The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1906-02-21
WHITE HOUSE WEDDINGS
AND THE PEOPLE
An Interesting Article by the Rev.
William RAIDER Appears in the
San Francisco Bulletin

1t is interesting to study the dttiluoo
Of the people to our Alice Roosevelt, now
Mrs. Longworth. Many young girls
throughout the country are very jealous
of her-so it is laid. They are apt 10
turn their noses at this independent
bride of the White House and say some
caustic things about her giddy trip to
the Philippines. But this is all a part
of our human nature As an American
girl Miss Alice wa the real thing. She
never was a White House doll. She ID
not of the sawdust variety, but real
flesh and blood. a sort of social aare-
devil. who delights in shocking folks and
making girls envious.
1t must be a terrible ordeal to be mar
ried in the White House. Some of the
old-fashioned democratic people do not
enjoy the fuss and feathers which seem
like a weak imitation of old-world roy
atty; and some think it poor taste to
have SO many gifts from other coun-
tries sent to the White House For the
time the young woman is the carbon
point which blazes with international
good will, and how pleasant it all is!
No doubt the nations of the whole round
earth will feel better toward the United
States because Of this wedding. They
of girls we grow in this country. ihs
Gibson and all other types must needs
be slightly modified in the future. The
Presidents daughter is a composite. the
mysteries of whose resources we have
not yet been able to understand or ex-
plain. Her chief Characteristic is in the
uncertainty of the thing she Is to do
next How different from the more
stately danes of the old world. Here
we ave a perfectly natural young wo-
who happens to be the daughter OF
the President. and who. by virtue of her
position, commands for a little while
more attention han the President him
self. 1t is a good thing for the Amer
people to take a real interest In
the domestic affairs of the White House.
and no form Of prudery can prevent the
curious nose of the public getting into
the more private affairs of the family
Of the President. 1t Is a good thing. no
doubt, for the White House to be within
range of the people. We haye no unap-
throne in the United States.
We are simple people. and we are in the
of giving wedding gifts. and there
was more extravaganza displayed at the
last rural wedding on the frontier thar
was relatively displayed in Washing
The influence of this spirit of cos-
and good will is politically
wholesome, and there is no Immediate
danger of losing our democratic stand
Let US be sensible.
Imitation of European ideas has never
been one Of the social weaknesses OF our
confined. for the most part, to the vul-
gar rich. Our basic American ideals
v remained intact, even as our noun
tains and our public institutions. Red
tape has never been used -extravagantly
at Washington. Inc certainly not by the
Roosevelts. Other women nave been
married at the White House-why not
Alice Roosevelt?
1t Is well that the Roosevelts exercise
some degree of social independence. IL
the people should be asked to decide
how a given function should be observed,
what a topsy-turvy we should have. 1t
makes no difference what this wedding
was-domestic, national or International
The fact Is, the daughter OF the Prssi-
dent of the United States was married
in the house provided by the people for
the Presidents family. and we all have
an interest In the event The display,
70 called. was inevitable, but relatively
no greater than at other weddings.
1t Is q good thing for the President and
his family to come within the range of
the domestic vision OF the people. The
President is in some sense the social
head of the nation. When Lincoln dies
the people count the beat of the pulse,
and when the homes of Garfield and Nc
Kinley are smitten the people share
their grief. 1t is proper that We share
also the Joys OF the Presidents house.
hold and that the whole civilized worlt
share these joys with us. We may d.
this without obtruding our opinions into
the White House and being too willing