Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24
Widow of Horrison''s Son
Recalls Life in White House
President Led Family
Group in Prayer
Every Morning
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

In a sunny suite at the Westches-
ter Apartments earlier days and
ways in the White House, when the
national tempo, politically and So
cially. was slower, were recalled re-
Gently by Mrs. Russell Harrison,
widow of President Benjamin Har-
rison's only son. who discussed the
winters she spent in the Executive
Mansion as a bride and young
matrOn.
Through her eyes we saw Presi-
dent Harrison, not only as the con-
scientious, Woodworking Chief Ex-
ecutive, but as family patriarch
gathering the members of his house.
hold together each morning in the
upstairs sitting room to lead them
in prayer and a short Bible reading
before they descended to breakfast
"At all family meals, too, either
the President or Grandpa Scott, my
mother-in-law's father, also men,
Der Of the household, invariably
asked blessing she said.
After the entire family had at
tended services at the Church of the
Covenant Sunday was literally a day
of rest for the White House family
circle. Afternoon walks were the
only diversion permitted younger
members of the household.
Recalls SUNDAY Promenades.
With smile, she unused, Mary
Mckee MRS. James Robert Mckee,
President and Mrs. Harrison's mar
ried daughter) and I, with our hus-
bands usually managed, though, to
have these walks join "the prom
enade" on what was then fashionable
residential Connecticut avenue. Of
course we wore our very best clothes
and in the course OF our stroll from
the White House up Connecticut
avenue as far as Dupont Circle and
back, managed to have gay, happy
visits with our contemporaries"
Near the same age, Mary Harrison
Mckee and Mary Saunders Harrison
had long been friends, as had their
families before their destinies be-
came linked in the immediate White
House circle. In this association
they assisted its mistress, Mrs.
Benjamin Harrison, in whatever way
they could at public receptions and
other social affairs.
To Washington and generally
throughout the Nation they became
known as the two White House
Mays"
In this connection, Mrs. Harrison
recalled "the storm of discussion and
commotion" which followed the first
dance she believes was ever given
in the east room of the White House,
at which Mrs. Mckee and she were
joint hostesses. TT was thought"
she says, that such levity was out
of keeping with the dignity of the
White House and the traditions
which should be observed there.
Has Quaint Souvenir.
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison" her
daughter in-law reminded us, gave
more time to civic and patriotic
duties than had been the general
custom of her immediate predeces-
sors in the White House, serving as
first president general of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution dur
ing this period in her life"
Among Mrs. Russell Harrison's
numerous souvenirs of her White
House life is quaint little water
color sketch below which is indi-
Gated the order of precedence and
seating for an official dinner, this
being the procedure of that time
under the direction of Mr.. Pruden
OF the White House staff.
Another is an invitation extended
President Harrison to be the guest
OF the Committee on the Centennial
Celebration of the Inauguration of
George Washington in New York
City. This fits into a solid silver
envelope shaped case, plain except
for the engraved inscription, THE
President of the United States"
Among the names of the commit
tee members listed on the invitation
are those of Theodore Roosevelt,
later to become President of the
United States, and Hamilton Fish,
father of Representative Hamilton
Fish.
Wore Dress With Bustle.
A very lovely picture of this young
matron taken in the dress she wore
to the Centennial Ball which was
part of the celebration, shows her
"a full hustle, panniers and
train" according to the fashion of
half a century ago.
Pasted upon the back of this por-
trait is a description of this gown
in an issue of the New York Times.
In the same article, Mrs. w. Bayard
Cutting, Mrs. Levi Pc Morton and
Mrs. William Aston are featured as