The Irish standard., 1908-07-18
MRS. CLEVELAND.
A Priest Editors Tribute to the Widow
Of fhA EoRnaar PrasidAnt

A Priest Editors Tribute to the Widow
Of the Former President.
Amidst the profound sorrow over
the death of Grover Cleveland exhibit
ed in every section of our common
country, we direct the eyes Of our
readers to a woman's figure bending
over his grave. writes Rev. William p.
Cantwell, LII. D.. editor OF The "Mon-
itor," of Newark. N. ]. From all sides
have come testimonials to the worth
of the former president. We beg to
place the crown Of noble womanhool
on the brow Of Mrs. Cleveland.
We recall the day when Grover
Cleveland led into the White House as
its young mistress the charming Miss
Frances Folsom. From that day Mrs.
Cleveland has been a model wife, a
faithful helpmeet.
Her home was her kingdom. There
she loved and reared her children. The
ASASS AASAt t1AdL OSdt OAA lIl0 w ullS
House never penetrated into the swee.
seclusion of her home. When she was
called on, she presided over social
functions with grace and charm: but
she preferred the joys Of a mother to
all the glamor and pleasures Of So
ciety. even though her position entitled
her to the highest place in its ranks
The people soon learned to love her:
she was the highest type Of American
womanhood.
When. she left the White House she
continued to shun publicity. She de-
voted herself to her great husband and
to the children who bore his name. She
lived for them and sought her delight
in their company, sharing their joys
and helping to bear their sorrows.
When death came to Grover Cleveland
1t found his ever faithful wife at his
side. The first sun that rose on hts
grave bathed in its rays the sorrowing
widow as she bent over the mound that
enclosed the husband she loved.
We are living in a worse than friv-
olous age. The obligations of the mar
riage tie seem to sit lightly on many
people. What We are pleased to call
society" is notoriously lacking in a
sense of the dignity of matrimony. Not
only is temptation not Stunned, but it
Is positively courted. Loose ideas of
marriage are cultivated. There seems,
in fact, with many to be a return to
the shameful paganism Of the distant
past. Divorce courts are crowded to
shuttle off the bonds, which the twain
had vowed ever to preserve. Sometimes
the following day sees new marriage
contracted, marriage in whose foun-
dation are i'll concealed the basest pas
sions of the human heart. Homes are
ruined: children are thrown on the
mercies Of the world, to be brought
up without mothers love or a fathers
care, orphans by a parents sin.
And there is nothing sadder in the
midst of all this ruin and confusion
than the degradation of womanhood.
Woman. under the stress of these un-
fortunate conditions, is fast falling
from her high estate. She Is not con-
tent to be the mistress of her hus-
bands heart and the queen of mis-
home; she prefers the frivolities which
flatter her vanity. or the baser pleas
ures which accompany sin. The pic
ture before US Is the sad and disgust
ing picture which paganism once pre-
sented and which we dreamed was
gone In all its responsiveness forever.
And We cannot but feel that woman
herself is responsible for the return to
paganism. and that she seeks to cove..
with flowers the fatal pathway that
leads to her degradation and debasc-
ment.
How refreshing amidst such happen
ings to find a woman of such nobility
of character. such purity of life, such
devotion to duty as Mrs. Cleveland pos
sesses. She is an honor to her sex.
The heart Of all America goes out to
her in her grief.