Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-09-28
WIDOWS OF PRESIDENTS.
Wives of Chief Magfstrates Live
Longer Than Their Husbands.
From the PHILADELPHIA Innufrar

Wives of Chief Magistrates Live
Longer Than Their Husbands.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lives of Presidents remind us that as
rule they are much shorter-t than those of
their wives. At this time there Is but one
person living who was elected President Of
the republic, yet there are several widows
of Presidents and there are fewer now
than formerly. Mr.. Cleveland and his gra-
cious wife still survive in good health. Mrs.
Harrison lives, but the Mrs. Harrison who
entered the White House in 1889 ended her
life there. Arthur was a widower when he
became President, but Mrs. Garfield and
Mrs. Grant are still living. Mrs. Lincoln
lived until recently and 1t is not long siuce
Mrs. Tyler and Mrs. Polk died.
Not counting assassinations, Presidents
elected in the last sixty years have been
short-lived, or at least have not long sur
vived their incumbency. Harrison died in
Office, but Tyler lived longer after leaving
the White House than most of his success
sors. Polk lived but few months alter
his term, Taylor died In Office and Fillmore
did not long survive. Pierce was the young
est man up to his time who entered the
White House, and died a comparatively
young man. Buchanan was an older man
and his demise was not unexpected. Lin
coin was aSSaSSinated and Johnson died
soon after his term ended. just as he was
about to take his seat in the Senate, the
only ex-President SO honored. Grant sur
vived his term eight years, Hayes a some
what longer time, Arthur died a Compare
lively young man and Harrison. though
not young, was supposedly vigorous. NC
Kinley's untimely death completes the list
The burdens of the Office of President
are great, and as 1t is usually reached only
after many years of labor in field states
manship, it is not unnatural that the vital
ity of the incumbent is Slapped. In four
years Mckinley had aged more than a bus
N n lar nc xxyiya
the President the situation is different
There are few months in the year when
the duties of hospitality somewhat
taxing to the strength, but Turing the
except those of a domestic kind The
housekeeping Is largely done for ner and
If she had a comfortable home her years
might be those of pleasantness and peace
Unfortunately, the White House now Is 10
larger than 1t was century ago, while the
increasing demands of the public service
have turned most Of it's rooms into offices
surely this great and rich nation might
provide for Its President and his family
accommodations equal to that of the ordi-
nary prosperous business man. When
the Roosevelt family moves into the
White House it will be cramped as
guest room the children will have
to sleep in closets or on cots and
trundle beds There has been much COM
plant on this score by past mstresses of
the mansion, but now that there are more
children to be accommodated than ever be-
fore the new mistress of the White House
will often sigh for the roomy house on Sag
amore Hill, where until recently her fam
lily was amply accommodated
The late Mrs. Harrison worked long to
get Congress to enlarge the White House
Though many plans were laid none have
ever been carried out. 1t is not likely
that Congress will much longer persist in
refusing the commonest comforts to the
chief magistrate of the nation.