Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14
PRESIDENT To WE'D
WASHINGTON WIDOW
Wilson Makes Announcement at
White House Dinner.
WEDDING DATE NOT KNOWN
Mrs. Norman Gait, Wife OF Late Jew
eIer, viii Become First Lady"
Soon - Executive introduced
by Daughter Margaret.


Washington, Oct. 7.-Announcemen
was made at the White House today
Of the engagement of President Wood
row Wilson to Mrs. Norman Gait of
this city.
Mrs. Gait, the bride-to-be, is the widow
of a Washington jeweler who died
eight years ago. She is of Virginia
birth and about ten years younger
than the president.
Date of Wedding Not Announced.
The date Of the wedding was not
given in the statement announcing
the engagement, but it is believed the
event will take place within short
time
The official announcement follows:
THE White House. Washington,
Oct. 6, 1915.-The announcement was
made today of the engagement of
Mrs. Norman Gait of this city to
President Woodrow Wilson"
Bride-to-Be Born in Virginia.
Mrs. Gait, who will be the next first
lady Of the land is the widow of a
business man of Washington, Norman
Gait, a partner in a prominent jewelry
firm, VINO died eight years ago. She
has resided here since her marriage.
Mrs. Gait was Miss Edith Boiling and
was born in WytheviIle, Va. Her faith
er was the Hon William H. Boiling, a
welI-known lawyer of that section of
Virginia. Her family is distinguished
in Virginia and Mrs Gait is related to
many Of the best families of the Old
Dominion.
Wilson Introduced by Daughter.
The president met his fancee
through his daughter, Miss Margaret
Wilson, and his cousin, Miss Helen
Woodrow Bones, who is a member of
the White House household. Mrs. Gait
is one of Miss Bones most intimate
friends and spend month at the sum-
mer White House at Cornish as the
guest of Miss Bones and Miss Wilson.
It is understood that Mrs. Gait and
the president have intellectual tastes
in common and the president has been
frequent dinner guest at the Gait
household during the season which
has just passed.
Announced at Dinner.
An informal dinner party was given
at the White House last night, which
Mrs. Calf attended, to celebrate the
announcement of the engagement. The
other guests were Secretary of the
Treasury and Mrs. McAdoo, the Misses
Smith, the presidents cousins from
New Orleans; Miss Helen Woodrow
Bones and Col H. Brown, another
cousin from Atlanta. 1t is understood
that the announcement was made be-
cause of the impending departure of
Secretary and Mrs. McAdoo to the Pa
cific coast, where the secretary will
conduct an inspection tour of public
buildings. The secretary and Mrs
McAdoo will leave on Friday.
Mrs. Wilson Died IA Months Ago.
Fourteen months ago to a day the
presidents first wife, who was Miss
Ellen Arson, died in the White House.
For many months the president main
tanned the strictest mourning. Late
last spring it was observed that the
charming friend of Miss Bones, his
favorite cousin, was a frequent guest
not only at the White House but in
the presidential box at the baseball
games. Rumors of an existing en-
gagement between the president and
Mrs. Gait were then circulated
These rumors were heightened
when it was learned that Mrs. Gait
was house guest at Cornish and
that the president paid her marked
attention. 1t is understood now, how
ever, that the romance between the
president and his fancee did not be-
! gin to ripen until the Cornish visit
Mrs. Gait and the president each day
were companions on long rides
through the sunlit hills of Vermont
and New Hampshire.
Wore Mourning Eight Years.
| In speaking of her friendship for
the president and his family to init
mate friends, Mrs Gait is said to have
declared that the fact that all were
| southerners and had similar tastes in
! books and music was responsible for
! the friendship. The news of her en-
gagement comes as great surprise
| to many of her friends because she
! had worn mourning for her husband
for eight years, and was supposed to
be still unreconciled to his loss.
/ Resembles Mrs. Wilson.
Mrs Cats resemblance to the late
Mrs. Wilson has frequently excited
comment She is a strikingly pretty
woman in her late forties slightly
below medium height, has a graceful,
rather plump figure. Her hair is
brown and her eyes are gray blue.
Her prettiest feature is her mouth,
which is curved and expressive. Pres
/ ident Wilson will be fifty-nine years
old in December.
interested in Politics.
Mrs. Gait has been identified with
/ the southern colony and the musical
! and literary circles Of the national
capital. She has graceful. vivacious
/ manner, and is well informed on all
/ the subjects of the day and takes
/ keen interest in politics.
NJ-ILed Threa mi,ae in SIeAp