The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-07
PRESIDENT WILSON
TO MARRY WASH
INGTON WIDOW
His Engagement to Mrs Norman Gait,
Announced Last Night, Came as
Surprise to All Except
Intimate Friends.

| Washington, ID. T., Oct 7.--Woodrow
Wilson, the president of the United
States, announced last night, his en-
lgagement to Mrs. Norman Gait of Wash
ington. The date of the wedding has
not been fixed, but it probably will take
place in December at the home Of the
bride-elect.
| The brief announcement from the
White House made by Secretary Tumul-
ty came as surprise To official Wash
ington, but to number of intimate
friends it has long been expected. From
this circle came the story of friend
ship whose elimination was viewed as
a happy turn in the troubled and lonely
life Of the nation's chief executive. 1t
was Miss Margaret Wilson and her cnHs-
| in, Miss Bones, who drew Mrs. Gait
into the White House circle They met
her first in the early autumn of last
year and were 50 much attracted by
her that they sought her out more and
more frequently, and the friendship be-
tween them ripened into intimacy. Mrs.
Gait spent month this summer at Cor
nish as the house guest of the presidents
eldest daughter.
1t was through this intimacy OF his
daughter and cousin that the president
had an opportunity to meet Mrs. Gait.
One of the most interesting facts about
the engagement, indeed, as told by
friends, is that the Presidents daughters
should have chosen8M Gait for their
admiration and friendship before their
father did.
Mrs. Gait Is the widow of a well
known business man or Washington,
who died eight years ago, leaving jew
elry business, which Atill bears his name.
She has lived in Washington since her
marriage in 1896. she Ii about 3s years
old and was Miss Edith Boiling, born
in Wytheville, Va, where her girlhood |
was spent, and whore her father, Will |
liam H. Boiling, wax a prominent law
yer.
In the circle of people who have known
Mrs. Gait for many years, she has been
regarded as an unusual beauty, gifted
with natural charm.
For many weeks Mrs. Gait and her
relatives have been frequent dinner
guests at the White House. Often she
has accompanied the president on motor
rides. She is not quite as tall as Mr..
Wilson, has dark hair and dark eyes,
and always is in stylish attire. Her
tastes are said to be strikingly similar
10 those OF the president, with a deep !
interest in literature and charity work. !
Friends of the president expressed
their pleasure over the announcement,
not only because Of Mr.. Wilson's per-
,onal happiness, but because they felt (
h;a ,o,.t anY.na n;onaks,, ,,.a,.tJ ..tya b;,,,
iupport and comfort in his home life, {
vital need during tho hours Of strain
'yer the nations problems. With the I
Of two daughters and the death a
# Mrs. Wilson more than a year ago,
he presidents life has become one OF
olitude. His absorption in official La. |
,ors began 10 tell on him physically, Q
nd when few months ago he began to I
axe a renewed interest in personal af o
airs, his friends and members of the d
amily welcomed the distinct change b
fhich IL brought about in his health and {
pirits. &
Last night--at the end of a busy day o
Or the president, during which he an b
ounced that he would vote for wom-
n suffrage-Mrs. Calf was dinner
ufsN NJ the W Hlit IphNts
The news Of the engagement was CIV v
n out in this brief statement:
"The announcement was made to-day
the engagement Of Mrs. Norman Gait
I this city and President Woodrow o
wilson" h
No word as 10 plans for the wedding o.
a. said TO be available but il generally \
presumed that Mrs. Gait, who i OF a
smocrstic tastes, will prefer a private NJ
edding in her own bone instead Of in "
le White House. Grover Cleveland was Fl
,e last president TO be married in the ID
'hite House. Should Mr.. Wilson fr
'entually decide 20 be married there, ef
will be the third wedding in the man Il
on under his administration, the first in
.tween Jessie Woodrow Wilson and ct
-ancis B, Sayre being held In the east
ON. and the second between Secretary II
oAdoo and Miss Eleanor Wilson being L,
lemnized in the blue room. NJ
The wedding il il understood. viii az
Ike place before the first Of the series ia
state receptions and dinners il held j.
Since the return Of the president "a re
ashington he and Mrs. Gait have spent ri
any evenings together. sometimes az NJ
2 White House and often Ht her home. 70
st week she occupied prominent seat q,
the presidents reviewing stand st Al