Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-17
BY vYLLA POE WILSON

cratic nominee for President
of the United States. wins the
election it's expected that his
sister. Elizabeth, (Mrs. Ernest
Ives) will become the third
sister Of a President to be
Official White House hostess.
There is every reason to
believe that if "Buffie" Ives
is called upon to I'LL this posi-
ton she will match the charm
and popularity of her. pred
ecessors. President Chester A.
Arthur'S sister Mary mrs.
John McElroy) and President
Grover Cleveland's sister Rose
Elizabeth Cleveland.
Mrs. McElroy and Miss
Cleveland were the only two
sisters of Presidents officially
designated as White House
hostesses. But there were a
number who took prominent
parts in the whirl of social
events that made and UNI
made political fortunes revolv-
ing about the executive man.
sion in every administration.
Bankers Wife
Among these must certainly
be counted Grover Cleveland's
sister Mary. Mrs. E. E. Hoyt,
wife Of an Albany banker. She
was Cleveland's hostess when
he was Governor of New York.
She took a months time
of from family responsible
ties to organize the domestic
side of the White House at
the beginning of the Cleve-
land administration; and to
help her younger sister Rose
establish the social routines
as White House chatelaine.
Rose Cleveland also had
served something of an APP
sprenticeship as an official
shostess in an executive man
3 sion under the guidance of
: Mrs. Hoyt in Albany.
+; During the IA months of her
regime at the White House
Rose Cleveland made it a rem
devious for those interested in
literature and the arts like
herself.
She frankly was pleased
when her brother married his
beautiful ward, Miss Frances
Folsom. daughter of his late
law partner.
Miss Cleveland remained In
the White House for a few
months after the wedding to
assist the new First Lady.
In the first months of the
Cleveland administration Mrs.
Hoyt and Miss Cleveland re-
organized the social routines
of the White House. For in
stance they dispensed with
the custom established by
widower Chester A. Arthur of
having 40 to so ladies in the
receiving line at receptions.
The President and Miss
Cleveland received together as
sisted by the wives of the cabi-
net officers.
At formal dinners the Presi-
dent of the United States es-
corted the wife of the Secre-
tary of State and the Secretary
of State escorted Miss Cleve-
land.
The handsome intellectual
Miss Cleveland did not entire
" abandon her literary career
while she was in the White
House. She completed a cook,
George Eliot's Poetry and
Other Studies" which went in
to IL editions and netted. the
author more than $4,000.
Presided
Mary Arthur McElroy pre-
sided as hostess at state din
ners and stood next to Presi-
dent Arthur to receive guests.
However, she shared honors in
the receiving line with the 40
to so ladies stationed nearby
who were invited to receive by
the handsome widower Presi-
dent.
This gave rise to many
heart burnings and jealousies
for President Arthur stepped
outside official protocol in COM
piling the list of these ladies.
All the cabinet ladies were
asked as a matter of course;
but the additional ladies'"
quite properly, considered they
were honored above others in
the National Capital social set.
Mrs. McElroy had to exer-
else much tact in the face Of
complaints and hints in re-
gard to the receiving line.
President Arthur did not al
ways escort the wife Of the
Secretary Of State. Some
times he chose the wife of
/ the Speaker of the. House or
the wife of a cabinet officer or
other official.
There was much curiosity
when it was learned that the
handsome eligible widower
kept the portrait Of q lovely
lady on a table in his room
and placed flowers before it
every day.
Interest abated and stories
Of a White House romance
died down when 1t was learned
the portrait was Of his late
-