Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-06-30
RULED THE WHITE HOUSE.
MRS. SEMPLE, DAUGHTER OF PRESI
DENT TYLER, NOW AGED
AND BLIND.
LIVES ENTIRELY IN PAST
Beautiful Old Woman Cannot Forget Bit
terness of Civil War Times and
Seeks Few Companions.

blind aud an inmate of the Louise home
in Washington at Sc. Such is the life
history, in skeleton, of Mrs. Letitia Tyler
Semple, daughter of former President
Tyler, according to the Washington Star
Mrs. Semple celebrated her Seth birth
day last Friday. She is in good health.
goes out frequently in good weather and
always joins the other residents of the
Louise home in the parlor in the even
ings, where they assemble most formally
for their social intercourse.
Mrs. Semple was beautiful girl and
a belle in Virginia in her youth. At Sc
she still bears the traces OF this early
beauty distinctly. She is tall and erect
and carries her head with the unmistak-
able poise of aristocratic birth and ante
cedents. Her hair is snowy, soft and
silky and worn with loose curls over her
ears. Her manner in that of the cul-
tured gentle-woman, and there IS an
atmosphere of great dignity always
about her. She has many friends from
. the years of her past social triumphs,
and they are all attentive TO her. Her
room in the Louise home is usually Trag-
rant with fresh flowers. But with ali
these attentions it is a lonely life.
Louise Home Beautiful Place.
institution filled with southern ladies of
gentle birth and culture. There are
beautiful grounds, well cared for, and it
is situated in the heart of the fashion
able part of the city. 1t is not a chart
table institution, for each woman must
pay for her board and room. The
charge is modest, as the institution was
handsomely endowed by the founder, the
late philanthropist, w. w. Corcoran,
who gave it in memory of his daughter
Louise. who died in her youth. The
grounds and house are well cared for,
and it is a most attractive place. There
is, to be sure, an absence of childish
footsteps and prattle. All the boarders
in this big house are between the ages
of 60 and 80, and they know the loneli-
ness of advanced age and reduced cir
cumstances.
Her Fathers Companion.
Mrs. Semple in her youth was her
fathers constant companion. She was a
good musician and was the life and
spirit of his household. She was gay
and loving and beautiful. She played
for him in his leisure moments and sang
him to sleep when he was tired. His
favorite song was an old-fashioned one
called Rome" the words of which she
now repeats to herself every day, in
fancy recalling the many times her faith.
er listened to them with delight. At the
age of 10 she became the wife of Mr..
Semple. When the death of William
Henry Harrison made Tyler President
he brought a large and interesting FAM
lily to the white house. Mrs. Tyler was
an invalid and could never discharge the
duties of mistress of the white house.
During the first few months of Tyler
administration Mrs. Robert Tyler, wife
of son of the President. acted as his
hostess. while the Presidents beloved
daughter, Letitia. remained at their Nir-
ginia home with her mother. Some
months later Mrs. Tyler made the trip
to Washington, accompanied by her
daughter, now Mrs. Semple, but sue
cumbed to her malady very shortly aft
erward and was buried from the white
house. of which she had never been able
to assume the duties of mistress.
Mistress of White House.
After the death of her mother Mrs
Semple assumed the duties of mistress
of the white house, which she discharged
with grace and tact until her fathers
second marriage only a few months be-
fore his term of office expired. His sec
ond bride was Miss Julia Gardner Of
New York. and although she was a love
ly and beautiful woman, this second
Mrs. Semple. Like all elderly people,
Mrs. Semple lives in the past, and it is
most interesting to hear her relate stories
of their manner of life while in the
white house. When her father was
called so suddenly and unexpectedly to
assume the duties of chief executive of
the nation he called his family together
and expressed the desire that their man
ner of living should not be changed, that
they should observe the greatest SIM
plicity. even if their home for the few
years to come would be in the great
white house.
Mrs. Semple relates that on the morn
ing after the arrival of the family in the
white house the President said at table,
Now, my children, during the next few
years we are TO occupy the home of the
President of the United States, | hope
you will conduct yourselves with even
more than your usual propriety and de-
corum. Remember you will be much in
the public. You are to know no favor
ties. Your visitors will be citizens of
the United States, and as such are all
to be received with equal courtesy. You
will not receive any gifts whatsoever
and allow no one to approach you on the
subject of Office or favors. These words
you will kindly remember. my children.
and let it not be eneumbent upon me to
speak them again"
The State Dining Room.
The state dining room in those days
vas literally the state dining room"
Only once year Were women permitted
at table in this apartment, and this was
On the occasion of the Presidents an
nual dinner to his cabinet, which was a
grand and ceremonious affair. AT that
time there was a committee of three
representatives appointed by Congress
70 rthe purpose of locking after the plate
and furnishings in the Presidents house.
They visited the white house every four
weeks and went carefully over every
portion of the mansion with an inven-
tory. Every piece of silver, linen, china.
glass and furniture had to be accounted
for and whatever was broken or missing.
the committee was informed of and a
record was made of it.
Mr.. Semple was a rich man when he
married Letitia Tyler. He had beau
tiful estate in Virginia and sufficient
means TO conduct il properly. When the
Civil war broke out he was in the navy.
He at once resigned and went into the
Confederate navy. At the close of the
L