empress Josephine. save that her skin was
fairer: Tyler met her at ball given by
one of the wealthy Douglasses Of Virginia,
and fell in love at once. He was then
about nineteen years old. and 1t was per-
haps n year before he became engaged to
her
This courtship," says General Tyler
was much more formal than that of to-
day. He was seldom alone with her be-
fore her marriage. and he has told me that
ne never mustered up courage enough to
kiss his sweetheart's hand until three weeks
before their wedding, though he was en-
gagged to her for nearly five years. He
ing to her. and when he visited her at the
home Of Colonel Christian, her father. on
his large plantation. he was entertained in
the parlors. where the whole family were
assembled together. As was the custom
then among the better class of Virginian
families. the lover never thought of going
out riding In the same carriage with his
amanced, but rode along on horseback at
the side OF the carriage, which always con-
tatned one or more ladies in addition to
his sweetheart to add decorum to the oc-
casion.' President Tyler and his first wife
were OF nearly the same age, he being only
hnr anVfn
took place on his twenty-third birthday,
and their married life of twenty-nine years
was a most happy one.
President Tyler's second marriage took
place two years after the death of his first
wife. Tyler was fifty-four The bride was
girl hardly out of her teens. Her name
was Miss Julia Gardiner. and she was the
daughter of a wealthy gentleman of New
York. General Tyler says that in the sec
ond winter after his mothers death Mr..
Gardiner and his two daughters came to
Washington on their return from Europe
They visited the White House one Thurs
day evening, and he, as private secretary
took their cards, they being unknown to
MIN. and introduced them to the family
A snort time after they called upon his sis
ter who was then presiding at the White
House, and she returned their call discoy-
ering that the girls were very beautiful and
accomplished and also of excellent family
Ihey repeated their visit to the White
House during the season. returning to New
YORK at Its close. At the opening of the
following season they were back in Wash
lngton. and renewed their attentions to the
Presldent and his family. After time
President Tyler began to look with eyes
OF love at one of the Misses Gardiner. and
nnally proposed Il marriage with her to her
1ather and mother. His proposal was we'll
received, and, the young lady being willing
the marriage was determined upon 1t took
place In New York. General Tyler thinks
IL would have been an indicate thing to
nave had IT celebrated at the White House.
hyyod
bis second wife, and had a number of chill
dren by her.
Mrs. President Polk was a belle of Ten
nessee, and there is tradition in Tennes-
see that Polk was advised by General Jack
son TO marry her. Andrew Jackson a grea,
friend OF young Polk. thought his atten-
tons among the ladies were entirely too
proniscuous- He urged him to select one
OF the number of sWeethearts, SO the story
goes. telling him at the same time that
among them all he could not find a sWeeter.
woman or better wife than Sallie Child
ress. Polk took Jackson's advice, and was
accepted.
President Pierce met his wife while he
was studying law. Her maiden name was
Jane Means Appleton. She was the daugh-
ter of president of BowGoin College and
was married al the age of twenty-three
when Pierce was "a member of the lower
house of Congress. She was not we'll
enough while in the White House to make
much o. a social figure. She died in 1867;
six years before her husband. -,
Hsa- -
Fillmore was twice married and his first
WIFE was by far the. superior Her name.
was Abigall Powers. the youngest child of
Baptist clergyman of New York She
was tall, fneefooAsfng md wei. for1neK via,
fair completion and beautiful eyes. Her
pictures as lady CT the White House rep
resent her with luxuriant ,curls hanging
down the sides Of her face and a white lace
cap upon her head. She was, two years
older than Fillmore. g, s..- 81