The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-10-14
WILSON IS TO WE'D CAPITOL
WIDOW. ..
President Announces Engagement to
Mrs. Norman Gait of
Washington.

y States, announced tonight his engage
ment to Mrs. Norman Gait, of Wash
ington. The date of the wedding has
not been fixed, but it probably will
take place in November at the home
of the bride-elect.
The brief announcement from the
White House made by Secretary
Tumulty came as surprise to Of
ficial Washington, but to number
OF intimate friends it has long been
expected. From this circle came to-
night the story of friendship whose
elimination was viewed as happy
turn in the troubles and lonely life
of the nations chief executive.
1t was Miss Margaret Wilson and
her cousin, Miss Bones, who drew
Mrs. Calf into the White House
circle. They met her first in the
early autumn of last year, and were
so much attracted by her that they
sought her out more and more fire.
quently and the friendship between
them rapidly ripened into an affec-
tionate intimacy.
Mrs. Gait spent month this sum-
mer at Cornish as the house guest OF
the presidents eldest daughter. 1t
was through this intimacy of his
daughter that the president had an
opportunity to meet and know Mrs.
Calf. One of the most interesting
facts about the engagement, indeed,
as told by friends, is that the presi-
dents daughters should have chosen
Mrs. Gait for their admiration and
friendship before their father did.
Mrs. Calf is the widow of well
known business man of Washington,
who died eight years ago, leaving a
jewelry business that still bears his
name. She has lived in Washing
ton since her marriage in 1896.
She is about SO years old and was
Miss Edith Boiling, born in Wythe-
VILE, Va, where her girlhOOd was
spent and where her father, William
H. Boiling, was prominent lawyer.
In the circle of people who have
known Mrs. Gait for many years she
has been regarded as an unusual
beauty, gifted with a natural charm.
Friends speak of her as being con-
stantly sought out as a delightful
companion, remarking especially on
her thoughtfulness and quick capac-
ity for anything she chose to under
take.
For many weeks Mrs. Gait and her
relatives have been frequent dinner
guests at the White House. Often she
has accompanied the president on
motor rides. She is not quite as tall
as Mr.. Wilson, has dark hair, and
dark eyes, and always is in stylish at
tire. Her tastes are said to be strik-
ingly similar to those of the presi-
dent with a deep interest in litera-
ture and charity work.
Friends of the president expressed
their pleasure over the announce
ment not only because of Mr.. Will
sons personal happiness, but because
they felt this new companionship
would give him support and comfort
in his home life-a vital need during
the hours of strain over the nation
problems.
With the marriage of his two
daughters and the death of Mrs. Will
son more than year ago, the presl-
dents life has become one of soil
tude. His absorption in official la
bors began to tell on him physically,
and when few months ago he began
to take a renewed interest in person
al affairs his friends and members of
the family welcomed the distinct
change which it brought about in his
health and spirits.
Tonight-at the end of busy day
for the president, during which he
announced that he would vote for
woman suffrage, took firm position
in favor of national defense, and re-
ceived a number of callers-Mrs.
Calf was dinner guest at the White
House. At the moment when Secre-
tary Tumulty stood in the executive
offices announcing the engagement to
a large number of Washington CORE
spOndents who had been summoned
for the occasion, the president and
Mrs. Gait were spending the evening
with DR.. Cary T. GraysOn and Miss
Bones in the White House parlors.
The news was given out in a brief
statement, which read:
"The announcement was made to-
day of the engagement of Mrs. Nor
man Gait of this city and President
Woodrow Wilson,"
No word as to plans for the we'd
ding was said to be available as yet,
but is presumed generally that Mrs.
Gait, who is of domestic tastes,
will prefer a private wedding in her
own home instead of in the White
house
Grover Cleveland was the last
president to be married in the White
House. Should Mr. Wilson eventually
decide to be married there, it will be
the third wedding in the mansion
under his administration, the first be-
tween Jessie Woodrow Wilson and
Francis B. Sayre being held in the
East room, and the second between
Secretary McAdoo and Miss Eleanor
Wilson being solemnized in the Blue
room.
The announcement of the engage
ment was generally regarded as
forerunner of an interesting social
season for Washington, with the new
first lady of the land at the head OF
the receiving line at official recep-
lions. The wedding, it is understood.
will take place before the first OF
the series of state receptions and din
ners is held.
Mrs. Gait was present at the first
social affair participated in by the
president and Miss Margaret Wilson
in more than a year. 1t was tea
s1l,I in,