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Show Boiling Gait Wilson, and Mrs. Grace Goodhue Coolidge all of whom enjoy a special franking privilege. In the first year of the 19th century, cen-tury, congress granted such privilege privi-lege to Martha Washington, then a widow. This frank was to last until her death, and Mrs. Washington Wash-ington used it for but one month over two years, when she died. Letters with her signature on the outside, instead of the usual postage, post-age, are rare, despite the fact that Mrs. Washington had a wide acquaintance. The "charming Dolly Madison" was the second widow of a President Presi-dent to receive this special frank. She wrote the word "free," and most of the later privileges followed fol-lowed her example. Anna Harrison, wife of the short-lived President William Henry Harrison, used her frank for 23 years; Louisa Catherine Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, Ad-ams, four years. Sarah Polk used her frank the longest of any President's Presi-dent's widow, 41 years and seven months. Mary Lincoln used her frank for 16 years and five months, but because of the demand for Lincolnian specimens are very difficult to procure. Lucretia Randolph Garfield enjoyed en-joyed her frank the second longest, long-est, 26 years and two months. Julia Dent Grant used her privilege privi-lege for 16 years and 10 months. Frances F. Cleveland Preston received her frank in 1909 and is still using it. When she married Mr. Preston in 1914, the postmaster postmas-ter general informed her that as the frank was for lifetime use, she could continue the privilege, merely adding Preston to the name. Mary Lord Harrison, wife of Benjamin Harrison, received her frank the same day as Mrs. Cleveland. Mrs. Harrison was not actually a "First Lady of the Land"; she married President Harrison four years after he had left the White House. She is still living and using her frank. One of the most common specimens speci-mens to be found in the mail is that of Edith Carew Roosevelt, who has made much use of her privilege. Mrs. Harding had the shortest use of her frank, 10 months, Jacking Jack-ing three days. Mrs. Wilson received the franking frank-ing privilege several weeks after Mrs. Harding received hers, although al-though she had proceeded the' latter lat-ter in occupying the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Wilson is the only one of the Presidents' widows to use a facsimile, which she does to the disappointment of the col lectors. |
