White House gossip : $b from Andrew Johnson to Calvin CoolidgeColman, Edna M. (Edna Mary)
History
White House gossip : $b from Andrew Johnson to Calvin Coolidge
Colman, Edna M. (Edna Mary)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs; White House (Washington, D.C.)
The guests included the Cabinet, the relatives, and the close personal
friends. About eight o’clock, the bridal couple were ready for the
departure. The President had replaced the conventional evening clothes
with his customary black business suit, and “Mrs. Cleveland,” as
everyone delighted in addressing her, was fully as beautiful as in her
wedding gown. They left the rear door of the mansion in a shower of
rice, old shoes, and good wishes, and were driven to the Baltimore and
Ohio Station. Here a special train awaited to take them to Deer Park,
Maryland, where the President hoped to rest and do some fishing. They
had expected to spend a quiet time away from the curious public, but,
to their dismay, the following morning they found a pavilion had been
built overnight directly opposite their cottage and was thronged with
newspaper correspondents and photographers.
Hopes of seclusion vanished with the rush of summer visitors to Deer
Park and the arrival of a Church Convention. They went trout fishing,
Mrs. Cleveland being initiated in the proper methods of baiting her own
hook, and the President settled down on a comfortable log to enjoy his
favourite sport. But even the remote woods were invaded by the visitors
eager to get a glimpse of the distinguished pair. Mrs. Cleveland let
her husband fish alone the next day or so, and finally, on June 9th,
when more summer visitors arrived to enjoy the unusual pleasure of a
President of the United States for a neighbour, President and Mrs.
Cleveland decided that national business was urgent, and they returned
to Washington.
On their return from Deer Park, the President and Mrs. Cleveland gave
an evening reception to a large group. This was Mrs. Cleveland’s
introduction to official and social Washington as the First Lady of the
Land. In her wedding gown, she was especially lovely, and her natural
charm, poise, and sweet cordiality established her popularity. It was
conceded that, of all the many splendid things that President Cleveland
had done, there was none that could do so well for him as his marriage.
The prolific use of Mrs. Cleveland’s pictures by patent medicine,
perfume, candy, and underwear manufacturers, and firms of all kinds in
advertising their wares called forth a well-intentioned protest that
finally found expression in a bill being introduced in the House of
Representatives on March 6, 1888, which read in part:
“Be it enacted, etc. That any person or persons for themselves or
others or for corporations who shall publicly exhibit, use or employ
the likeness or representation of any female living or dead, who is
or was the wife, mother, daughter or sister of any citizen of the
United States without the consent in writing of the person whose
likeness is to be used shall be guilty of high misdemeanor and shall
upon indictment be fined not less than $500. nor more than $5,000. and
stand imprisoned until fine and costs are paid.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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