Evening star., 1901-09-26

qualified for that position She had also
filled the role of hostess in her uncle's
home when he was In London, and was a
member of his household when, as Secre-
tary OF State, he resided on F street near
John Quincy Adams home. How she man.
aged is best expressed IN the words then
used: The house is maintained in as good
or better style than ever, and Old Buck
must draw heavily on his private purse"
The condition of the country was such
that the uncle and niece were glad to leave
at the close Of the term Miss Lane mar
now resides in Washington. Buchanan was
a Presbyte
Since Civil War Period.
Abraham Lincoln had been married twen-
ty-two years when he became President,
and was the head of family consisting OF
his wife and four sons. youths. one OF
whom died In the White House. When his
cares and work here allowed he attended
the Presbyterian Church.
Andrew Johnsons entree ia the house
OF mourning after the funeral of Mr. Lin
coin was as a married man. He had en-
tered the matrimonial state nearly forty
years before. and had grown children. Mrs.
Johnson was in bad health, and the honors
of the house were performed by the daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Slower. and
not infrequently the grandchildren par
tfcipated in the joys Of juvenile parties.
The advent Of General Grant brought
into the house the youngest family which
had lived there. General and Mrs Grant
had been married twenty-one years and
took up their residence in the White House
when the son, the present General F. d.
Grant, was a cadet at West Point and
Miss Nellie, who changed her name to Sar-
toris during the Grant administration was
at boarding school. Mrs. Grant did the
honors, and when her daughter bloomed
into womanhood she assisted her mother.
The household included the Dents tMrs.
Grants family, Col. F. T. Dent filling the
private secretaryship. This was a Metho-
dist family, and its members were wor-
shippers at the Metropolitan Church.
Another Methodist family. that of Gen. R.
B. Hayes who served four years. followed
in 1877, and its members worshiped at the
Foundry Church usually. There were
eral children, and possioly there was more
home comfort in the house than there had
been for many a day. During this term
some change was made in the social usages,
owing to Mrs. Hayes advanced views on
the temperance question. and her desire to
conform to the rules of her church.
Mr.. Garfield, who had lived here as a
representative before he became President
in 1881. had family consisting Of wife and
three children-two sons and a daughter.
The sons were at college during the short
time he lived in the White House before
he was shot by the assassin Guiteau. In
this time Mrs. Garfield, the wife of twenty
three years, had shown that she would
make an agreeable hostess. and in the few
functions at the White House-though with
her husband communicant Of the Dis
ciples' Church, Rev. Dr. Powers, pastor
she did not raise any objection to the bill
lard table being restored nor to the use of
wine in moderation at the dinners
Chester A. Arthur was the third wild
over and the fourth Vice President to fill
an unexpired term. Upon being apprlsei
Of the death of Mr. Garfield he took the
oath of office on the morning of September
20, 1881. in New York, and again in the
Senate chamber, September %. He mad but
one son, and his sisters were married. The
youngest, Mrs. McElroy. took up the task
of presiding at the functions there, and ac-
ceptabiy filled the position. Mr.. Arthur
was Of the Episcopal faith.
Again a Bachelor President.
beginning in 1855, the White House was
for a second time occupied by a bachelor
President, Grover Cleveland. Unlike Mr..
Buchanan, he did not remain a bache-
Ior. but married to Miss Francis
Folsom when he had nearly reached fifty
years of age, and in the second year of his
first term. Prior to the marriage, his sister,
Miss Rose E. Cleveland, was the hostess,
his young bride stepping into that place
soon after the marriage, June 2. 1885. The
Presidents household were Of the PreSby-
terian faith, and during his two terms the
late DR. Byron Sunderland Of the First
Presbyterian Church was his pastor. Sew
eraI of their children were born in the
White House.
Benjamin Harrison, the grandson of a
former President took the house in 1889.
and became a widower during his incum-
bency. He had a son and two daughters,
and was of the Presbyterian faith.
Mr.. Mckinley, whose untimely death
took place Il few weeks ago. after having
passed but six months of his second term
in the presidency, was, as Is we'll known,
a Methodist.
MFR. Roosevelt, who. at the age of forty
three, becomes the tenant of the White
House, for over three years at least, has
been twice married, the second marriage
occurring fifteen years ago. He comes to
the Executive Mansion with his wife and
family of six children, one by the first
wife. AS before stated. he is the second
President Of Dutch descent and faith.