The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-16
FIRST LADY OF
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
And the Pleasant, Refined Life She
Now Lives Watching Others
Walk in Her Footsteps.


ing person in the city of Washington
than Mrs Letitia Semple, the daugh- |
ter of President Tyler, who, half cen
fury ago, performed the dignities of |
mistress of the White House, and |
whose existence by the world at large, |
has been forgotten.
Mrs. Semple is now nearly eighty
years of age, and, though a victim Of
paralysis and crippled physically by
disease, is still active and possesses a
manner so charming that half hour
spent with her affords one a pleasure
never to be effaced from the memory.
She lives in the beautiful Louise
Home in Washington, which was built
by the late William Wilson Corcoran
as memorial to his wife and daugh-
ter. Mrs. Semple occupies a large, sun
ny room with a northern exposure that
IS made bright and cheerful by neat
furnishings and such comforts as the
pension which she receives from the
government allows her. The walls are
hung with pictures of relatives, and
one gazing upon the portrait of Presi-
dent Tyler will Immediately note the
resemblance in the daughter who wor-
ships the memory of her father and
never tires talking of his paternal de-
Votion and admirable qualities.
My fathers administration was one
of the most economical that the coun-
try has known" said Mrs. Semple, to
COQI correspondent. WnSn we went
to the White House my mothers i'll
health and, later, death forbade any
great social entertainments, so we were
content with the furnishings which had
been supplied by President Monroe dur
ing his term of office. You remember
Mr.. Monroe was minister to France for
some years, and during that time both
he and Mrs. Monroe cultivated a taste
for French modes. And, in accordance
with such tastes, did they order the
furnishings and draperies of the Elk
ecutive mansion when Mr.. Monroe be-
came President.
my father did not care for display
and lived in the simple way that ought
to mark republican form of Govern
ment. True, when we took charge of
the White House some of the things
were shabby, but we kept them and
got on very well. remember that the
ticularly worn. My youngest sister,
who, I'm afraid, was inordinately fond
of fun, used often to jump through the
Sits in the brilliant velvet portieres
that hung on the walls of this room.
For the most part, we lived openly,
hospitality and unpretentiously, just as
we had been accustomed to do in Vir-
ginia. The greatest social event that
took place during our stay in the
White House was my sister Eliza
beth's wedding. 1 had been married
five years when we went to Washing
ton After my brother and his wife
went to Philadelphia to live, my sister
was kept busy in the supervision of
her newly made home, it fell to my
lot as a matter of course, when my
mother died, to take charge of the du-
ties devolving upon the mistress of the
" hite House. My husband was a pay
master in the navy, and as he was
away from home a great part of the
time, I came to Washington in 1S41 and
superintendent the affairs Of the White
House until 1874.
n he 20 % ~
President never appeared at public
dinners given in the White House. And
this reminds me that there is a story
connected with the Executive Mansion
! that is not generally known. 1t has
not always been called the White
| House Prior to the war with Eng
| land, during the early part of the sec
ond decade of the nineteenth century,
the Executive Mansion was of gray
stone. But after it was burnt by the
British it was rebuilt in 1914, being
constructed in the white material which
now makes it known as the White
| House..
II remember during the sessions of
! Congress it was the custom to enter
tain guests at dinner twice a week.
l suppose it seems strange to you that
1 knew and talked with Webster, Clay,
/ Calhoun and the other leaders of that
period which was so prolific of great
men. I remember Mr.. Webster as
man of imposing presence, which made
its power felt in any assemblage. He
| talked so Interestingly and intelligently
upon the simplest matters that it
seemed almost a sacrilege to say any
thing frivolous in his presence.
Tell you about my family connec-
| tons? Well" continued this tall, slen-
der lady, whose manner combines a
| dignity and courtesy which mark a
| social epoch more sedate than this
| that is more delicate. I think it is
| generally known that the Tyler fam
IfInCtTinnC Q
nectionS are associated with four Pres
| idents-James Monroe, William Harri-
| son, Benjamin Harrison, and my IA
ther. My mother was Miss Letitia
Christian of Cedar Grove Estate, New
| Kent County, Virginia. She was the
| daughter of Col. Robert Christian of
| Revolutionary fame and the grand
| daughter on her mothers side of Cen
| era1 John Browne, who was Commits
| sary-General during the entire period
| of the Revolutionary War. My hus-
band came from one of the first fami-
| lies of Virginia and we were married
| when I was only eighteen years Old
Il should think, with such surround
| ings, Mrs. Semple, that your life, on
the whole, has been very pleasant -
| your correspondent ventured.
"Oh, no, 1 cannot say that, though 1
must not complain. You know my hus-
band was killed in Mexico, and after
his death came business reverses; then
was compelled to earn my own iv
ing FOR some years J. was prlnclpai
of a young ladies' school in Balti-
more. But I was compelled to resign
the position on account of poor health.
Then my eyes began to grow weak and
1 was obliged to give up everything
and live upon the pension which the
| Government allowed me as the wife of
a soldier.
"At first this was only eight dollars
a month, but a number of my infiuen-
tial friends succeeded in having bill
passed to raise the amount to thirty
dollars month, and with that 1 get
on quite comfortably. And now think
that this is all of my history that would
be interesting to you. No, forgot just
one thing, and that is the fact that the
United States has only had two Presi-
dents whose Inauguration took place in
April, andsthey were George Washing
ton and my father; and for that rea-
son I would be very pleased indeed to
see inaugural day changed from March