The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-05

wear and tear of being at the
seethlng heart OF things po-
litical must tell more or less
ON the strongest nervous sys-
tenn. so that no ex president or the
United States has yet lived to be very
old With the women who for the time
hlled the place of first lady of the land
u is somehow different Perhaps social
triumphs and happiness prolong hie'
At any rate, while only one eN-presl-
dent survives, there are now living eight
women who were once mistresses of
the White House The list includes
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison. who during
the invalid period and fatal illness of
her aunt the first Mrs. Harrison pre-
sided over such social life as there was
in the executive mansion in those days
Here is the fist of the living ex-mis-
tresses OF the White House. Mrs. Lett
tia Tyler Sempie Mrs. Betty Taylor
cambridge, Mrs Harriet Lane John
ston, Mrs. Julia Dent Grant Mrs. Lu-
cretia Garfield, Mrs. Harrison, Mrs.
Cleveland and Mrs. Mckinley.
In the happening OF American events
il seems two centuries since John Tyler
was president, but thousands of people
D
ties. Mrs. Letitia Tyler Semple. second
daughter of President Tyler. was at the
head of his household and OF the social
life at Washington. IL was i'm the nat
ural. normal days when people ate din
ner by daylight and balls and evening
parties ended at II. Happy days of
wore! Mrs. Semple was noted as "A
brilliant, graceful and tactful first lady,
and her fine qualities We're never more
conspicuously displayed than when she
planned a magnificent reception IN the
White House on the occasion of her ia
theirs second marriage. welcoming roy
ally and cordially the young stepmoth-
er who was actually and al once To dis
place herself For this, il for nothing else,
Letitia Tyler Semple deserved TO live
long, likewise TO be richer than she now
is She lives In a home for the aged al
Washington She is handsome wom-
an still, with a profusion OF white hair
and fine, strong face that bears re-
marka BILE resemblance 10 the portraits
OF her father. John Tyler
gentle, graceful and touching re-
mcmbrapce of Mr. Mckinley Is con-
nected with the venerable Mrs. Semple.
Saturday morning when he was
i'm Washington the late president sent
her A bunch of rare cut flowers from
the White House conservatories, often
gathering them With his own hands.
Then there Is Mrs. Betty Taylor Dan
bridge, President Zachary Tsylor's
daughter, who held brief but brilliant
reign in the White House from March
ls49, till July 1850, when her fathers
untimely death ended IL. She was then
Mrs. Bliss. Like Mrs Semple, she was
young married woman when she
came 10 head the social proceedings at
Washington Southern fashion. they
called her Miss Betty then, and Miss
Betty she is today TO her familiar serv-
ltors After the death of her father,
her mother and her first husband she
married a member of the ancient and
honorable cambridge family of Virginia.
and at historic Winchester, Va, she
resides I'm the midst Of luxury, tended
by those whom she loves. She lives so
quietly that few of the American peo-
ple know there still survives one who
is daughter of General Zachary Tay-
lor and n brilliant ex-mistress of the
White House.
writer has somewhere spoken re-
Gently OF Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston
as one OF the forgotten" mistresses OF
the presidential mansion. That writer
spoke not well. Harriet Lane Johnston
niece of James Buchanan, the bachelor
president. will never be forgotten i'm the
social history OF the United States
Her reign marked distinct social de-
parture at Washington. From the days
of sweet. bright Dolly Madison TIL the
regime Of Harriet Lane the social life
and usages at Washington had been
the social life and usages OF the south
particularly those of Virginia. These
went without question. But previous to
assuming the reins OF her gentle court
ly government Harriet Lane had ac-
companied her uncle to England In his
capacity as American minister. She