The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-10-07
Engagement to Mrs. Norman GauIt
Announced Last Might
MARRIED PRODABLYlN DECEMBER
Advent of New Mistress Of the White
House Expected TO lnaueurate
Gay Season.

Washington, Oct Woodrow viii
son, president of the United States,
announced last night his engagement
to Mrs. Norman Gait of Washington.
The date of the wedding has not
been fixed, but it probably will take
place in December at the home of the
bride-elect.
The brief announcement from the
White House made by Secretary Tum
ulty, came as a surprise to official
Washington, but to a number of in
innate friends it has long been ex-
pected From this circle came last
night the story of friendship whose
elimination was viewed as a happy
turn in the troubled 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 cir
Gle. They met in the early autumn
of last year and were so much at
tracted by her that they sought her
out more and more frequently and
the friendship between them ripened
into an affectionate intimacy. Mrs.
Calf spent month this summer
at Cornish as the guest of the presi-
dents eldest daughter. 1t was
through this intimacy of his daughter
that the president had an opportun-
ity to meet and know Mrs. Gait
Mrs. Gait is the widow of a promin
ent business man of Washington,
who died eight years ago leaving a
jewelry business that still bears his
name. She has lived in Washington
since her marriage in 1896 She is
about SO years old and was Miss
Edith Boiling, born in Wytheyille,
Va, where her girlhood was spent
and where her father, William VI.
Bolting was a 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 as delightful com
panion, remarking especially her
thoughfulness and her quick capacity
for anything she chooses to undertake.
Friends of the president expressed
their pleasure over the announce
ment last night not only because of
Mr., Wilson's personal happiness but
because they felt his new compan-
ionship would give him support and
comfort in his home lfe-a vital need
during the hours of strain over the
nations problems. With the mar
riage of his two daughters and the
death of Mrs Wilson in August, 1914.
the presidents life has been one of
solitude. His absorption in official
labors began to tell on him physically
and when few months ago, he be-
gan to take a renewed interest in per
sonal affairs, his friends and memb-
ers of the family welcomed the dis
tinct change which it brought
about in his health and spirits.
No word as to plans for the wed.
ding is available as yet, but
it is generally presumed that Mrs.
Gait. who is of democratic tastes, will
prefer quiet wedding in her own
home in stead of the White House
The announcement Of the wedding
was generally regarded as a forerun.
ner of an interesting social season for
Washington, with the new first lady
of the land at the head of the receiv
ing line at official receptions. The
wedding, it is understood, will take
place before the first of the series of
state receptions and dinners is held.