Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
BY FOXCROFT DAVIS

House leaving her carriage and going inside the house.
As her predecessor informed in advance of her coming
the ladies and is considered courteous to make
the call long
The handshaking ordeal the worst the Lady of the
White House may be called upon to endure The first
thing President and his wife learn is how to shake
hands, that is to say to grip firmly and in advance
every hand offered to them If they allowed others to
grip their hands, they might be crippled in their
right hands and Some Ladies OF the White House
have not shaken hands promscuousy. Mrs Taft shakes
hands coraly but she be sorry tor 1t before she
gets through Mrs Harrison avoided the terrible hand
shaking by carrying bouquet IN one hand and tan
in the other, she had no hand available to shake
Mrs. Cleveland shook hands much that her right
hand soon became visiby larger than her left She took
up driving and violin playing to remedy the disparity
But there was one occasion when Mrs. Cleveland
did shake hands. There certain United States
Senator, living who abused President Cleveland
violently, and called him dog, Mrs Cleveland would
never consent after that to shake hands with him. At
the White House evees to which he entitled to be
asked by virtue of his senatorsp although the Pres-
dent shook hands with him civy enough, Mrs. Cleve
land would coolly fold her arms and give him only
slight bow No thought less of her for her natural
wely indignation, and she treasured the grudge that
President Cleveland freely forgs,ve. When a public
man. personal friend of President Cleveland asked
him if it that Mrs Cleveland always refused
to shake hands with that particular Senator President
Cleveland laughed and said
IL can't do anything with her where that Senator IS
concerned He called me dog and that was enough:
She won't shake hands with him, and can't make her
Mrs Cleveland was the only bride of the White
House that this generation has seen. No one who
her in the glory of her beauty and freshness as twenty
two-year-od Lady of the White House can forget her
It was her choice be married IN the White House, and
she came to Washington for that purpose Etiquette
forbids President anyone at the station; but
it was thought by many that President Cleveland might
have this rule aside in favor of the young BRIDE to be-
He determined not to do So and Miss Folsom met
at the station by the Presidents sister Miss Rose Eliza
beth Cleveland. The wedding party was comparatively
small; but after brief honeymoon spent out OF wash
ngton the President and his bride returned and held
splendid evening reception Mrs. Cleveland was bril-
antly beautiful that occasion, and looked the en-
bodiment of happiness.
Mrs Cleveland always devoted to the President.
When they at their country place, Red Top, Just
outside of Washington and the President would drive
in and out to the White House. it Mrs. Cleveands
practice to walk the President and drive home
with him. She was extremely gracious to everybody
except the people who abused the President, and to
them she always showed the naughty dspeasure of
offended wife.
The most piteous spectacle ever in the White
House was the late Mrs. Mckinley. She was ex
trenely pretty who had become epileptc when
old from grief at the loss OF both her
children. During President McKineys long service IN
Congress she utterly unknown in Washington She
was most of her time confined her bed sofa, and
Mr. Mckinley spent all the time he possibly could with
her. He was handsome man. formed to shine in Socl
ety. and naturally fond of social life; but he led life OF
work and seclusion Mrs. NIcKinley's account AS
part of her misfortune she developed utter depend
him, and never satisfied unless he was near
her.
When he was elected President, a number of his
closest and oldest friends in Ohio who had known Mrs
Mckinley in her happier days. and understood the sua
tion held conference and deputed lady, one OF the