Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-03-16
FORMER ROMANCES
IN WHITE HOUSE
Twelve Weddings Have Taken
Place There in the Past
Century.
LAST MOST ELABORATE
Nellie Grant Furnished Most Brilliant
Event Prior to the RooseVeIt-Long-
worth Nuptials-She Was
Present at Latter.

Romance and history have made the
White House the most interesting home
In America. OF the two, romance, prob
ably has contributed more to endear the
mansion to the people-men as we'll as
Homen-than history. The weddings
which have taken place within it's
classic portals appeal with keenest in
terest to every true American.
In the century Of it's history the
White house has been the scene of
twelve weddings. That of Miss Roose-
Welt and Mr.. Longworth was the
largest by far and in some respects the
most notable wedding that was ever
celebrated in the mansion, Miss Roose-
Welt was the fourth daughter Of a pres
ldent OF the United States to be given
In marriage in the official home OF the
chief executive. The list of 1000 guests
Invited to witness the ceremony
Is several times larger than that invited
20 any previous White House wedding,
and yet the president and Mrs. RooSe-
Welt might have extended the list many
times without satisfying the desire OF
all their friends. The list, therefore,
was made up with the idea of includ-
ing on 1t certain official classes. rela-
tiyes OF the two families and the init
mate friends Of the bride and groom.
AS was to have been expected. the num-
Der of guests taxed the capacity of the
White House to the utmost.
White House Remodeled.
Prior to the remodeling Of the in
terror of the White House three years
ago, IT would not have been possible to
entertain SO large a company in the
house was attended Alice's wedding.
That fact probably accounts for the
comparatively small list Of guests at
previous weddings. Thirty-two years
ago Ellen w. Grant, who endeared her
self to the American people as Mel
lie" Grant, ono OF the best beloved and
most popular Of women, became a
White House bride. The number OF
guests at her wedding was 200, and
writer's OF the time said that was prac-
tically all that could have been ac-
commodated comfortably.
The first White House wedding took
place during the administration OF
James Madison, whose wife was prob
ably the most popular woman OF her
time in America Mrs. Madison's
youngest sister, Lucy Payne Wash
ington, widow OF a nephew or Presi-
dent Washington, was married on the
evening of March IL, 1911, to a
widower, who resided IN Kentucky. The
marriage was witnessed by important
officials and members OF the diplo-
matte corps.
Second Wedding.
Just after the war or 1Sl2 the sec
rond White House wedding occurred
This also was in the administration OF
Madison, the bride, Miss Anna Todd
being a cousin of Mrs. Madison. The
groom vas John c.. Jackson, then mem
Der CT the house OF representatives
from Virginia. IN account Of the wal
society affairs were at low tide In
Washington and the marriage was not
so notable as the first one.
The wedding OF Miss Marie Hester
Monroe, the first daughter of a presi-
dent to be married in the White House
was a distinct disappointment in a So
cial way. On March 9, 1920, she was
married in the blue room to Samuel
Lawrence G~ouveneur, OF New York
who was acting as private secretary &c
President Monroe. 1t was purely q
family affair, not ever the presidents
cabinet being invited. The restrictions
placed On the list Of guests and some
formed the subject of considerable sar.
castle comment at the time.
Son Of Adams.
The fourth wedding in the White
House was hat of a presidents son
John Adams, the son and private sec
rotary OF John Quincy Adams, on Feb
ruary 10, 1928, married in the blue
room his cousin. Miss Mary HELEN, OF
Philadelphia. 1t was a brilliant socia.
function n was made peculiarly not
able by the fact that President Adams
led the Virginia reel In the dance thai
followed the ceremony. The wedding
and series Of parties given the younp
couple afterward by the president and
Mrs. Adams were the greatest socia.
functions of that time.