Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-07
K y u y y u r u x y y " y x \

Washington, Oct. f.--Ine nation is to
have new first lady. She will be
Mrs. Norman Gait, Of this city, a
charming widow of 80, member of a
fine southern family, whose engage
ment to President Woodrow Wilson was
announced last night.
The wedding Will be extremely quiet
and will be IN the Calf home in tne
fashionable Dupont Circle section, prob
ably early in December, the WnnO
House announced today.
The White House today was liter
ally swamped with congratulatory mes
sages for the president From every
corner of the land came nations eX'
pressions of happiness, wishing him
Joy. High officials joined win o.
scure citizens in fehcitating the Chief
executive.
Cabinet heads and others in intimate
| touch with the president personally eX
pressed their good Wishes.
The president is SO years old, ha'
been widower for IA months. Dur
ing that period, until a few months
ago, he observed strict mourning. III
first social activities were at Cornish
! N. H., where the charming widow wht
is soon to be his wife, was the hous'
guest of his daughter.
Then few weeks ago he attended
his first theatre performance in mor'
than q year.
In the months since his first wife Z
death. the executive had been a MAJ
of solitude. His closest friends OF
served this, and deplored that, while h
shouldered the burdens of a nation pass
ing through critical period, he wa
denied the companionship Of the intel
lectually and personally agreeable
His cabinet heads talked business
his other friends, for the most part
politics. Then Mrs. Gait, q widow TO
the past eight years with no children
came suddenly into his life and hi
intimates noted Il change.
While the date for the wedding ha
not been officially announced, tn
II Dresident's friends understand that J
will be before mid-December, shortl
after congress reconvenes.. Whethe
the couple will be able to make u hon
eymoon trip Is not yet determined, be
cause of the impossibility Of known
the demands Of congress upon the eA
ecutive's time.
It is expected however, that tn
president and his bride will take
brief voyage on the presidential yach'
Mayflower, to Hot Springs, Va, o
some other southern resort.
Mrs. Gait, nee Edith Bollinger, o
Virginia, Is the widow or Norman Gal
who was partner in prominent jew
eIrv firm here. She traces her rel'
tionship TO the first families of Vii
ginia. -
The president met Mrs. Gait throug
his daughter, Miss Margaret Wilsol
and his cousin, Miss Helen Woodro
Bones, a member Of the White Hou'
family for months past.
For a month this summer, Mrs. Ga
was n guest Of Miss Wilson and Mi
a Rones AT the summer White House
5 Cornish, N. H., and there the relation
= hatween the chief executive and IL
Fascinating widow ripened into an a
Q fection stronger than friendship
g She is strikingly handsome W
j. man. Of graceful slightly plump figur
= with brown hair and gray blue eyes.
Among Washington society folk 81
I ia known as yivacious woman, Of kee
!. intellectual mind, interested in outdo'
> sports, and an interested follower
:. charities. As owner Of the Gait ie'
i. elry firm, since her husbands deaf
sbe has been rated as wealthy and in