Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30
The. Old White HOUSE and the New
NAVY Bis Of tRemodeAn

physical charm Of which Time has robbed
them They are summoned TO puonclty
and prominence. too. II may be, from
some retired community. whose customs
have sprung from ignorance Of the world;
and at a period of life when homely man
rers and inelegant speech, stereotyped by
habit, cannot be altered
The wives OF the early Presidents were
notable contradictions Of this theory
Mrs. Washington, indeed. fitted By he
redity and association to- grace the Whlte
House. had her reign as First Lady OF
the Land before its erection. Mrs John
Adams. however. brilliantly endowed os
Nature had travelled on the Continent
as the vile Of our first diplomatic rep.
resentative at the Court Of ST. James
and made part Of high society in Eng.
land. She had been a factor. too. in Of
ticial circles in Philadelphia and New
York, when he'd husband was Vice-Prcsi-
dent. and was thoroughly equipped for
her role.
Jefferson entered the White House as
widower, and his daughter-pronounce
by John Randolph. of Roanoke, ''the
first woman in. Virginia engaged
with a young family at Monticello, Dolly
Madison came to his rescue in social
emergencies thus rehearsng the par;
which she played with such unparalleled
success when the Great Little Madison
became Chief Executive. Mrs. Monroe
and Mrs. John Quincy Adams, too. &C
quilted themselves creditably, as Gid
number of other gentlewor1en looming
up from the mIsts of the past figure
which stands out with great vivfdness
is that OF Mrs. Robert Tyler. the daush'
ter-in-!aw Of President Tyler, and the
daughter Of Cooper. the tragedian, who
vas herself for time upon the stage
eel $0c nj f1r1Sr
presided at the Executive Mansion be.
fore the instalment of Mrs. Senpia. en-
ioying the novel experience with a keen
ness refreshing to recall. In her letters
she turns to us first the charming ma.
ternal side Of her nature. when she runs
away to the nursery to her precious
baby and then the scarcely less attrac.
tive feminine one. in her descriptions
Of her gowns. Writing playfully to hel.
sister. she says: Only think OF it. | am
actually presiding at the White House:
and the extraordinary thing about IL
is that l seem always to have been as
ISOLATED with Cabinet officers diplomats
and heads of the army and navy. am
plainly born great. and complimented or
every side. find my hidden virtues com.
Ing out
In strong contrast with Mrs. Tyler was
Mrs. Zachary Taylor. who. retreatiag tc
.
the fire knitting. Her daughter, Mrs
Bliss, however (now Mrs. Bette Dan
bridge, of Ninchester}, came calamity 10
the front, and living witnesses testify as
to the grace with which she did tn
honors as the first lady OF the land
Miss Harriet Lane. President Buchan-
ans stately niece. now Mrs Harriet Lane
Johnston. of Washington. had been al
the head of her unces household wher
he was Minister to England. and ha'
the manners and bearing of q woman
Of the world.
OF those holding the high position since
the breaking out Of the civil war, Mrs
Cleveland seems naturally to suggest her
self. Mrs. Robert Stanard. once social
leader in Richmond. occupying what Is
now the Commonwealth Club. in speaking
of her said:
"At her first reception at the White
House she wore her wedding gown. anC
there was Just enough flush upon he,
cheeks to heighten her beauty. hap
pened to stand near her. and the self
possession. the aplomb with which that
young creature. Just from the school
room. conducted herself through that
trying ordeal, amazed me: I have lvec
in Washington through several admins
trations. and Mrs. Cleveland is the love
Hest thing have seen in all those years
GILBERTA S. WHITTLE.