Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07

against some books. and between him
and the picture lay an open book,
which bore the marks of long use.
This book. as +. afterward learned
was her prayer book 'rhe miniature
he always wore next to his heart. sus-
pended round his neck by strong
black cord The last thing he did
every night. before lying down to
.rest. was to read III that book wiki
that picture undc.. his eyes"
!: = !: =
A FTER JACKSON had been mar
ricd to Rachel Doneison for forty
years. some of his enemies claimed
had obtained from Capt. Richards.
Such an attack naturally caused much
unhappiness.
Emily. wife of Maj Donelson. the
PRESIDENTS nephew. WAS mistress of
the White House during most of Jack
sons two terms. The wife of an
adopted nephew also served as mis-
tress for a time.
Fo1r children were born in the
White House during Jackson's resi-
dence thereto Col. Andrew Dunel-
son Jackson and wife,
Martin Van Buren, lad been a Wild
over for twenty years before enter
ing the White House. A year after his
inausu:afIo3 his son married Miss An
gelica Singleton of South Carolina.
who gracefully presided over her
father-in-law's home. Van Buren, was
the first President who was not born
"A British subject. His father was a
small tavern keeper in New York
state.
William Henry Harrison only lived
~
his death Mrs. Harrison was in such
poor health that she was unable to
come to Washington. remaining at
Ter home al North Bend, Ohio. The
funeral of William Henry Harrison
was the first ever held in the White
House
President Tyler was friendly to lit
erary people He appointed Edward
Everett minister to England. Wash
ington Irving to Spain. Caleb Cush-
ing to China and John Howard Payne.
author of Home. Sweet Home" con-
sui to Tunis. Africa. Charles Dickens
was among the literary lights at
tending his receptions.
Mrs. Letitia Christian Tyler. the
Presidents wife. died in the White
House. She was an invalid and only
appeared once as hostess. which
was the wedding reception of her
daughter. Two years after her death
y
to New York and married twenty
year-old Julia Gardner. who was mis-
tress of the White House the remain
ing eight months of his term. The
Tylers left the White House early in
the morning of March 4. Mr.. Tyler
not caring TO participate i'll tie in
augura ton of his successor.
President Polk was So slim that he
was accused of wearing extra sized
coat and pants in order to hide his
leanness. His wife WAS stately and
serene in manner. She made her re-
ceptionS matter OF ease ny always
remaining sitting.
The White House had no appeal for
the wife OF President Zachary Tay-
lor. She secluded herself in several
private rooms with her knitting. So
cial honors were looked after by her
daughter Betty. wife of Col Bliss
During the reign of Mrs. Bliss the
White House was piped and chan
deliered for gas.
On the 4th of July. 1850. President
Taylor sat three hours in the broil-
ing sun during the exercises at the
recently begun Washington monu-
ment Returning to the White House
he generously refreshed himself with
cherries and iced milk, which result
ed in illness and death.
White House while the Fillmores
were there. Mrs. Fillmore was the
daughter of a Baptist preacher. and
rather stiff and reserved before
strangers. She had been a school
teacher. Her daughter, Mary Abb
gail. presided at the social functions.
Though broken in heart and health
as the result of the death of her son
in a railway accident. Mrs. Franklin
Pierce did not excuse herself from