The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-30

tress ofths White House. Made 30 Many
Friends, Lives Quietly at Winchester
Va.-NeWspspsTs Of Her DaT bid Not
Pay Much Attention 20 Social Fuuetinos.
u is A somewhat curious fact that al
though there are but two living oX-Fresi-
dents. there are living five women who
have been mistre-ses OF the Presidents
house, as the Executive Mansion Nds cali
IL IN the earlier days. Doubtless this does
not argue that the wives Of public men
have greater longevity than their hus-
bands, but that the mi-tresses OF tie
White House have probably been mIch
younger in years than the masters. THIS
is not so truly The fact in regard 20 Mrs.
Grant aud Mrs. Garfield. but it b emf
neuty SO with Mrs. Cleveland. who is
less than half the age o. the eZ-Presi-
-euJ. and ln relation 20 the remaining
h,0. one was the daughter Ol President
sld The other niece
on account 0f her long and almost con-
Euuous residence Ia Washington. Mrs.
sarriet Lane Johnson. who as Harriet
tzue. niece OF James buchanan. queened
tllt " sltA1 HOUSE AAtIl4 -s-eAt N- y -a-'if
30 March 3, 1861, IS well known 10 the pub
be. Mrs. Johnson Is yet a charming and
vivscioUs woman, whose entertainments
periodically delight many Washington
fans her home being one OF the most
sought after in the city.
-Four years, however. previous % the de-
but OF Miss Harriet Lane. Hetty Taylor,
daughter OF Gen. Zachary Taylor had
the social responsibilities of the FIRST lady
Of the land" put upon her on account Of
the iIl-heaIth OF her mother. Hetty Tay-
l0r. now Mrs. Dandridge. resides at Win
chester. in the beautiful valley OF the
Shenandoah, rarely coming TO Washing
ton, and when here has not gone into So
ciety at all. Her life has been so quiet
that she has been supposed 10 have passed
away, and numerous articles which have
appeared in periodicals Of late years in
regard 10 ladies OF the White House have
so spoken OF Mrs. cambridge, who is yet
in splendid health. her nearly three score
and ten years showing for no more than
fifty.
Mrs. Dandridge came 10 the White
House a bride, having married Col. Bliss,
who was q gallant officer OF her fathers
STAFF during the Mexican War, but short
tine previous TO the election Of Gen. Tay-
finest accomplishments and endeared her
self 10 the Washington society of that
time as few ladies Of the White House
have done in their regime. Had not her
fathers term OF Office been cut short
suddenly by death, Betty Taylor would
doubtless have been celebrated in
the tales Of the old mansion with an af-
feCtion hardly less than that bestowed so
lavishly upon Dolly Madison. Even with
her present weight OF years she is A very
handsome woman, with all the grace Of
the Southern belle of other days Not a
wrinkle has intruded into her youthful
complexion. Her voice Is clear and musi-
cal, and at the least shadow OF smile
bewitching dimple chases in and out of
her cheek. which adds to her youthful ap-
pearance and 10 the charm of her conVer-
sation and presence.
Widowed and Orphaned.
The death Of her husband, Col. Bliss.
followed hard upon that of her father,
and rarely, indeed, in the life OF a lady
OF the White House has so great a change
come within so little time. On the 9TH of
July, lNj0, President Taylor was taken
III. on the night of the following Tuesday
he died, after having had but little
more than d year of the Presidency. On
Wednesday Vice President Fillmore took
the oath and assumed the duties of Presi-
dent, and on Saturday the bereaved fam
lily left the White House forever The
death Of Col Bliss soon followed, and the
brilliant young mistress Of the old man
sion was both widowed and orphaned
Years after. and just previous to the civil
war, Mrs Bliss married Mr. cambridge
a member OF one OF the famous old fami-
lies OF Virginia, who in turn passed away
a dozen years ago.
one OF the sisters of Mrs cambridge IS
Mrs. jefferson Davis. A brother. Gen
Dick Taylor, one of the most dashing and
reckless OF the officers of the Confederacy.
IS well remembered in Washington as A
brilliant and witty conversationalist and
inimitable raconteur. His estate in LOU
isiana, which he inherited from his faith
er, was confiscated during the war. but
was restored TO him. in an awfully ruined
condition, because he was his fathers
son. Nearly all of the relics Of the Mexi-
can War which came into the possession
or Gen. Taylor were lost in the destruc-
tion Of the mansion house in Louisiana,
and Mrs. cambridge Possesses but a few,
which were given her by her mother
Among these is a sash and a pair of
NP'-o4tNSSS "oA4- bg 4ltL 1diutE III Inc
Mexican War. and a sash which has
very tragic history. it being the one worn
by Braddock on the fatal field where he
was killed and in which he was carried
from the spot. 1t was woven for Brad
dock by British friends. and not only
bears his initials inwOven, but also drops
Of the blood OF the reckless warrior In
this long, broad, and beautiful product
OF the loom Washington and Capt Stuart
OF the Virginia Guards. carried Brad
dock from the fatal field. The sash re-
mained in the possession OF a Virginia
family for long years and passed with
branch OF this family TO New Orleans
The owner. full OF enthusiasm for the
Mexican hero. had the sash presented 10
Taylor after the final victories as the
greatest hero OF the eventful conflict.
Hearing of this former beautiful and
brilliant mistress Of the White House. one
naturally turns 10 the newspapers Of the
day for notes or the social functions OF
the first lady OF the land" Although
this is but fifty years gene, one is not
compelled TO take more than a passing
glance at the public prints TO discover
that the society writer was not born
In that period. Evidently IL was thought
TO be In bad taste 10 mention the name
Of lady in the newsps pers, even though
her position and functions were semi
official
Brief Newspaper Notices.
The National Intelligencer was IA
nous paper OF the day, doubtless the su-
perior OF all contemporaries ia the collec-
ton and presentation OF political ana Of
helal information Yet in its issue a
February -. lS4s. the following Is the
sole heralslng OF the coming TO Washing
ton OF the great military hero VINO had
been elected President:
The propristors OF Willard's Hotel in
forms Us that the PresiGent-elect has en-
gaged rooms OF them, and that he will
PROBABLY arrive IN Washington on Fri
day OF the present week"
Mrs. Taylor. the lady 81 the President |
elect" says another editorial note upon /
the I'd. accompanied BY Col. Bliss ana |
lady arrived IN this city from Baltimore |
last night. and are occupying apartments !