The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-22
Daughter of President
Is Now Almost Blind

M RS. LETITIA TYLER SEMPLE
ANA the daughter of ex-Presidant Johr
Tyler. and once the mistress Of the White
House, Is now totally blind and almost
wholly confined to her room at the Louise
Home. In Washington. d. c. Mrs Sem
pies sight was impaired by q strain e
the optic nerve while principal OF the
Eclectic School for Girls In Baltimore
after the civil war. In this connection
she says:
1t was thought that an operation
would restore the vision, and rather
more than year ago II was per-
formed. The nervous shock, however,
brought on an illness which lasted for
six months. and during which I was
Tor the most part dslirious. begging to
De brought back to my own rooms
where | was sure I would be better,
ana being everywhere but here. When
i returned 10 consciousness my sight
was gone. During nay Illness Mrs. Nc
kinney paid me the most gratifying
attentions. sending me dozens OF boxes
Of flowers from the White House, and
upon my recovery. wishing 10 express
my appreciation In something beyond
mere card OF thanks. began TO turn
over in my mind what should do. At
length ] determined TO have photo
graph made for her OF portrait
painted of me as a girl. This was
done. The picture, upon the back OF
which the genealogy OF the Tyler
family was inscribed. was beautifully
framed. while above IL was draped a
United States flag, with that of Ohio
on one side and Of Virginia on the
other. A little friend acco.npa MED by
his mother and dressed as page.
drove 10 the White House. where &,
was presented in due form and re-
ceiyed with every demonstration OF
pleasure by the first lady In the land"
Some time ago a runor Of Mrs. Ssran,e's
death was set afioa; In Washington. a mis-
take which she explains In the following
way:
Miss Anne Tyler. distant relative
ct mine. and an inmate Of the home.
died here. She had very few acauatu.-
ances In the cfty. ani when floral Of
ferings poured in from every quarter
it excited surprise. A climax was
reached. however. when President and
Mrs Mckinley drove up In their car
riase ana sent In an elaborate emblem,
and l applied To thu undertaken 10
know whae I, meant
II msans. Mrs. semg'a' he replied.
TO De plain with yoa. that the public
il under a mistake. and tina, these
Referring 10 magazine article contain
ing pictures OF the graves 81 the lres,-
dents cf he United States. In which that
81 ox~Fresidsnt Tyler Is represented as
without monument. Mrs. Sevapla saws:
My father directed ia his will that
his wife should select his burial place.
when he died in Isg3 however the
FiFgiEss9 legislature asked that the
state might have his remains. and
voted an appropriation az 81 az 10 the
erection ~ a memorial stone, Owing
"a tae poverty consequent upon TIE
war this sum was never applied for
and / planted over his grave In the
circle at Hollywood cemetery, near
fatchusoad where Monroe ts buried
the magnificent tree which shades Il
atd green rose. This point az the
circle was afte~wsrd purchased by nv
fathers wife, ard her remains. With
those az her sister. Mira. Spence lie
near mss. There IL also : memorial
tablet 10 President Tyler in ps11t0n
church. Williamsburg. which I placed
there ard which was contributed In
BY every member Of ths fars4tIv. and
t@r~@ years seo congress voted thas
ss8sssa shoai5 ne devoted 70 -~srs~. a
monument 81 s4ls hofsar az HOLLYWOOD
which s@-a can hs had whenever the
state CT Virginia applies sos H.