LADY OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1403, 1 April 1912, Page 9

LADY OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

RIGID ETIQUETTE. Democratic America has given a definite legal status to the Lady of the White Hoiii,'.', and has surrounded a unique position with a rigid etiquette governed by the fact that the bearer of this title must be tho wife of the President of the day and none other—neither sister, daughter, nor auv such relative. Thus in the event of her widowhood the law of the United States confers upon the Lady of the White Houss a yearly pension of 50UO dollars and the franking privilege. Only two ladies are in enjoyment of this, recognition of the State to-day—Mrs. Garlield and .Mrs. Grover Cleveland—and of theso and others who have been" officially connected with the White House some interesting'anecdotes are given by Mr. I'oxcToft Davis in the "A'ew York Tribune."

The Lndy of the White House, we are told, must not accept general invitations, and, outside of the Cabinet circle, cannot attend a formal dinner in Washington. -Away from Washington, she may dine with anybody she likes. In Washington she may, once in a great while, go to an informal entertainment. There is an unwritten Inw by which she may walk through a stately rjiintlrilic with ahigh official; but no Lady of the White House has ever been known to whirl in a waltz. It may he gathered that tho handshaking ordeal is .tho worst the, Lady of tho White House is called upon to* endure. "The first Iliiug a President and his wife niiist learn is how to. shake hands; that is to say. to crip firmly and ii , . advanci; every hand offered to them. If they allowed others to grip their hands, '(hey might soon be crippled in their light hands and nrms. Some Ladies of the White House have not shaken hands promiscuously. Mrs. Taft shakes hands cordially; but she may be sorry for it before she gets through. Jlrs. Harrison avoided the terrible handshaking by carrying a bouquet in one hand and a fan ill tho other, so slio had no hand available to shake. Mrs. Clerclund .shook hands so much that her rieht hand mjou became visibly larger than her left. .She took up driving and violin playing to remedy the disparity. "But there was one cceasion when Mrs. Cleveland did nofshaka hands. There was n certain United States senator, now living, who abused President Cleveland violently, and called him a dog. Mrs. Cleveland would never consent "after that to shake, hands with him. At the White House levees, to which he was entitled lo be nsked by virtue of his scnatorship, although the President shook hands with him civilly enough, Mrs. Cleveland would coolly fold her arms, and give him only a slight l»w. Xo one thought less of her for her natural wifely indignation, and she treasured the grudge that President Cleveland freely forgave." The most piteous spectacle ever seen in the White House was the late Mrs. Jl'Kinley. She was an extremely pretty woman, who had become epilepti; when 25 years old from grief at tho loss of both her "children. She was. most of, her time confined to her bed or sofa, and Jlr. M'lunley spent all the time ho possibly could with her. As part of her misfortune, she' developed an utter, dependence on him, and was never satisfied unless he was near her. After he had Been elected President, his wife revealed a' degree of physical strength hitherto unsuspected, and proved herself able to stand "a great deal of fatigue. She enjoyed beautiful clothes and splendid entertainments; but at any moment was liable to a collapse. "She had an attack at the very moment President M'lCinley .was taking the oath of office on tho grandstand in the Plaza of tils Capitol, and often had iheni at White House dinners. The pain the President endured on these occasions he bore with noble calmness and natience. Mrs. M'Kinley became more unliappy than ever when Mr. M'lvin'.ey was out of sight. The one thing that comforted her wa9 to have a picture of him close at hand. She would often send for him at Cabinef meetings, and at most inopportune occasions, and lie never failed to go, if possible. Mr. M'Kiulev'.s luyaltv and unshaken devotion to his atlUctcd wife is one of the most beautiful eluipters in his personal history. Mrs. M'Kinky's inability to think and act coherently involved President M'Kinley in continual perplexities; but his patience was unshakable. Slkj survived her hus--1)0ml several yeurs, and never ceved to ask for him, forgetting, for long intervals, that he was dead."