Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-12
White House Is a Burden

never married, but he was fortunate
enough to be able to call upon a niece:
Harriet Lane, a woman of unusual
personal charm and especially gifted
in the qualities which make the per-
feet hostess. Her triumphs as White
House mistress have become tradl-
widower when he became president,
but he was able to call upon his highly
accomplished sister, Mrs. McElroy, to
maintain the great responsibilities OF
the first lady Of the land, often so
called.
! Grover Cleveland was unmarried
when he was ~inaugurated as president.
Therefore he summoned q sister, Rose
Elizabeth Cleveland, so that by her
| presence the never ending duties of a
| White House mistress might be fully
fmet. Later Cleveland brought to the
White House a bride, as did n OF
his predecessors, Tyler. The radiant
charm and singularly attractive per
sonality of this young bJide caused her
to be much esteemed and admired not
only by those who met her, but by
the American people.
Willard Fillmore brought to the
White House as it's mistress a woman
who had been a true helpmate to him
during all his career and especially
when he was rapidly advancing IN
public office until at last he secured
the pre-eminent honor of the presi-
dency. But Mrs. Fillmore was an in
valid and furthermore was over
whelmed by domestic sorrow. There
fore one who was near of kin took
Mrs. Fillmore's place with much grace
and charm.
The wife of Franklin Pierce vas not
in good health when General Pierce be-
came president. She had been almost
crushed by the death of her son III a
railroad accident only a few weeks be-
fore Pierce was inaugurated. The for
titude, the strength of win and the full
realization that it was her opportunity
and duty to aid her husband as presi-
dent enabled Mrs. Pierce to struggle
through four years of that responsible
ity.
Johnson's Wife an Invalid
Andrew Johnson's wife was SO inval-
ided that she was unable to take up
any of her duties. She had been a true
companion of her husband even in the
early days when he was a tailor. She
taught him to read and write al dshe
encouraged his venture into politics,
constantly stimulating him to constant
growth in public life. And yet when he
passed from the vice presidency to the
presidency this wife, who had been for
many years his inspiration n his
companion was unable by feeble health
to share with him the responsibilities
of the white house.
Mrs. Harding apparently was not in
the best of health when the senator be
came president. Of this, however, the
| public had no knowledge until recently,
when the revelation was made by her
family physician. The public now
knows that she must, with abundant
fortitude and with resolute determine
ton. have striven to meet her respon-
sibilities. 1t may be that this constant
devotion did in some measure SO I'M
pair her vitality that at last she was
stricken and became not only the IN
valid of the white house, but the ma
tion's invalid. For this woman of
| abundant common sense, Of complete
| lack of self consciousness without loss
of true dignity, of generous DISPOSE
ton and full recognition of the tact
that the American people as a whole,
rich or poor, are all of a common hu-
! man nature. had given to Mrs. Hard.
ing the esteem and the admiration OF
the American public.
This latest demonstration of the IN
yalidism which has characterized 50
many of the women who went to the
white house is of itself sufficient proof
of the intensity of the strain which
social and other duties put upon her
It seems almost as though Mrs. Roose-
Welt is the only exception to the rule
since Mrs. McElroy and Mrs. Grant
Nor is it forgotten b a with tehaer-
est devotion to his wife President NC,
Kinley sought her welfare first OF an
after he entered the white mousse. ileI
lack of physical strength was realzeu
hv everybody and her duties as mis-
tress Of the white house were there
fore minimized SO That no strain fell
,,pap her