Rock Island Argus., 1913-03-06

sor in the presidency. The wedding
was simple. as official Washington then .
was in mourning for Commodore Deca- ,
tur, who had been killed in a duel. The .
accounts therefore we're, by .
wish Of the president, curtailed TO
bare announcement. the National In
telngencer saying: Married, on Thurs
day evening last, in this city, by the
Rev. Mr. Hawley, Samuel Lawrence
Gouverneur, Esq. Of New York, 10
Miss Maria Hester Monroe, youngest
daughter of James Monroe, president
Of the United States"
Sprightly Letitia Tyler was married
at is 10 Captain Semple, [. s. n, OF
Virginia. She was just q when her
official career began at the White
house. After taking up the reins which
President William Henry Harrison
had laid down, Presiden Tyler called
his three daughters and his daughter
in-law TO solemn conference, and said
q few well chosen words TO them. Mr.
Wilson, please note:
my daughters" said President Ty-
Ter. you are now occupying positions
OF deep importance | desire you 10
bear in mind three things: Show no
favoritism, accept no gifts, receive no
seekers after Office"
1 Probably one of the most beautiful
of the White house hostesses was Har-
riet Lane, niece of James Buchanan.
/ the bachelor president. She was mis-
tress Of the mansion during her un-
cle's administration. Historians say
that not since the days of the fascinat-
ing Mrs. John Quincy Adams had the
White House been presided over with
more grace and dignity than when Har-
riet Lane dispensed the cheer. Both
Mrs. Monroe and Mrs. John Quincy
Adams had been at foreign courts and
were well prepared TO meet any social
eXigenCy at Washington. Mrs. Monroe
accompanied her husband both TO Paris
and London. The manners and polish
of the diplomatic set abroad were
studied, and. in a way. adapted by this
elegant woman. who created a sensa-
ton in the national capital by not pay
ing or returning visits.
This eXclusiveness on her part once
was the occasion of a special cabinet
meeting and it is recorded that there
were many dissatisfied hostesses who
would have liked to snub the presi
dents wife had they dared John
Quincy Adams had been American min
lister at Berlin and later at St. Peters
burg, ana his wife was both an elegant
, and erUiita mistress of the mansion
Mrs. Abigail Fillmore was another
d woman or marked intellectual taste:
and it vas due to her that congress.
D. made all appropriation for the pur
. chase of books for a White house il
brary. The room wherein these tome!
! are installed has been known eve
4 since as the White house library.
/ A woman who deserved much credi
J was Eliza Johnson, wife of Presiden
5 Johnson. She rose above the marrow
conditions surrounding the old HON,
+ in the Tennessee mountains, tutorel
f. her husband until his education wa
! adequate for the times. and led hin
S step by step from a tailor's bench Il
the floor of the United States senate
|, She was an invalid during the johnson
e regime al the executive mansion AM
r her daughters, Mrs. Patterson an
J. Mrs. SJoyer, acted in her stead. They
!. too, were refined and dignified wome
/. who mastered all emergencies.
a The gentle and afectionate Mr.!
K Mckinley, wife of President WilliaI
Mckinley, is held in tender memory b
# scores Of persons not only in Wasi
n ington, but in Chicago and othe
= places, where she had friends
p MIS-. Theodore Roosevelt. too. wa
O queenly and gracious White hoUs
S, hostess. and the same has been sal
r. Of Mrs. William Howard Taft {
e course, Mrs. Grover Cleveland. who r
a Gently was married a second time, wa
one OF the most distinguished OF ex
d cutive mansion nostesses. Grove
IS Cleveland, ny the way. was me on
T. president who ever celebrated his We
n ding IL the great nouse.
Il President Tyler married, toward ,t
close OF his term. a Miss Julia Card
.e ner. who was 50 years his junior. D,
10 the wedding was not performed in II
d official residence
IS Miss Nellie Grant vas ma~r.ed
Id AIgernou Sartoris May %, 1874,
j. The east room o. ;hs mansion. tt
ID great apartment was decj5ed with re-
T. orange blossoms from ;t" south and
pr is recalled that the lace alone in II
pr brides dress cost $500. An eEormol
g floral bell hung in The enbraSure
d the large eastern window. and 70 I'll
ID the bride and. bridegroom walked b
lg tweer a line Of glittering uniforms Al
e. luxurious costumes.
Speaking OF the Grants, one IS ?
10 minded that during President Gran
- terms. the first child of General Ere
Grant and his wife, who was a CT