Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-10-14
Interesting Facts About Mrs. Gait.

Mrs. Norman Calf, who will be mar
ried to President Woodrow Wilson in
December, is Virginian of Virginians,
and is proud OF the fact that she is de-
scendant, in the ninth generation, from
the marriage of John Rolfe and Poca-
hontas, the Indian princess who saved
Capt. John Smiths life when the doughty
English colonist was TO be killed at her
fathers orders.
Mrs. Gait, therefore, will bring to the
White House, when she becomes the
wife OF the President, the first strain Of
Indian blue blood that the historic execu-
tive mansion has ever known. Literally,
she is an Indian princess. by descent, and
can rightfully claim "royal blood" in her
veins.
Pocahontas is familiar figure in Ameri-
can history. Every schoolboy knows the
story of her Intervention to save Captain
Smith when old Chief Powhatan, Poca-
hontas' father, decreed that the doughty
explorers brains should be dashed Out
on stone. Pocahontas, so Smith him.
self relates in his memoirs, threw her
own head on the sacrificial stone aud de-
manded that her father take her life in
place of the settlers. Her father, Cap
tain Smith declared, was so impressed by
this spirit OF sacrifice that he freed the
explorer. Subsequently the tribe which
Powhatan ruled became very friendly
with the Jamestown virginia. colonistS,
and John Rolfe, an Englishman of sturdy
stock, was welded TO the Indian princess.
Pocahontas not only saved Captain
Smiths life, but before entirely amicable
relations were established between the
Indians and the colonists OF Jamestown
history records that she "waS next to
Captain Smith the salvation the colony"
When Smith left Jamestown, .Pocahon-
tas was treacherously seized by Capt. s.
Argall, on the Potomac river, and taken
to Jamestown as State prisoner. Be-
lleving Smith TO be dead, history declares,
she met John Rolfe, apparently a widower,
fell in love with him and married him,
with the full rites of the church, about
April /, 1914. Later Pocahontas embra-
ced Christianity.
With her husband and Sir T. Dale the
couple went back to England in 1916,
landing at Plymouth on June II. Before
her arrival Captain Smith pettioned
Queen Anne on her behaf-she being
still, technically, Estate prisoner
and it was in this petition that Captain
Smith first related how the Indian prin-
cess saved his life.
Queen Anne not only removed all ban
on the Indian princess, but received her
and her husband at court frequently. Po-
cahontas died at sea in February, 1917.
The British court apparently recognized
Pocahontas, then Mrs. Rolfe, as a de-
scendant OF true royalty, if the reception
accorded the couple is guide.
Friends OF the bride-elect declare that
another beauty" will step in as the first
lady in the land when Mrs. Gait is we'd
ded TO the President. Hers is what is
usually regarded as the striking type OF
feminine beauty. Slightly above the aver
age feminine height, not as tall as the
President, Mrs. Calf has dark hair, dark
blue eyes and an erect, beautiful, round
ed figure. Although wearing mourning
constantly until recently, Mrs. Calf is al
ways in stylish attire. Tastes ofthe PreSi-
dent and Mrs. Galt are in common. She
is deeply interested in literature and, like
the Presidents first wife, is interested in
charitable work.
Mrs. Gait is also a business woman.
She owns and operates, through rela-
tive, one OF the largest Washington Jew
elrY stores. When her husband died,
eight years ago, she bought the interests
of his brothers in the store. While her
views on woman's suffrage have not been
announced, it is understood Mrs. Gait
favorS votes for women.
FondneSs for books and music is an
other characteristic of the Presidents
fiancee She is an accomplished pianist
and is said TO have sweet voice. She
takes keen interest in outdoor sports,
golf and baseball especially. She has
also followed the>hounds.
Since her marriage to Norman Gait in
1896, Mrs. Galt has lived in Washington.
Her widowed mother resides with her.
Mrs. Gait is one of nine children, having