The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-03

wear anu Tear VI pNAh9
seethlng heart of things po-
A~ litical must tell more or less
on the strongest nervous sys-
tenn, so that no ex-president OF the
United States has yet lived to be very
old. With the women who for the time
filled the place of first lady OF the lahu
it is somehow different. Perhaps sociai
triumphs and happiness prolons ne
At any rate, while only one ex-presl-
dent survives there are now living elsht
women who were once mistresses OF
the White House. The list incluoes
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 list of the living ex-mis-
tresses of the White House: Mrs. Lett
tia Tyler Semple, Mrs. Betty Iaylor
cambridge. Mrs Harriet Lane john
ston. Mrs Julia Dent Grant, Mrs. Luz
cretia Garfield, Mrs. Harrison, MRS
Cleveland and Mrs. Mckinley.
In the happening of American events
II seems two centuries since John Tyler
was president, but thousands OF people
vet remember when, in the early Tor
ties. Mrs. Letitia Tyler Semple, second
daughter of President Tyler, was at the
head of his household and of the social
life at Washington 1t was in the nat
ural. normal days when people ate din
ner by daylight and balls and evening
parties ended at IL. Happy days OF
vorel Mrs. Semple was noted as
brilliant. graceful and tactful first lady
and her fine qualities were 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-
or who was actually and at once to dis
place herself For this, if for nothing else,
I.etitia Tyler Semple deserved to live
long. likewise to be richer than she now
is. She lives in home for the aged at
washington. She is handsome wom-
an still, with a profusion of white hair
and a fine, strong face that bears a re-
r,arkable resemblance to the portraits
Of her father, John Tyler.
A gentle, graceful and touching re-
membrance of Mr.. Mckinley is con-
nected with the venerable Mrs. Semple.
EVERY Saturday morning when he was
in washington the late president sent
her bunch of rare cut flowers from
the White House Conservatives, often
Gathering them with his own hands
Then there is Mrs. Betty Taylor Dan
bridge. President Zachary Taylor's
daughter who held brief but brilliant
reign in the White House from March,
1S49 till July, 1850, when her fathers
untimely death ended it. She was then
Mrs Bliss. Like Mrs. Semple, she was
q Young married woman when she
came TO head the social proceedings at
washington. Southern fashion, they
called her Miss Betty then, and Miss
Retty she is today to her familiar serv-
tors 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 in the midst of luxury, tended
nv those whom she loves. She lives so
ouietly that few of the American peo-
ME know there still survives one who
is daughter of General Zachary Tay-
Ior and a 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 in the
social history of the United States.
Her reign marked distinct social de-
parture at Washington. From the days
of sweet, bright Dolly Madison till 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
Iy government Harriet Lane had ac-
companied her uncle to England in his
capacity as American minister. She