The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-19

Freak Wedding Performed in
White House During Civil
War Removes Thirteen Jinx.
Will Be Sixth Child of a Presi-
dent TO Be Married in Execu-
tive Mansion-Others Have
Been Nieces and Friends-A
Jilt Backed by One President
eliminated in White House
Wedding-A Soldiers Elope-
ment Which Ended in Same
Honor-Colored Attic n t
Welc omed the Runaways.
Splendors of White House
Weddings Described - Menus
Printed on Satin-A Thousand
Guests at One Wedding.
ny JOHN ELTRETn WATKINS.
Washington, -. &.
NOME aiarmist scribe lately uttered
~ print the ba,ieful suggestion
that. because shetwili be the thir-
tccnth White House bride. Miss Jessie
Woodrow Wilson faces an i'll omen.
And lest some superstitious soul suffer
qualms. superindnced by this proEnos
tcation, DC IL said that certain I'M
official nuDtial tied within the Execu
i've Mangioi, during the Civil War sur
iiced to remove the link from Miss VIII
sous hymcnea, prospects, ana to con
stttute her tie fourteenth White House
- II
trious hack. Jelving into the history
OF tho Presidents house. be blamed
for not learning OF the unofficial mar
ringe In question. George Bancroft
himself would never have mentioned
or have remembered II. Yet II was 4
fact--over which some of Miss VIII
sons admirers will perhaps rejoice.
We Will say more about this unhis-
toric union when 1t Is reached in its
proper chronological order.
First White HOUSE Bride.
When Mr. Francis B Sayre joins the
Presidents daughter in wedlock at the
White House November %. more than
lo2 years will have passed since the
frst White House wedding was
solemnized within the same walls.
That was tho marriage OF Mrs. Dol
~" Madisons youngest sister. Mrs.
Lucy Payne Washington Widow OF
George Steptoe Washington. nephew
OF the Hrst PresidenU, and Judge Todd,
OF Kentucky II occurred in the White
lIouse March II. 1911. during the ad :
iuinistraton OF the brides brotherin n
law. James Madison.
The second White House bride WAS
another 81 Mrs Madison's relatives,
Miss Anna Todd. who also iu 1871.
married Representative Edward T..
jackson. OF Virginia, who was a
great uncle OF Stonewall Jackson. ana
who. during his career. became famous
through duel which he fought with
Representative Eppes. also Of Virginia.
Unfortunately. the social Chroniclcrs
and diarists OF these times do not APP
pear to have handed down to posterity
ANY details OF the nrst two White
House weddings.
First .MnrrLngenblc Daughter"
The Arst interchangeable daughter % a
President 10 De presented TO society
during her fathers administration was
Miss Maria Hester Monroe. who had
been horn In France during James
Monroc's mission there. Although only
fourteen when she was brought TO the
White House. this youthful belle i'm
proved her time 10 the extent OF be
ing wooed, won and welded all ere she
had passed sweet sixteen.
Doubtless II was coincidence that
rho. like the nrst White House bride
chose March II for the wedding day
tho year being 1920.
The bridegroom was her maternal
FIRST cousin. Samuel Lawrence Gouvcr-
neir. OF New York. and the clergyman
officiating was the Rev. William Haw-
low. rector OF ST. Johns Church.
Married New York style"
According to one chronicier, this
happy couple were married New York
style" whatever that method may have
been in those days. The ceremony was
witnessed ny only the bridal party, the
relatives and few old friends of the
contracting couple. Not even the Cab
met members were invited General
Thomas S. Jesup, one OF the heroes OF
the War of 1912. was best man After
Mr.. Hawley pronounced the pair united