The story was charmingly written, and showed decided literary ability. Indeed, Mrs. Cleveland has from early years exhibited what would have been developed into a talent for literature had the events of her life called it forth. She has the rare gift of expressing herself fitly and agreeably in a letter, a faculty decidedly uncommon with Americans, unless they have been long influenced by cosmopolitan traditions, but which is part of the grace of foreign life. There should be nothing studied either in the speech or the written words of a lady or gentleman, nothing apparently perfunctory; and the same courtoisie de cœeur which dignified Mrs. Madison and made those about her happy is the best guarantee for what is essentially "polite." Mrs. Cleveland appreciates this, apparently, as perfectly as did the dear "Dolly" of the early White House days.
Directly the Noordland arrived, Colonel Lamont, who has added to his multifarious duties the pare of confidential and discriminating friend, received Mrs. and Miss Folsom and conducted them to the Gilsey House. Here the President arrived soon after. His visit to New York was ostensibly to assist at the celebration of Decoration Day, but by this 30th of May it had become generally known that he was to be married, and, for the first time in the annals of the historic dwelling of our rulers, arrangements were made for a wedding to be celebrated in the Executive mansion itself.
If the public had felt itself defrauded of the dear enjoyment of chronicling the every movement of people conspicuous, it must have appreciated the delicacy which made Miss Folsom shrink from comment or public notice, and, as it was within a day or two a recognized fact that the wedding was close at hand, there was all the effusion that could be desired in the way in which Miss Folsoni's movements were thenceforward watched. Miss Rose Cleveland, as hostess of the White House, made every preparation to receive Miss Folsom and her mother on the day of the wedding. In the early morning she met the ladies and their party at the Washington station, which was thronged with people anxious to see their President's bride, What they beheld was a tall, slenderly-built, and beautiful girl, with a manner of extreme simplicity and dignity, who seemed ready to be kindly in her mute observance of the welcome accorded her, yet was too reticent for much demonstration of feeling.
The Blue Room, formerly occupied by Miss Nellie Grant, was prepared fur the bride's reception. During the eventful day the President continued to attend to public affairs, with only occasional interruptions from those engaged in preparing for the wedding-ceremony or for a brief time of recreation with the family circle when he and
