The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-18


 excitement spread through their IanAs. .. Straightway there was movement e0 the north gate because of the rulioi which was current throughout the i,ioi nun - ing that the bridal couple Wouia iSaso The White House by this entrance on tneir way to Friendship. the home ol MT. and Mrs. John R. Mclean, where u ls said they will spend several days pelofe leaving Washington.
 See President and Son.
 Some of the early watchers around the White House this morning were fortunate enough to witness an interesting incl dent. About 9:3O o'clock two men ap- peared on the west esplanade, leading from the White House to the executive office and promenaded up and down in the sunshine, their hats off, the older holding the younger by his left arm and talking very earnestly. After ten minutes walk, the older entered the office and the younger returned to the other end of the esplanade in double-quiek time and dis- appeared through the French window opening from the corridor on the espla- made This one was the President ana the other was Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
 Romance and history have made the White House the most interesting home in America. Of the two romance proba- bly, has contributed more to endear the mansion to the people-men as well as women-than history. The weddings which have taken place within it's classic portals appeal with keenest interest to every true American.
 Has Seen Twelve Weddings.
 In the century of history the White House has been the scene of twelve we'd ,14. DaaeaVaIf and Mr Longworth today was the largest by far and in some respects the most notable wedding that ever was celebrated in the mansion Miss Roosevelt was the fourth daughter of a President of the United States to be given in marriage in thls official home of the chief executive.
 Prior to the remodelling of the interior of the White House three years ago, IL would not have been possible to entetain so large a company in the house as at tended todays wedding. That fact prop ably accounts for the comparatively small lists of guests at previous weddings, Thir- ty-two years ago Ellen w Grant, who en- deared herself to the American people as "Nellie Grant, one of the best be- loved and most popular of women be- came a White House bride The number of gifts at her wedding was about 200, and writers at the time say that was practically all that could be aceommo- dated comfortably.
 The first White House wedding took .Iace during the administration or James Madison, whose wife was probably the most popular woman of her time in America. Mrs Madison's youngest sister, Lucy Payne Washington, widow or q nephew of President Washington, was married on the evening of March Il, MI, to A widower who resided in Kentucky. The marriage was witnessed by important officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
 Just after the war of 1872, the second White House wedding occurred. Ihls also was in the administration Of Madl- son. the bride, Miss Anna Todd, being n cousin of Mrs. Madison. The groom was John e. Jackson, then member or the House of Representatives from Virginia. The wedding of Miss Maria Hester Mon- roe the first daughter of a President to he married in the White House, was a distinct disappointment In social way On March g. 1920, she was married In the Rlue Room to Samuel Lawrence Gou- vernon of New York, who was acting as nrivate secretary to President Monroe. If was purely family affair, not even the members of the Presidents cabinet being invited The restrictions placed on the list of guests and some other matters concerning the marriage formed the sub feet of considerable sarcastic comment at the time
 The fourth wedding in the White House was that of a Presidents son, John Adams son, and private secretary of President John Quincy Adams on Febru-