Evening star., 1937-01-03
MAGNET TO PUBLIC
Only One President Married There, But
Other Weddings Have Given Variety
to Business of Government.

IIidu 1oU, diHoI1S WIlUHl were GIlc
President Of the United States. the
heads of the several departments and
their families.
"At a proper hour after the arrival
of the expected guests the vessel got
under way and proceeded down the
river to some distance below Fort
Washington.
During the passage down, one Of
the large guns on board carrying q
ball of 225 pounds) was fired more
than once, exhibiting the great power
and capacity of that formidable
weapon of war.
"The ladies had partaken Of a
sumptuous repast. the gentlemen had
succeeded them at the table, and some
of them had left 1t. The vessel was
on her return up the river opposite
the fort, where Capt. Stockton con-
sented to fire another shot from the
same gun, around and near which, to
observe its effects, many persons had
gathered. though by no means so many
as on similar discharges in the morn
ing, the ladies, who then thronged
the deck, being on this fatal occasion
almost all between decks and out of
reach Of harm.
THE gun was fired. The explosion
was followed, before the smoke cleared
away so as to observe its effects, by
shrieks which announced a dire
calamity. The gun had burst at
point or feet from the breech
and scattered death and desolation
around"
IT IS said that every cloud has its
silver lining, and so, out of this
calamity came the tender sympathy Of
President John Tyler for Julia. the
daughter of State Senator Gardiner,
who was killed in the explosion; soon
sympathy turned to love. as is so often
the case, and in less than four months
time President Tyler led Miss Gar
diner to the altar of the Church of the
Ascension. New York City, and she
returned to Washington as mistress of
| the White House. She was a little
more than "a: the President had
passed his 54th year. They had 18
years of happy married life, up to the
time of his death, January 10, 1862.
Mrs. Tyler passed away at Richmond,
Va. July 10. 1885,"
The facts connected with President
Wilson's second marriage are still clear
in the minds of many. since it took
place just a trifle over 81 years ago,
and, as will be seen from the following
few paragraphs. he was not married
at the White House, but quite a dis
tance away and at the home of the
bride.
woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States, and Mrs. Edith Boiling
Calf, widow Of Norman Calf, and for
20 years resident of Washington
closely identified with its interests" :"
says The Star of December 10, 1915.
"were married last night at the home
of the bride. 1908 Twentieth street
northwest, in the simplest manner
that has ever characterized the nup-
tials here of a Chief Executive of the
Nation.
Immediately after the ceremony
they left Washington for a honey
moon trip Of two weeks at Hot
Springs, Va.
The ceremony, which was per-
formed by Rev. Dr. Herbert Scott
Smith, pastor of st. Margaret's Epis-
copal Church, of which the bride is
member and at which Rev. James H.
Taylor, pastor of the Central Presby-
terian' Church, assisted, the Presi-
dent being Presbyterian and men,
Der Of that church. took place at
$50 o'clock in the evening. The Presi-
dent was attired in the conventional
evening dress, and his bride wore an
afternoon gown of black velvet COM
bined with embroidery of various
shades of blue. She wore a large
picture hat of black beaver.
The wedding took place in bower
erected in bay window of the draw
ing room. transformed for the occa-
sion by wonderful floral display. of
which orchids were the principal fea-
ture, and background of apparently
naturally growing ferns, the President