The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-07

During the greater part of General
Orants nrst administration his children
We're away at school. but there mas
more sayety In his second term. when
MISS Nellie was presented to society
anu "Fec came home q ON West Point.
Meme bfants wedding (which was the
seventh that had taken place in the
Nhite House by the way) was a brill
liant aHair, as many may remember liz
took place May n. 1874. and all the CO.
iepflties or the city gathered in the cast
room 10 witness the ceremony. But
after ali was over servant passing
Nellie's deserted room chanccd To see
her father prone upon her bed. sobbine
oonvulsively, That great heart which
TO the last always throbhed for wife
and children was almost broken at the
prospect OF separation from an only
daughter.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes celebrated their
silver wedding IN 1877. the year OF the
inaugural and as their children were
all beyond tho age of juvenility quiet
usually reiened in the White House.
But all was changed when President
GARFIELD came there with his family OF
hVe healthy children, and the place
once more rcsounded with youthful
father frequently joined them in their
romps, the Garfield children were never
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
boisierous OF romps. and II is we'll
known that he and his boys often had
jolly pillow nights together. Sorrow
again trod swiftly on the heels of Joy
ana giadness when the shot rang out
that sent the head OF this happy family
10 death. President Arthur came TO Of
flee NOT only saddened hy the death OF
his predecessor but burdened by grief
over the death of his wife the year be-
fore. His sister-in-law, Mrs. McElroy.
presided al the White House and had
charge OF motherless Nellie Arthur and
her brother.
SO recent as 10 be fresh IN tn mem.
ory OF many are the events OF the two ,
Cleveland administrations-th 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 wnom the whole
nation took a tender interest Baby
ruth. the first of President Cleveland's
children. held almost equal interest in
the hearts OF the people with her tact-
full, lovely mother and renowned father
More people, IL was said, went TO Wash
ington during the second Cleveland ad-
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 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, II would
seem that the people share in the belief
that there Is no perfect Joy without a
baby In the house and rejoice with all
VINO are fortunately circumstanced In
this respect All our presidents have
been domestic. home loving men. and II
was great grief 10 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
JUNCTION of not only being the youngest
executive we have ever had. but also
OF taking to the White House the lar
gest family 1t has ever domiciled.
J mere is reason for the popular inter
est IN him, and especially in his six
nearly children. ranging from the age
OF four 10 seventeen. The people are
slad at the prospect of having the fu-
nereai pail or gloom and tragedy dis
peiled by merry shouts and laughter,
ana their hearts go out TO those littls
'hcs VINO help to tighten their fathers
ares of state.