The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-12

During the greater part of Genera
Grants first administration his childrel
were away at school, but there wal
more gayety in his second term, whei
Miss Nellie was presented to society
and Fred came home from West Point
Nellie Grants wedding (Which was tn,
seventh that had taken place in this
White House, by the way) was bril-
liant affair." as many may remember. I
took place May 81, 1874. and all the &c.
lebrities of the city gathered in the cas-
room to witness the ceremony. Blu
after all was over a servant passing
Nellie's deserted room CHANGED to SCI
her father prone upon her bed, sobbins
convulsively. That great heart which
to the last always throbbed for wife
and children was almost broken at thu
prospect of separation from an only
daughter.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes celebrated theii
silver wedding in 1877. the year of the
inaugural, and as their children were
all beyond the age of juvenility quiet
usually reigned in the White House
But all was changed when President
Garfield came there with his family OF
five healthy children, and the place
once. more resounded with youthful
sounds and happy laughter. AS their
father frequently Joined them in their
restrained so far as real enjoyment is
interpreted by youth. On the morning
of that fatal July day in 1881 when
President Garfield was shot by the vile
assassin he INDUCED in one of the most
boisterous of romps, and it is well
known that he and his boys often had
Jolly pillow fights together. Sorrow
again trod swiftly on the heels of joy
and gladness when the shot rang out
that sent the head of this happy family
to death. President Arthur came to Of
flee not only saddened by the death of
his predecessor, but burdened by grief
over the death of his wife the year be-
fore. His sister-in-law, Mrs McEllroy.
presided at the White House and had
charge of motherless Nellie Arthur and
her brother.
DRY of many are the events of the two
Cleveland OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES mar
riage of the president in the blue room,
the first ceremony of the kind ever per-
formed there, and the subsequent adj
vent of the children, in whom the whole
nation took tender interest. Baby
Ruth, the first of President Clevelands
children, held almost equal interest in
the hearts of the people with her tact
full, lovely mother and renowned father
More people, 1t was said. went to Wash
ington during the second Cleveland ad-
ministration to see the babies in charge
of their nurses On the White House
lawn than for any other purpose.
President Harrison's two children. a
son and a daughter. were far beyond
the baby stage when their honored par
ent reached the White House. but who
does not remember the affection be-
slowed by the president upon his grand
child. Baby Mckee? In truth, il would
seem that the people share in the belief
that there Is no perfect joy without
baby in the house and rejoice with all
VINO are fortunately circumstapced in
this respect. All our presidents have
been domestic, home loving men. and IL
was great grief to our late noble
president and his wife that their own
little ones did not live to share their
occupancy of the White House.
President Roosevelt enjoys the dis
tinction of not only being the youngest
executive we have ever had, but also
of taking to the White House the lar
gest family it has ever domiciled.
There is a reason for the popular inter-
est in him. and especially in his six
hearty children, ranging from the age
of four to seventeen. The people are
glad at the prospect of having the flu
nereal pail of gloom and tragedy dis
PEELED by merry shouts and laughter
and their hearts go out to those little
ones who help to tighten their fathers
cares of state.