The Washington times., 1915-12-18
How President Wilson.
WoOed and Won Bride.
Dr. Grayson Responsible for First Bringing Mrs Gait
: Into White House CircIe-In Few Months Ac-
quaintance Ripened Into Friendship and
Romance.

WASHINGTON knew all about the Presi-
dents engagement to Mrs. Calf long
before 1t was announced: at least wash
'inEton declared that 1t did-after the
news was given out
True. after Mrs. Gait appeared In pub.
lie with the President at q baseball
game at the American League park in
April. and In particular after her visit
to Miss Margaret Wilson and Miss
Helen woodrow Bones at Harlakenden
House in the summer, the knowing ones
put their heads together ana Whispered
OF the Chief Executives attentions 70
the charming widow: hut Few people
outside the Immediate encourage OF the
White House and the little group OF
gentle people who are Mrs GAIT
closest associates seem to have guessed
that the President was really gong
Dr. cary T. Grayson. the Presidents
physician and close friend. who mas
come to be recoRniZed by this time as
the deus ex machina OF several Whlte
House. courtships. was responsible for
first bringing Mrs. Gait into the Presi-
Dental circle. He introduced her TO
Miss Bones thinking that the congenial
companionship of this charming viz
ginia woman might prove the best tonic
for the shattered nerves OF the Fresi-
dentS young kinswoman. who had
complete breakdown after the illness
and death Of the late Mrs. Wilson.
How She Met. President.
DR.. Grayson came to know Mrs. Gait
through her young. friend and protege;
Miss Gertrude Gordon. a sort OF ward
by affection" to whom. according 20
Dame Rumor. the young doctor paid
Called to General Gordon's death
bed, Mrs. Cats promise 10 LOOK
friendship cemented by long periods
OF travel in foreign countries. Sen
tifnental only was the tie of guard
ianship" which many believed eN-
listed between Miss Gordon and Mrs
Gait, but between the two women
there is the warmest friendship. Miss
Gordon Is also a close friend or the
ladies of the White HouSe; so with
two such packers" and the tremen
dous assets of a gracious and appeal
ing personalitS, tact and ready sym.
pathy. what more natural than thn'
Mrs. Cats casual acquaintance with
Miss Bones and Miss Wilson should
ripen into intimacy?
Becomes Frequent VstOr.
Thus Mrs. Gait became a frequent
visitor at the White House. Her first
meeting with the President. according
to gossip, took place in the south
portico OF the Executive Mansion and
was quite perfunctory. This was In
the late autumn and both were IN
mourning garb, Mrs Gait clinging 10
black. although eight years had
elapsed since her widowhood
1t was in February-so the story
goes-that the President hrst showed
an interest in Mrs. Gait beyond tie
casual politeness due any visitor "a
the ladies OF his household. And one
evening in April he escorted her home
in one OF the White House machines
after she had dined informally with
Miss Bones. That was the beginnirg 6
OF the end. E..
Thereafter the President let no grass
grow under his feet. Twentieth street
grew used to seeing the Presidnts
motor drawn up in front q Mrs
Galt's house. and frequent automobile
parties. composed of the President
Mrs. Gait, Miss Bones. DR.. Grayson
and sometimes Miss Gordon. no lorg'
er excited comment.
His Companion At Golf.
Then came Mrs. Galt's visit to Misi
Bones and Miss Margaret Wilson, tho
Presidents eldest daughter. at Harlak
enden House, the summer White House
in Vermont, where, during the Presi
dents brief vacation, she was his com
panion on his daily round Of golf. liz
also enjoyed long walks in this pleas
ant compa nionship and rode many miles
by automobile through the Vermont anC
New Hampshire hills with Mrs. Gait,
This visit was also marked by the frs
entertaining in which any of the mem
bers of the Wilson family had indulgeC
since the beginning of their period o.
mourning for the late Mrs. Wilson, al
Informal tea and garden party for th'
members OF the summer colony. a
which Miss Wilson and Miss Bones were
hostesses.
While DR.. Grayson has been dubbed
,Cupids Assistant for flrst brlngihI
II is to Miss Bones, demure, sYee: man
| nered, soft voiced and gentle. that the
credit must 60 for managing" affair
| so adroitly that the President could pur
sue his courtship with every opportunit!
| for the cultivation of good comPadeshil
and yet with all due regard for de
corum.
| his bride should fnd themselves blessed
| for thus In a few short months did ac
quaintance ripen into friendship; afrec
ton and nsad.st rSmaadnSet vS6S vMSSOdy W. who re
year ago with traces of every one o
| tis fifty-nine years craven on his face
and then sees him today, looking te
| years younger. his austerity melted. hi
shoulders no longer bowed with care
! of state, can doubt that under the in
| fiuence OF the simple, charming
gracious woman he has won, the year
at the sprinE" for him.
Fitted For Her Role.
Although during the score OF year
that Mrs Gait has made her home il
| Washington she has seen fit to mlnGll
little with general society and to. toucl
official life not at all, she is very muci
70 the manner born. and Is fitted Il
step EracefullN into her role of Mistres
nf the White House by virtue OF beauty
birth breeding. and a gracious ant
kindly personallty.
The Presidents bridc-to-bc was Mis-
edith Rolling. daughter OF Judge VIII
liam r. BOILING, Of WytheVille. Va.
and the produest boast OF the Bollin'
family IS that they are direct descend
ants Of Pocahontas the famous IndiaI
princess. who, according to tradition
saved the life of John Smith. and The
married John Rolfc, gentleman, frs
secretary of the colony OF Virginia.
Their granddaughter. Jane. nlarrle
| Robert Boiling, the first OF the line I
como to the new country, anu from thi
union are descended such OF the lioll
Ings as can lay claim 10 the blood OF tn
Indian princess. To mention the Boil
ings is to- bring to mind the words O
{ nm historian. who ssluted them as tn
"remnant of an inIDeri9l line, ever