The Winslow mail., 1911-03-04
NEW NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Presidents Tribute TO the Mem
0Ty OF His Wife.
General Arthur Felt Little Satisfac-
tion In Occupying the White
House Because His Loved
Helpnnate was Gone,
RN {. j. EDWARDS.

When Chester A Arthur became
first official residence was in the
Washington house of Senator John P.
Jones of Nevada. This was due to
the fact that the White House had
to undergo a long period of renova-
tion following President Garfeld's re-
moval thence to the seashore and it
was not until late in the autumn of
1881 that General Arthur was able to
take UP his residence in the nations
home for its presidents In the mean
time he was provided with suitable
roof through the thoughtfulness and
hospitality of Senator Jones.
"I know that it was with no feeling
of pride or exultation that Chester A.
Arthur finally entered the White
House SIS president" said General
Howard Carroll, former member of
congress from New York City and for
years one of General Arthur's init
mate personal and political friends,
He was bowed down with regret over
the Garfield tragedy, for one thing;
and then, Notwithstanding his politi-
cal activity, he was a lonely man His
little daughter was away at school,
his son was at college, and his wife
had been dead several years when he
was elected vice president.
General Arthur and his wife had
been much attached to each other;
their domestic relations were ideal.
Mrs. Arthur was q beautiful woman of
many accomplishments, and she and
her husband had many tastes in com
mon. Both were fond of music; Mrs.
Arthur had a very charming and high
ly cultivated voice, which, had she
chosen a professional career for her
self, probably would have brought her
considerable fame. And both were
very fond of literature. Although the
public did not know it, President Ar
thur was of scholarly attainments. He
was a constant reader of the classics,
he spoke German very well, and he
read that language with facility.
Zone morning about a week after
the president had moved into the
White House | had occasion to call
there. AS | was compelled to leave
for New YorR on mid-ferenoon train,
| timed my call so as to reach the
White House just after the president
had finished breakfast. But when |
asked for him his valet, Powell, told
me that the president was dressing
I therefore sent word that | would
wait until he could receive me, but in
a few moments I was asked to go to
the presidents dressing room, and
there we conyersed about the business
that had called me to the White
House,
While the talk was going on |
noted the appropriate manner in
which the presidents private apart
ment had been fitted up, and after
the business in hand was out of the
way ] commented on the furnishings
and decorations, yenturing to say that,
now that he was at last in the White
House, he must have some sense OF
pride in the fact that he was presi-
dent of the United States; that he
must have some concrete idea Of what
it all meant to be the head of SO
great a country
For moment General Arthur did
not answer me. Then, slowly, he
turned and stood looking at a por-
trait which hung upon the wall It
was a splendid likeness of Mrs. Ar
thur, and it was the one domestic
adernment of his New York house
which he had insisted on bringing to
Washington with him, and hanging
where, In his private moments, he
could easily look at IT,
For several minutes he gazed low
ingiy, longingly, at the picture. Then
he turned to me:
Howard, he said, slowly, simply
and yet impressively, you say it is a
great thing to be president and oc.
cupy the White House. But | have
felt every moment that I have been
here, as l have looked upon the por-
trait Of my wife, how much meaning
there is in the poem of Heine's you
know so well. All,
What for me is all the blooming
If bloom myself alone"
he repeated, in German, looking ten
derly at the portrait of Mrs. Arthur.
while a tone of infinite tenderness
came into his voice. Then, a moment
later, he added:
Howard, that Is the way I feel
and have felt ever since l entered the
White House. And that Is the way l
will feel until depart from it."
Copyright, 1910. by E J Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)