Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1891 — “IT’S A GIRL.” [ARTICLE]

“IT’S A GIRL.”

The Happy Father, Mr. Cleveland, Says “Thank You ” A Quietly Conducted but Important Event at the Ex-PreaitlenVs Fireside. Born— To Mr. and Mrs. Grover Cleveland, October 3, a daughter. A New York special on -the sth says: The handsome four-storied and gabled house at 816 Madison avenue, which is the home of Grover Cleveland, was stared at by -many curious eyes to-day.-The s >ft li.dian summer air with its delicate autumn haze brought thousands to Central park, which is only one block from the Cleveland home. Hundreds sauntered from the park through Sixty-uinth street, to visit the bouse where Gen. Grant was so long sick before going to the mountains to die, and where his widow lives. Turning Into Madison avenue the sight seers then strolled up the avenueto look at the house' where, according to the morning papers, a new-born baby was. Opposite the house, across the street, all through the afternoon there were loitering curious people, who stopped in little knots and groups to look at the house whose open windows, let. in the soft air. There were many inessages of congatulation, but the doctor and the meisenger hoys chiefly made up the callers during the day.

Mr. and Mm. Cleveland went to Buzzard’s bay early in the summer. They were full of hopes then. Gray Gables, their country home, is a lovely place? The house stands upon a wall, with the water on three sides of it. The nearest house is a mile away. They spent a very quiet summer. E. CBenedict; the Wall street banker, had his big steam yacht, the Oneida, anchored near their house the greater part of the time. Every little while the Clevelands would go with Mr. Benedict on a short cruise. Nearly every day. they would see the Jeffersons, who lived two miles away, or the Gilders, who live in-Marion. Early in the summer Mrs. Cleveland would drive to Marlon. < The queer little town Is eight miles from Gray Gables and the road is a delightful one. They are very fond of Mrs. Cleveland in old-fash-ioned Marion. In July the drives became less frequent. By the first of August they had ceased altogether. After that Mrs Cleveland rarely left the grounds about Gray Gables. When Mr. Cleveland was away she would lie in the hammock on the broad eastern veranda all* the long summer day. ' The summer waned and the summer visitors at Buzzard’s Bay sought their homes in the city. But the Cleveland s re nained at Gray Gables. The wind be came chilly. Mrs. Cleveland eould -qnly sit on the veranda for a few hours each day. Then Mr. Cleveland sent for the family docror to come to Buzzard’s Bay, When,Dr. Bryant arrived In Buzzard’s Bay he directed that Mrs. Cleveland' return to New. York. So Mr. Cleveland’s little blonde mustache butler was sent to New York to get the beautiful home at 816 Madison avenue ready for the home coming. It was thought wiser to make the journey in Mr. Benedict’s yacht. A week ago last Monday the Oneida left her anchorage in front of Gray Gables She steamed along very cheerfully, audit was about noon the next day when she anchored in East river, off Twenty-sixth, street. Mrs. Cleveland was placed in the naptha launch and taken ashore. A close carriage was waiting. The coachman picked his way along the crowded streets. No one had ever seen Mr. Cleveland so nervous as he was that day. The home coming was unheralded. There was no one In front of the house to see them. As the carriage drove up the butler opened the door. Mr. Cleveland gave his wife his arm and they walked slowly into the house. The doctor said it was not wise to let people know of their return to the city, so the curtains in the lower part of the house have all been kept closely drawn. Mrs. Cleveland was in seclusion. The crowd that passed that quiet house neverdreamed of the anxiety which lurked behind the heavy curtains which guarded the windows. There were preparations and all those delicate arrangements which make women whisper together when: they are alone, but the big mansion preserved a sphnix-like silence about all those things.

During the past two days those who noticed closely saw that the wind blew aside tho curtains which hang In the broad windows on the second floor and now and then they could catch sight of thesquaio shoulders of Mr. Cleveland. During the greater part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday he sat there. Dr. Bryan gave a dinner at his home In Thirty-sixth st. Tho dinner had been planned a number of days before and there were a number of famous professional mon and other people of noto there The guests had finished their dinner and were smoking their cigars shortly after 9 o’clock when a messenger came to the door and rang the bell imperatively. He demanded to see the doctor ut once. When the doctor returned to his guests he excused himself, saying In a bored sort of Way that it was a professional call and that ho must go at oncn. Not to a single guest privately did ho explain what, the call was. Straight to tho Cleveland mansion Dr. Bryant went. They were awaiting him anxiously. Mr. Cleveland was banished to the library. At last I “It's a girl,” they said. “Mrs Cleveland Is all right.” He took it very quietly simply saying. ‘Thank you.” 2 The little girl was born at exactly 12:00 Saturday morning and just before daylight the mother fell asleep. The glad news could be kept no longer. Mr. Cleveland must share his joy. The butler glided out of the house with yellow slips of paper on which were telegrauis to relatives and intimate friends. , „ The news was slow In reaching the world at large, because it had been so carefully guarded, aad hours elapsed before it reached the busy people who wen so anxious to hear ofit ’