Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-23
JANUARY %, 1910.
LADIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE
BY FRANK HI. BROOK!


ed States married widows.
Two Abigails have been mistresses
of the White House-Abigail Adams,
the first White House lady, and Abb
gail Fillmore.
Mrs. Madison Dolly had been
widoweless than a year when she be-
came wife of the president. Washing
ton Irving described her as "a buXom
dame who had a pleasant smile for
everybody" She played whist when
she was 70 years old.
The only Elizabeth in the old man
sion, as it's head, was Mrs. Monroe.
The only Louisa Catherine was Mrs.
J. Q. Adams.
Rachel was the name of the wife of
Andrew Jackson She did not live to
accompany him to the White House.
In the administrations of "Old Hick-
ory," the mistresses of the mansion
were, first, Mrs. Emily Donelson, wife
of the presidents secretary; the second
was Sarah Yorke Jackson, wife of
the presidents foster son. She was
bride when she took up the duties of
the mansion. Mrs. Donelson was re-
quested to quit the White House by
jackson because she refused to recog
nize the wife of member of his cab
met. But soon after she was recalled.
III the administration of Tyler there
were four mistresSes of the White
house. The first was Letitia c. Tyler.
After her first year she gave up the
duties on account of i'll health. The
duties then devolved upon her daugh-
ter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Tyler, and she
was succeeded by Mrs. Letitia Tyler
Semple the presidents own daughter,
who served until the president married
his second wife, Miss Julia Gardiner.
The name of Mrs. Polk was Sarah
Childress. She was the first in her po-
sition to do away with refreshments
in the mansion
President Taylor's wife, Margaret, re-
fused to accept the responsibilities OF
her position, on account of delicate
health. The duties devolved upon her
daughter Elizabeth until her fathers
death.
owing to her frail physical condition,
Jane Appleton Pierce, wife of Frank
lin Pierce, paid little attention to So
cial requirements, and no ono took her
place.
James Buchanan was a bachelor.
The first lady in his administration
was the accomplished Harriet Lane,
his niece. She it was who assisted in
the reception of the prince of Wales,
now Edward VII.
The first Mary of the White House
was Mary Todd Lincoln.
The wife of Andrew Johnson was
Eliza McCardie. She had no fondness
for the duties, and they were assumed
by her daughter, Mrs. Martha Patter-
son. Later she was succeeded by an
other daughter Mrs. Mary Slower The
second Julia of the mansion was Julia
Dent Grant.
The only Lucy was Lucy Webb
Hayes
The only Lucretia was Lucretia Ru-
dolph Garfield.
The wife of Arthur died about the
time he was nominated for vice pres
ident. When he succeeded to the pres
idency through the assassination of
Garfield his sister, Mrs Mary Arthur
McElroy became mistress of the man
sion. The name of Mrs. Arthur was
Ellen Herndon. She was a southerner
and a brilliant woman.
The mistress in the first administra-
ton of Cleveland was his sister, Miss
Rose. Frances Folsom, the White
House bride, was the first lady of the
land in the second administration of
Cleveland.
Caroline was the name of the wife of
President Benjamin Harrison. She
died in the White House.
Mrs. Mckinley was Ida. Mrs. Roose-
welt is Edith. Mrs. Taft is Helen.
The only former mistresses of the
White House living are Mrs. Grover
Thnn6nrp ROOSP-