The age-herald., 1899-09-15
WHITE HOUSE BABIES,
 THREE ONLY LIVING
From the Washington Post.

1 gene, of Russia, the reading public is in-
 formed that the bride-to-be was born in
 the white house. but few persons aware
 that this distinction is shared by only two l other living persons.
 To have entered the world in the execu-
 tive mansion and been for the earliest days
 or ones existence the most important baby
 in land of sixty millions of people. is. on | the other hand, an experience so unusual
 as 10 be almost unique It makes the birth 1 of Prince Csntacuzenes bride one of the | interesting events in the history of the
 nation.
 Miss Grant, Nglo is the daughter Of Col | onel and Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant. was
 born during the closing days of her grand l fathers second term. Her mother Miss 1 Honore of Chicago. and came to Washing | ton bride when the social life of the ad- | ministra ton was al it's height. The presI- dent and Mrs. Grant mad become grand | parents several years before this evene. but of their fairly numerous descendants only this one little girl made her first ap- peafance in the historic old mansion which /! has been tne home of presidents for nlne-
 sy-nine years.
 The stork that brought this little bundle 1 of possibilities to the white house must have been accompanied by a Whole flock i of winged harbingers of prosperity and 1 happiness, for the two and twenty years of
 life Julia Grant has seen have ioeen filled
 10 oSerhowing win all that the world ! ilolds best. Notwithstanding the admira-
 ton of two continents. she is about to
 take leave of her girlhood quite unspoiled
 and go to the far-away home of her hus- l band beautiful type and brilliant exam
 pie of American womauhood.
 Miss Grants companions in the category of white house babies are James Madison 1 Randolph. of Martha Jefferson Ram
 dolph, born during the second term of his
 maternal grandfather; Mary Louise Ad- i ans, born in 1929, the daughter of John 1 Quincy Adams. Jr.. and granddaughter of President John Quincy Adams; the three 1 children of Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jack
 son Donelson, born during the Jackson ad-
 ministration; two grandchildren of Presl- | dent Tyler; daughter to Mir. and Mrs.
 Robert Tyler, Jr, in 1S42, and a son to Mr.
 and Mrs. Henry Lightfoot Jones. 1S4S | Last but most important of all, inas- | much she was the first child ever born | to a president during his term of office Esther Cleveland, born September g. 1895. f This last white house baby is the second | child of the former President and Mrs.
 Cleveland. and one of the three little girls who made the white house ring with child | ish laughter and occasionally with shrieks
 of s less attractive quality throughout the | last administration. The eldest sister, | Ruth was born at the New York residence | of her distinguished parents in the inter- | val of the Harrison administration but was
 very important member of the family at ! the time of her fathers second inaugural Marion Cleveland might have shared her l sister Esthers honors in regard to the | place of her birth as she also entered this
 busy world during the time her father was chief executive. but her advent took place at Gray Gables, during the July days Of
 1885.
 The future of the Cleveland children will be watched with interest by the American people, who, regardless of place or party have accepted their beautiful young mother as the ideal first lady of the land. When her children are old women history will tell of her charm and virtues as wife and mother, official hostess and gracious guest, who, like Dolly Madison of old was law unto her successors
 Mrs. Mary Emily Donelson Wilcox of this city, is the sole living representative of her generation of white house babies and is very interesting old lady who enjoys a wide popularity among the older order oi l Washington society.
 Mrs. Wilcox is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs Andrew Jackson Donelson, he, mother being the niece and adopted daugsh. ter of General Jackson and the mistress of
 the white house throughout all his admin istration. Colonel Donelson was the presi- dents nephew and private secretary. Three of his four children were born in the white house, and always regarded as a part of the executives family. When the cornerstone of the treasury was laid, President Jackson asked to sup ply some memento in addition to the news papers of the day and the coin of the realm usual such occasions. He com- piled by clipping a sunny strand of hair from the head of baby Mary Donelson. with the remark that that was something
 precious in his eyes,.
 Years later, when this baby girl had passed through many stages of life, and
 seen the nation shaken to it's center by a war that reduced her from affuence to poverty, she came back to Washington a
 widow, with children dependent upon her for even more than mothers care, and accepted a clerkship in the department
 whose cornerstone held her lock of baby
 hair.
 Mrs Wilcox was the new woman of her
 day, although sine never wore a golf skirt or joined a cluo. Without any reference
 to her former greatness. she proceeded to earn her salary, and continued in office un-
 til relieved of her duty as oreadwinner by her daughter, Miss Mary Wilcox, now of
 the pension office who is her mothers
 main support and devoted companion. They have a pleasant, hospitable home on Corcoran street. just off New Hampshire
 avenue, and are. thoroughly typical of the
 gentle women of their respective genera
 tions.
 Mary Louise Adams, the first girl born in the white house, seems to have gone
 through life in the same happy strain with