Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-23


Mrs. Norman Gait of Washington. In
Honolulu the topic is a popular one
and there is much eagerness to learn
more details Of the woman hitherto
unknown to social rumor outside OF
New York and the Capitol City.
At the White House the announce
ment was made on October Z in the
following simple form:
The announcement was made to-
day OF the engagement OF Mrs. Nor
man Gait OF this city and President
Woodrow Wilson"
The announcement that the Presi-
dent Is TO remarry was a great sur
prise TO most people In Washington
The engagement had been kept a sec
ret within the White House circle and
few even OF the Presidents most
trusted advisers believed the marriage
would take place for many months.
II Is understood the President has
been engaged TO Mrs. Gait for a very
short time. possibly only week or 10
days. Mrs. Gait was at the White
House when the engagement was an.
nounced.
Mrs. Gait Is q beautiful woman OF a
distinct brunette type. the widow OF
Norman Gait. who was part owner Of
a large jewelry store In Washington
and who died eight years ago. Mrs.
{ Gait now owns this store, which is
iun for her by her two brothers.
II IL understood that Mrs. Calf SYM
pathizes with the suffrage movement.
hut never has taken an active part In
1t.
Mrs. Gait Is about 40 years old and
comes from Virginia, the Presidents
home state. The President met her
less than D year ago, not very long
after The White House abandoned so
ciaI activities because OF the death in
August OF Mrs. Wilson. He made Mrs.
Cats acquaintance as one OF the in
Inmates OF his daughters, Miss Marga-
ret Wilson and Mrs. McAdoo.
Mrs. Gait Witnessed the naval re-
view IN New York in May from the
Presidential yacht, the Mayflowef,
where she was a guest of Miss Mar
earet Wilson. At that time rumors
we're afloat that the President had de-
yeIoped q strong liking for Mrs. Gait
and that another White House rO-
nance was to be expected.
Later Mrs. Gait went for a visit at
Harlakenden House, the summer
home q President Wilson, and for a
month or more she was member ok
the circle there The President made !
two visits to Cornish during Mrs.
Calls stay. III 4 &, 8 s 2.
IL was sfnen; Is washington under
stands Il, that the romance developed.
They took long drives together In the !
bic White House touring car in the
beautiful mountain country Of Yer
mont and New Hampshire.
With Mrs. Cats departure from the |
Summer White House in August re-
ports that they were to be engaged
took tangible shape These reports
were received, Of course, with the |
greatest interest in official and social |
circles at the capital, but the Presi-
dents friends refused to discuss the |
matter In any way. Indeed, 1t was
intimated broadly that the President |
would resent any effort to pry into |
his personal affairs.
Mrs. Gait returned to Washington |
friends In Massachusetts.
DR.. Cary T. Grayson, u. s. N, the /
White House physician, and the Pres
ident's close friend. is credited with
having had q good deal to do with |
the development OF the Presidents
romance. DIR. Grayson, who had gain
ed similar prominence as having taxi
en- friendly hand In the romance be-
tween Miss Eleanor Wilson and Sec
rotary Of the Treasury McAdoo. which |
resulted in their marriage last spring, /
met Mrs. Calf more than q year ago
and In turn introduced her to Mrs. Nc.
Adoo and Miss Margaret Wilson.
Miss Margaret Wilson especially /
vas attracted to Mrs. Gait and they
became warm friends Immediately alt
er they had met. Through Miss VIII
SON and Miss Helen Woodrow Bones,
Miss Wilson's cousin, who lives at the
White house, Mrs. Gait was brought
into the highest official circle and met
the President She has maintained
the strongest friendship with the
Presidents two daughters and Miss
Bones and has been a frequent visitor
at the White House.
Mrs. Gait lives In a handsome resi-
dence at 1908 New Hampshire ave-
hue in the fashionable section of
Mrs. Calf has lived here since her j,
in 1896 to. Norman Calf She
was Mr.. Cats second wife. Her huS-
band was the son of william N Gait,
head of the firm of William n. Calf
& Co., which was one Of the largest
and Oldest jewelry establishments In
Mr.. Gait died about
eight years ago. and it was estimated
at that time that Mrs. Gait received
about $4,000 After MS death Mrs.
Gait purchased the interest of Sterling
Gait, her brother-inlaw, in the jewel
~ store, and since that time the
house has been managed for her by
her two. brothers.
Mrs. Gait has not figured promin-
entity in social circles of the capital,
but has been known as q home wo-
man. She has travelled much, having
lived for a. considerable time in Paris.
In appearance she is tall, erect in
carriage, with dark blue eyes and
r.. H.