The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-11-05
THE FIRST BUSINESS
WOMAN TO BE
MISTRESS OF
THE WHITE
HOUSE
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Today the searchlight of the ma
tons interest is directed straight
upon Mrs. Norman Gait. A simple
little statement of a dozen words or
so was given out at the White House
one night last month, and the next
morning Mrs. Gait awoke to find her
self nationally famous. AS the awak-
ening daylight travelled from the east
ern coast to the far west the country
aroused itself to find new star in its
armament of favorite names.
Now that the national capital and
the nation in general have recovered
from the surprise of President Will
sons engagement to marry, every eff
fort is being bent toward finding out
who Mrs. Gait is, what type of woman
she is, what she has done, what she is
doing and how she is likely to meas
ure up to the brilliant standard set by
certain previous hostesses OF the
White House.
These are the topics for converse
ton in thousands and thousands of
homes and gatherings of every sort.
As the financee of the president, Mrs.
Calf is the most talked Of person in
the United States today.
What the searchlight reveals to our
unanimous interest is a very normal
woman, woman of unusual beauty
of face and charm of personality, a
woman who has been the favorite in
the different circles in which she has
moved and yet woman domestically
inclined, home maker. We see a
woman whose years appears to be
much less than her late thirties, one
whose fondness for the out of doors
and the open air sports has added the
beauty of glowing health to that
which she inherited from family
noted for its good looks.
We see a woman of keen mentality,
fond of books, as President Wilson is,
woman deeply interested in ma
tional and world politics, though not
a suffragette. Mrs. Gait is also an
accomplished musician. The piano
is her favorite instrument.
Such is the woman who until now
has been little known outside her own
circle of men and women of the per-
manent population of the District OF
Columbia, but who now is to become
the leader of the society of the CAPT
tai city for the next two seasons and
possible for four more.
And 1t is now an accepted fact that
the wedding late in November or
early in December will be the signal
for the opening of the most brilliant
social season Washington has seen in
many a year. The only element
which is regarded as standing in the
way of an unprecedentedly gay and
active winter is the complicated and
touchy diplomatic situation resulting
from the war.
In her nineteen years in Washing
ton Mrs. Gait has had no experience
in official life. AS the wife and later
the widow of one of Washington's
successful business men, she belong
ed to another set which until recentIv
never appeared within the charmed |
Administration circle. 1t was the late
Mrs. Wilson who opened the way for
the commingling of these two social
sets. More and more the democratic
wife OF the president invited Wash
ngtonlans to her entertainments.
In this way, it is pointed out by
some who have watched the capital
seasons come and go, Mrs. Wilson
opened the way for Mrs. Calf to meet
he President. Mrs. Gait belonged to
hat highly cultured and successful
,ircle of permanent Washingtonians
which the wife of the president drew
@ overlap the circle of the White
House.
For almost hundred years the
salts has been one of the landmarks
If Washington. After the death of
Ter husband, Mrs. Norman Gait
bought out the interests of other
members of the Gait family and since
hen she has been in sole possession
If the firm. While she gave the man
cement into the hands of her broth
RS She has kept close watch on the
BUSINESS and has proved herself
and practical business
woman. For the first time the White
Iouse will have as mistress a woman
Who has made good in the world of
rade Her store is estimated to be
yorth $3OO,OOO.OO.
Mrs. Calls home, which she has
haired in recent years with her
1other and an unmarried sister. has
ong been noted among Washington
ONES for its charming appointments
nd splendid homelike atmosphere. 1t
just off Dupont Circle, in one OF the
est residential districts, though it is
ne OF the more modest places there.
President Wilson found the charm
1g home atmosphere strongly ap- ;
ealing during the trying days of the
pring and summer when momentous
tate matters were crushing down
pom him and his cabinet. From the
ares OF his Office and from the loneli-
ess OF the White House. he found
'elcome rest in the dainty French {