Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-29

were family men of the highest type,
and neither hesitated TO kiss their
wives in public. The tenderness and
devotion of Mckinley to his invalid
wife was pathetic and exemplary.
The wife of President Harrison died
while he was in office, casting a gloom
over the chief magistrate and the
White House whichNuever lifted dur
ing the rest of his term. Like Tyler,
Grover Cleveland married while he
was President. Cleveland, however,
had the ceremony performed at the
White House, while Tyler ran away
from his associates and caused a SEN
sation by getting married quietly in
New York.
Martha Washington's admirers de-
scribe her as perfect Virginia
housewife, one who could judicious-
ly direct her servants, receive her
guests with graciousness and preside
over social functions with a noble
dignity. Her devotion to her husband
and children set an example for the
young nation to follow.
Mrs. Adams, wife of the second
President, was woman of much
strength of character, whose excel
lent judgment in all things had a
great influence on John Adams. II
was she who had the distinction of
holding the first New Years reception
i'm the White House, when she re-
ceived, an observer tells us, with the
dignity of a royal parsonage"
Jefferson was a widower and the
White House was without a mistress
in the eight years he was President.
When a social function requiring a
hostess was held some one of tho
women of the cabinet circle was
drafted, usually Mrs Madison, wife
of the secretary of state This is
the same Dolly Madison" that dem
ocratic women of Washington have
banded together to keep her men,
DRY fragrant. As the wife Of Presi-
dent Madison she made the White
House the social centre of the ma
tional capital and the troubles of the
administration closed in a blaze Of
social glory, thanks to Queen
Dolly"
The wives of Monroe and John
Quincy Adams were beautiful and
accomplished, and they made the Off
! cial residence of their husbands as
near homelilxe as is possible to make
public building. Jackson's wife
was dead when he was elected Presi-
dent: Van Buren, was a widower, and
the wife of William Henry Harrison
was too i'll to accompany him to
! Washington. Thus for twelve years
the White House was without a real
mistress. The rare and ready wit
| of Mrs. Polk attracted the leading
| public men of all parties to the White
House and restored the place to its
old position. The wife of "old Rough
| and Ready" lack Taylor, however,
/ refused to have anything to do with
social functions, turning over such
matters to an accomplished daugh-
ter; but Mrs. Taylor was a DEVOTED
and loyal wife, whose affections were
reciprocated by the general.
Mrs. Fillmore was another who
shrank from the social duties and her
! daughter discharged most of the obli-
cations OF a presidents wife. But
| Fillmore would not have been in the
| White House at all but for his wife.
She was a teacher when he met her
| and he was a tailors apprentice. 1t
was with the money she earned that
he was enabled to study law.
The high personal character of our
] Presidents is a familiar national
/ boast But behind every good man
there is better woman somewhere.
4 The mistresses Of the White House
form a line no less worthy Of our
pride than their husbands, and they
have made the seat of executive
power a shining example of the do
nestle virtues.-Uncle Dudley, in the
Boston Globe.