Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-07
PRESIDENT BEING
SHOWERED WITH
CONGRATULATIONS
Announcement of His Engage
ment to Mrs. Gait Pleases
Social Washington
NEWS PROVES SURPRISE
Widow of Prominent Jeweler
Will Soon Become First
Lady of the Land
By Associated Press

Washington. D. c., Oct. 7.-Presi-
dent Wilson and Mrs. Norman Gait.
whose engagement was announced last
night at the White House, will be
married probably the first week in De-
cember. The ceremony will be pri-
vate, only a few close friends being
invited. and will take place at the
home of the bride on New Hampshire
avenue near Dupont Circle.
Plans for The honeymoon have not
been completed. but it was indicated
to-day that the trip might include a
visit to the San Diego Exposition.
For the third time in American his
tory a President of the United States
will take a bride. In choosing to have
the ceremony performed not in the
White House, but at the home of the
bride, Mr.. Wilson follows precedent
set by President Tyler, who was mar
ried in New York in the Church of
the Ascension. President Cleveland,
the only other Chief Executive to be
married while in office, was married
in the White House.
Going TO New York
President Wilson and Mrs. Gait will
make their first appearance together
in public since the announcement of
their engagement tomorrow in New
York, where they go to a house party
given by the Presidents close friend
and unofficial adviser, Colonel Z. NJ
House. Tomorrow evening they will
attend a theater party in New York
and the next day on the return toward
Washington will see the second game
in the worlds baseball championship
series at Philadelphia. The party will
include Colonel and Mrs House, Mrs.
Cats mother. Mrs. Boiling; Miss Helen
Woodrow Bones, the Presidents cousin;
Secretary Tumulty and the President's S
personal physician and naval aid, DR..
Grayson.
Early to-day messenger carried a
great bouquet from the White House
conservatory to Mrs. Galt's home, in
portion of the residence district
known as the hub of the social sec
tlon. the scene of many brilliant af-
fairs in national society. Mrs Gait,
herself besieged by friends coming to
offer CONGRATULATIONS and interviewers.
denied herself to all but her closest
friends and declined to add ANYTHING
10 the simple announcement formally
issued at the White House, saying
only that she and the President of the
United States were to be married.
STAFF for Social Work
To-morrow's party given by Colonel
House will be only the first of many
'NA+NS "4AANAA eIG bClIlS IOr
the presidential party before the time
for the wedding. Invitations and con-
gratulations began pouring into the
White House offices to-day in such
numbers that. as on previous occa-
sions when the White House had a
wedding on hand "a special staff of
clerks was prepared for assignment of
months.
Colonel House who knew of the
Presidents coming engagement with a
rev other intimates long before the
news was permitted to reach the pub
lie, planned his house party some time
ago. Other close friends are planning
prenuptial affairs and the White
House. which for more than a wear
has been observing a period of mourn
lng' Will begin to take on it's old aspect
OF social activities and again become a
center for many of the best known
people in the American social circle.
The time of the wedding, coming prob
aoly almost at the opening of Con-
greSs and the return of the diplomatic
corps to the capital from the summer.
embassies. Will signalize the full swing
OF the Washington social season. which
now will include the usual state din
ners and receptions in the executive
mansion.
At His Desk Early
President Wilson went to his desk
early to-day as usual and was greeted
with CONGRATULATIONS by the White
House staff and callers. who began
arriving Immediately. He received
congratulations with smiles and words
of thanks. and evidently was i happy
man. His first caller was Assistant
Secretary Phillips, of the State De
partment. Secretary Lansing followed
and then Senator Salisbury, of Della
ware. All the members of the Cabi-
net sent their CONGRATULATIONS early in
IN DAY and some of them called later.
The news came as a surprise to All
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