Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-10-07

he shouIdered the burdens Oh a ma
tion passing through a critical period,
he was denied the companionship Of
the intellectually and personally
agreeable. His cabinet heads talked
business; his other friends. for the
most part, politics.
Then Mrs. Gait. a widow for the
past eight years. with no children,
came suddenly into his life and his
intimates noted change.
While the date for the wedding has
not been officially announced, the
presidents friends understand that
It will be before mid-December, short
IIy after congress recon senes. Wheth-
er the couple will be able to make
honeymoon trip is not yet deter
mined, because OF the impossibility
lof knowing the demands OF congress
upon the executives time. II Is ex-
pectcd. however. that the president
and his bride will take brief voy-
age on the presidential yacht May
flower to Hot Springs. Va, or some
other southern resort.
Mrs. Gait, nee Edith Boiling. OF
Virginia. is the widow OF Norman
Gait. who was partner In promin-
ent jewelry firm here. She traces her
relationship to the first families Of
Virginia.
The president met Mrs. Gait
through his daughter. Miss Margaret
Wilson, and his cousin, Miss Helen
Woodrow Bones, a member OF the
White House family for months past.
For month this summer Mrs Gait
was guest OF Miss Wilson and Miss
Jones at the summer White House In
Cornish, n, H., and there the rela-
ltions between the chief executive and
the fascinating widow ripened into
an affection stronger than friendship.
| She Is a strikingly handsome wo-
man, of graceful. slightly plump fig-
ure, with brown hair and gray-blue
eyes. Among Washington society
folk she is known as a vivacious wo-
man OF keen intellectual mind. In
terested in outdoor sports and an in
lterested follower OF charities. AS
owner Of the Gait jewelry Arm since
her husbands death, she has been
rated as wealthy and in a position
to give heavily to charitable objects.
On the presidents recent golf trips
she was a frequent guest and often
played with him, Miss Bones and DR..
Cary Grayson, the presidents person
al physician. Her interest m books
and music were akin to those OF the
president, and she has been fre-
lquent guest at the executive mansion
OF late, where her vivacity tended to
drive away the cares of the day under
which the president labored.
Announcement Of the engagement
followed small dinner party last
night at the White House, on the
eve OF Secretary McAdoo's departure
flor the Pacific coast. Previously
Washington had heard some rumors
of an executive romance, but none Of
! these stories ever received the slight
lest confession. Hence, official con-
firmation came as q distinct surprise
to Washington society and the nation
at large. Society here welcomed the
announcement as presaging a new era
of social activity in the White House.
, Ever since the Wilson administration
begun society events in Washington
', have been at comparatively low ebb
because OF the absence of White
House leadership in the usual bril-
liant affairs.
The wedding will be extremely
quiet, and will be in the Calf home
: in the fashionable Du Ront Circle
section, probably early in December
: the White House announced today
II am very happy" was all Mrs
Gait would say today concerning The
engagement announcement "Al
else has been said at the Whit,
House," she explained.
l
Mrs, Galt's telephone tinkled al
y day with calls from friends voicinl
congratulations.
n The wedding date, she said, ha,
a not been set, though the ceremon
: would be In her home during Decem
:. ber. She has taken an interest 4
e suffrage recently, but has never com
y mitted herself on the subject, main
0 tanning that her "opinlon is her own
It Some saw significance, however, |
the fact that the president made hi
q announcement OF stand for suffrae
l. and the engagement announcement
on the same day. 't a.t