The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-01-13
Cabinet Members Wives.

must give you, write Washington
correspondent, some idea OF what an
arduous business falls to the lot of the
wife of member of the Cabinet. Every
one, without limitation, is privileged to
call on these ladies on their reception
days, and as custom has made the re-
turning of all these calls obligatory,
when three hundred additions at least
are made to their visiting lists every
Wednesday, the labor involved in MAX
ing the proper acknowledgment is easily
imagined. From one thousand five
hundred to two thousand five hundred
names on their visiting list is the ordi-
nary number. Several years ago love-
ly lady, since dead, who then occupied
one of these harrassing positions, gave
me some idea of her daily life, and as her
successors of the present winter are nc
less taxed, will repeat her words: "I
order my carriage" she said, "for
twelve o'clock every day, no matter what
the weather may be, and begin calling.
Noon is little early to begin, but l
have no choice, and 1 continue on my
rounds until dark. On returning home
I have no time to rest, but, changing
my visiting costume for an evening
toilet, I go to 'state dinner party,
and Immediately on the conclusion OF
the feast begin my round of gaslight
receptions and balls" So many invi-
tations are showered upon these ladies
that they are compelled to keep book
in which to register their engagements,
not daring to trust the fulhllment OF
them to an overtaxed memory.
In any one is amazed that ladies are
willing to undergo such fatigue, they
must remember that unpopularity is the
lot of those who are not rigorous in the
discharge of the duties long established
usage has attached to the places they
hold in society by virtue of the official
rank of their husbands. And it is not
a matter concerning which the wife of O
"Mr. Secretary" can afford to be indie
pendent, for the unpopularity she pro-
vokes will include her husband-yes
and the political party he represents as
we'll. More than one of these victims to
society are martyrs to principle, and
offer themselves up on the sacrificial
altar rather than make the "administra.
ton unpopular. The most heroic OF
those the administration has known is
the wife of the secretary of state, who
fulflls her every social duty with q
cheerful courtesy which, is perpetual
surprise even to those who best know
her. State dinners on Monday, Tues.
day, and Wednesday of each week, q
crowded. reception in the afternoon Of
the last named day, and a lunch fol
about dozen ladies on Thursday were
a few of her home engagements, and yet
the ceaseless round of visiting went on.
Nor does Mrs.. Fish employ a house.
keeper, but superintends all the details
of her well appointed household. Near.
ly all our "leading laldas," as careless
reporters are apt to style them, are ac-
lively engaged in some of the many
charities city the size of Washington
is bound to support. With such diver
sity of aiduous duties how they find
time for even portion of the rest ex.
exhausted nature demands is conun-
drum. I for one give up promptly.
That they do find some moments foi
recuperation is proved by the fact that
they do not die or willingly resign.