The Washington herald., 1907-12-30
RECALLS Old DAYS
Mrs. Semple Formerly Mis-
tress of White House.
DAUGHTER OF A PRESIDENT
Funeral of GraDde Dame, Who
Knew Daniel Webster and Other
fore Civil War, 20 Be Held This
MOrning-Eighty-fO Years Old.

In the death Saturday of Mrs. Letitia
! Tyler Semple, at the Louise Home, a
woman of the old regime passed away.
Washington was the scene OF her so
cial ascendency in the days before the
civil war.
Mrs. Semple was the daughter Of Presi-
| dent John Tyler by his first wife. The
home in which she died Is an institution
for aged Southern gentlewomen, estab-
| lished by W. w. COrcoran, Washington's
millionaire philanthrOpist, as a memorial
to his wife and daughter Saturday was
the anniversary OF the late Mr.. Corcoran's S
birth
Mrs. Semple was born elghty-four years
ago. She was married 10 Paymastcr Sem
pie. OF the navy. before her father be-
came President. She spent much time at
the White House during her mothers
illness. but when her mother died she re-
| turned 10 her home. the famous Colonial
Palace. in Williamsburg. From there she
was called, when the period OF mourning
| had passed, 20 become the mistress OF
the White House. and dispensed the hos
pltality of the mansion until 1874. when
President Tyler took a second wife, the
beautiful Miss Julia Gardiner. Of Gardi-
ners Island. New York
Was Always "a Grande Dame.
4 Although bowed by years and illness
Mrs. Semple never lost the manner and
| appearance Of the grande dame She was
tall and slender. Of dignified bearing and
had expressive eyes Of dark shade. Her
| snow-white hair was worn in picturesque
curls, Of the style Of sixty years ago.
Friends Of Mrs. Sempie, detected in her
/ ft .tures, a strong resemblance TO her
/ father Her mind was alert and active.
even in her last days. For more than
/ a dozen years she was crippled by pa
/ ralysis, and once only. essayed 70 leave
/ the Louise Home 10 attend a social func-
/ ton. That was in 1856. when she was
/ a guest al the wedding OF President
/ Cleveland and Miss Frances Folsom.
Mrs. Semple was full Of memories of
the old times In Washington She WAS
| fond Of recalling her acquaintance with
great men. When the Prince de Join
/ vile visited Washington. she was the
mistress OF the White House. Daniel
/ Webster her fathers Secretary OF state.
/ was an intimate friend once she said.
1T fell frequently 20 Mr.. WebSter's lot
/ 20 take me out TO dinner He was not
only one OF the most brilliant men but
| one OF the most profound thinkers I
/ ever met. He spoke 50 wisely and with
/ so much knowledge on the simplest sub
/ ject that no one would think OF making
] a frivolous remark in his presence"
Talks TO Visitor.
years ago visitor to Mrs
the Louise Home wrote "a sym
ccount Of the former first lady
nd.
ON, which had a Northern ex-
le said was flooded with af-
Inlght a cheerful FIRE burned
ate. and over the mantel were
family portraits. among them q charm
/ ing picture Of her sister Elizabeth. whose
wedding at the White House was one
Of the events Of the Tyler administra-
tion.
This was only one OF the many re-
minders Of the time OF Tippecanoe and
! Tyler. too. There were many pictures Of
distinguished people connected with that
! period, and a framed memorial hanging
just behind the sofa on which Mrs. Sem
| pie was seated.
IN our time" said Mrs. SempIe. in an
swer 10 a question. we used -he same
furniture the same carpets. the china
the glass that had been put IN the house
during Mr.. MOnr0e's administration To
be sure. the furniture and the hanCings
were somewhat shabby. I remember that
my sister used TO jump through the Sits
| In the curtain In the Green Room. hu+
they We're very handsome. Ny fathers
was an economical administration. There
was no intention that il should be other
wise.