The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-27
A VIRGINIA ROMANCE.
Dead "'Fature President Made His sweet
heart mistress OF tbe White House,

DtaS q iftS -"tVt.
heart mistress OF I'll White House,
From the New York sun.
There is a White House in Virginia. rot
many miles from Washington, according
to a Virginia department clerk at the
National Capital. There is nothing in its
exterior to warrant the name. he says.
II does not, in fact, get it's name from its
appearance.
1T never was white" continues the
Virginian, within my recollection, and /
have known it for thirty-fiye years
reckon the people who live in it never
thought to ask why it is called the White
House. They are not people who would
look up the reason. This is the story, and
| know it is true, but if it ever was print
ed, l never heard of it:
'"The house became the property of
young woman after the death of her peo-
yle. Her lover and affianced husband was
student at the University of Virginia
II was his ambition TO be President. and
as she believed he was deserving of the
honor, and because she had high social
aspirations, she encouraged him in his
aspirations. They had some sort of vague
IDEA that If they were sincere In their
wishes and would pray for the honor they
would succeed. They did not understand
politics as we do. They used to come oyer
10 Washington and wander about the
Presidential mansion and the grounds
and go up to the Capitol and sit in the
galleries, and occasionally attend the nub-
lie receptions. | have been told that the
young woman confided her secret to- Presi
| dent Johnson, and that, doubtless 20
please her fancy, he told her that her
young man had Presidential chances It
Was Utfite natural 10 lFr
should have believed this
When she returned TO her home In Vfr
GINA she entertained after the manner of
the President At his public receptions. Her
| young man, OF course. had the post az
| honor. ! do not know whether The neonIa
who attended the receptions underst6o5
| that this young man and woman wer.a
rehearsins for White House receptions ar
/ not, but the young pair had that in mind
Ihey prayed for a realization of Their
cream as earnestly, from all | have hea ri
| as old StOneWall Jackson prayed for
| strength 10 whip the Yankees There was
an old black servant in the family who
! preached salvation 10 the darxies on SIM
day and stripped tobacco during The veei-
! his young missus had great faith in
| tphrdim's influence with the Almight,,
ana she used to call him in to exhort in
| behalf Of her lovers ambition. Er,hraim
| became so imbIed with the idea that mic
! supp. ications would win that he got fo
calling the young man Mr. President
WneT ne visited the plantation
Il reckon you have heard OF the tourpa
ments they used 10 have In the South ?
| This young Presidential aspIrant was a
fearless and graceful hOrseman He rode
al a tourney one day for the last time He
was confident he would take the necesarv
number OF rings to entitle him tc choosa
and crown the queen, and OF course there
was oniy one woman in the world unon
whom ne would bestow the honor Sha
saw MIN in his saddle. lance couchanf
| start for the wire. Before he reached ~
! his horse stumbled There was the usuaI
| shout OF horror The Knight Of the Whit
| House, for that was his title in the tonr-
ney, was carried from the course dead In
| the fall he had broken his neck
Ihe moment the young woman realized
| what had occurred her reason fled nor did
| il ever return, in spite of skilIfuI caPa
I Her hair whitened. but her fac. renainei
Young, so | am told. Her derangernan1
never took on violent form Instead She
| became mistress OF the White Housa Sbs
| held leVees and receptions and gave eiab-
/ orate oInners- Her servants were re-
| guests. A chair was reserved for tba
President, who never came In This haIlu-
cinatiOn she died. That is why the pIac,
was known as the White House.