The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-07
Mrs. Norman Gait of Wash ington Has Accepted the Hand of Nations Chief Executive
NEXT MISTRESS OF
 THE WHITE HOUSE A
 NATIVE OF VIRGINIA
Date Not Set for Ceremony, But Affair Will Be Fore runner of Brilliant Social Season at Washington

Washington. October 6.-wocdrow Wilson, the President of the United States. announced tonight his engage mcnt to Mrs. Norman Gait of Washing been fixed. hut 1t probably will take place In December at the home of the bride-eIect.
 Tho brief announcement from the White House. made by Secretary Tu- muIty. came as surprise to of ncial Washington, hut to n number or intimate friends 1t long had been ex- pected. From this circle came tonight the story of friendship whose cuI- imitation was viewed as n happy turn in the troubled and lonely life of the nstion's chief executive.
 It was Miss Margaret Wilson. and her cousin. Miss Helen Woodrow Bones, who drew Mrs Galt into the White House circle. They met her in tho early autumn of last year. and were so much attracted by her that they sought her out more and more frequently. Mrs. Galt spent month this summer at Cornish as a guest of the Presi-
 dents eldest daughter. It was through
 the intimacy of his daughter and cousin
 with Mrs. Galt that the President had
 an opportunity to meet and know her. onesof the most interesting facts about the engagement. indeed. as told by friends, is that the Presidents daugh- ters chose Mrs. Gait for their admira- tion and friendship before their father did.
 Widow of Business Man
 Mrs. Galt Is the widow of we'll
 known business man of Washington
 who died eight years ago. leaving d jewelry business that still bears his
 name. She has lived in Washington since her marriage in 1896. She ia about 3S years old and was Miss Edith Boiling. born in Wytheville. Va, where her girlhood was spent and where her father William II. Boiling, was prom inent lawyer.
 For many weeks Mrs. Gait and her relatives have been frequent dinner guests at the White House. often she has accompanied the President on mo- tor rides. She Is not quite as tall as Mir, Wilson, has dark hair and dark eyes. Friends regard her as an unusual
 beauty. Her tastes are said to be
 strikingly similar to those Of the
 President She Is interested in litera- ture and charity worK
 Friends of the President expressed their
 ar ,t,rt.< not only because of Mr. Wilson's 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 na- tions problems With the marriage of his
 daughters and the death of Mrs. Wilson
 more than year ago. the Presidents
 life had become one of solitude His ab-
 sorption In official labors began to tell on him physically. and when a few months ago he began to take renewed interest in personal affairs. his friends and mem- bers of the family welcomed the dis tinct change which 1t brought about In his health and spirits. Tonight Mrs. Galt was dinner guest at the White House. At the moment when Secretary Tumulty stood In the executive offices announcing the engagement to. Washington corre- spondents summoned for the occasion the President and Mrs. Galt were spending the evening with Dr. Cary T. Grayson and Miss Bones in the White House par lors. fFssAt Nlf sa Marriage Announcement The news was given out in A brief statement which read:
 The announcement was made today of the engagement of Mrs. Normal Galt of this city and President Woodrow Wilson, No word as to plans for the wedding were available but 1t generally is pre- W n ig nf cratic tastes. will prefer a private wed- ding in her own home to one in the White House. Grover Cleveland was the last President to be married in the White House. should Mir. Wilson eventually de- eide to be married there if would be the third wedding in the mansion under his administration. The first was between Jessie Woodrow Wilson and Francis E. Sayre. and the second between Secretary McAdoo and Miss Eleanor Wilson. The announcement of the engagement was regarded generally as forerunner
 of an interesting social season for Wash-
 ington, with the new first lady of the land at the head of the receiving line at official receptions. The wedding, 1t Is understood. will take place before the first of the series of state receptions and dinners Is held.
 Mrs. Galt was present at the first social affair participated in by the Presi- dent and Miss Margaret Wilson more than a year ago. It was a tea given by Miss Wilson to neighbors in the artist colony at Cornish. N. H.
 Since the return of the President to Washington he and Mrs. Galt have spent many evenings together. sometimes at the White House and often at her home Last week MrA Gait occupied . prominent seat in the President's reviewing stand at the Grand Army of the Republic parade. She was with her mother in the midst of circle of the President friends and wives of cabinet members. Some oe the Presidents friends who may have had an inkiing of todays announcement were
 >(Continuea en Pn~a Thresl .