The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-12-29

Or. GRAYsON PLAYED A PART
In Bringing the Charming
Widow Into The White
House Circle.
SOUTH PoRTIco FATAL" SPOT

Washington Dec, 25.-President
Wilson's announcement of his on"
gagement to Mrs. Gait was made
from the White House on Oct. Z and
came as surprise. The Chief Ex-
ecutive's attentions to the charming
widow had been tea table gossip
here since early spring, but few per-
sons outside of his immediate circle
of friends and those of Mrs. Gait
suspected the romance.
The President met Mrs. Gait not
long after the death of his first wife.
She was first brought into the White
House circle by DIR. Cary T. Gray
son, the Presidents personal physi-
clan. DR.. Grayson made the ac-
quaintance of the charming Virginia
widow through her friend, Miss Ger
trude Gordon, young heiress.
Noting her tact, ready sympathy
and willingness to smooth over the
hard places for her friends, he se-
I
comradeship'' he had prescribed for
Miss Helen Woodrow Bones, the
Presidents young kinswoman, who
had suffered a nervous breakdown.
The casual acquaintance of Mrs.
Calf and Miss Bones soon ripeDed
into a sincere affection and the for
mer became frequent visitor at the
White House. Her first meeting
with the President, according to
gossip, took place in the south porti
co of the Executive Mansion. 1t was
in the late autumn ana both were in
mourning, Mrs. Gait still clinging to
black, although eight years had
elapsed since her widowhood.
1t was in February-so the story
goes--that the President first began
to show personal interest in Mrs.
Gait rather than the mere casual po-
likeness with which he would treat
any visitor to the ladies of his house
hold. and one April evening. after
she had dined informally with Miss
Bones, he escorted her home in one
of the White House cars. 1t was
also in April that they first appeared
in public together at ball game at
the American League Park.
Thereafter they met often. The
White House automobile often was
seen drawn up in front of Mrs.
Galt's house: and motor parties,
composed of the President, Mrs. Gait,
Miss Bones, DR.. Grayson and some
times Miss Gordon, became such us
ual occurrences that Washington no
longer commented.
Then came Mrs. Galt's visit to
Miss Bones and Miss Margaret Will
son, the Presidents eldest daughter,
at Harlakenden House, the summer
White House in Vermont, where dur
ing the Presidents brief vacation
she was his companion on his daily
round of golf He also enjoyed long
walks in this pleasant companion
ship and rode many miles by auto
mobile through the Vermont and
New Hampshire hills with Mrs. Gait.
This visit was also marked by the
first entertaining in which any on
the members of the Wilson family
had INDUCED since the beginning of
their period of mourning for the
late Mrs. Wilson, an informal tea
and garden party for the members
of the summer colony. at which Miss
Wilson and Miss Bones were hoss
tesses.
While DR.. Grayson may we'll be
dubbed "Cupid's assistant" for first
bringing the President and his fan
Gee together. it is TO Miss Bones. de-
mure. sweet-mannered. soft-voiced
and gentle. that the credit must go
for managing" affairs so adroitly
that the President might pursue
his courtship.
Nobody who remembers President
Wilson as he was year ago. with
traces of each Of his fifty-eight years
craven on his face. and who sees
him to-day. looking ten years young
err. his austerity melted. his shout
ders no longer bowed with cares OF
State. can doubt that under the in
nuence of the simple, charming. gra-
cious woman he has won. the years
at the spring for him.