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THE MISTRESS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
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Miss Folsom together addressed certain boxes of wedding-cake to be sent with their autographs to her particular friends. So informal had they desired the wedding to be that the President himself wrote certain invitations, the following of which may be taken as a specimen:


"Executive Mansion, May 29, 1886.

"My dear Mr. ———:

"I am to be married on Wednesday evening, at seven o'clock, at the White House, to Miss Folsom. It will be a very quiet affair, and I will be extremely gratified at your attendance on the occasion.

"Yours sincerely,
"Grover Cleveland."


At six o'clock on the afternoon of June 2, a detachment of police entered the White House grounds, to clear the portion of the premises directly south of the mansion, and soon afterwards the members of the Marine Band were admitted to the vestibule. By seven the invited guests arrived, entering the Blue Room on the first floor, the southern end of which was completely banked with flowers. The wedding-procession started from the western corridor on the upper floor. The President came down the staircase, his bride leaning on his arm, the members of the family following, and the strains of the Wedding March ushering them into the Blue Room, where at five minutes past seven o'clock the ceremony was performed. The observances which followed were such as would characterize any home wedding. A supper or collation was served, and an hour later the bride and groom started for their honeymoon at Deer Park, which was conducted as simply as possible. Walking, driving, and fishing were the recreations of the party. They had sought seclusion, but at the same time they did not shun visits from intimate friends, and they could not escape the reporter. On her return to the White House Mrs. Cleveland immediately inaugurated the hospitalities which she has since then so pleasantly dispensed, by a ball at which she wore her wedding-garments of white silk with the necklace of diamonds which was her husband's gift.

Following certain established rules, each mistress of the White House is at liberty to make innovations which have a bearing upon her own methods of daily life. Mrs. Cleveland's days of reception are somewhat different from those of her predecessor; but, while thoroughly dignified and appreciating her position, she is not inaccessible to any one who has a reason for seeing her. Her daily life is varied by certain visits to intimate friends, private luncheon- and tea-parties, evenings of pleasant social intercourse, which divert the