Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-03-17
THE LEADER AND QUEEN.
How Mrs. Belknap Set tho Fashions
and led the Society of the Ma
tional Capital.
Washington Cor Of the Inter Ocean

HOW 0QrSs b0Aknap Set tho Eash1O00
and led the Society of the Ma
tional Capital
Washington Cor. Of the Inter Ocean.
The Secretary was the ideal of dig
nifty and honor; his wife the ideal of
a social queen. They were just
enough exclusive to be sought; just
enough cosmolitan to be popular
Their presence at social gathering
gave 1t eclat and tone; an invitation
to their house was an honor too in
frequent to be declined and too
marked not to be recognized. The
Belknaps observed golden mean
between exclusiveness and compan-
condolences that won respect and
prohibited familiarity, and were men,
toned as leaders of society, not be-
cause they went everywhere, but
because they set the styles. If Mrs.
Belknap served refreshments at her
receptions in the parlor on dainty lit
tie chalices, the idea was initiated by
everybody else. If she declined to
return miscellaneous calls, it lmme-
diately became genteel for Mrs.
Smith, whose father was banker, to
snub Mrs. Brown, whose husband
was in the drug business. One day
Mrs. Belknap brought into the re-
ception room her baby-a bright,
bluc-eyed morsel Of life-to be kissed
and fondled by every one who called.
Forthwith every woman who had 4
baby had it washed and decked with
gaudy ribbons and rich laces and put
on dress parade. Cradles became as
much part of reception-room equip
ment as chairs and flowers, and the
society lady who had no baby felt
that she was in danger of being neg
lected. But Mrs. Belknap introduced
these innovations with delicacy and
dignity. 1t was recognized as her
privilege, and the world was only too
glad to follow in her lead.
This season there were so many
new Congressman, with SO many
wives and daughters whose acquaint-
ance had to be made, and SO many
new followers Of these Congressman
who were anxious to get into Cabinet
society, that Mrs. Belknap Was actu-
ally unable to return her calls. On
her reception day she would see peo-
pie by the hundreds, and she very
properly placed on her visiting list
only those whose social position en-
titled them to attention. AT once it
became allowable for any lady to
make distinctions as she chose. If
any other woman had done this she
would have been called naughty and
exclusive, but no one ever charged
Mrs. Belknap with hauteur or exclu-
siveness. Such was her position in
society here-a genial queen. Mrs.
Fish was the Dowager, Mrs. Belknap
the Eugenie of the American court.
Her handsome face, with regular fea-
lures, tall, slender, yet exquisitely-
moulded figure, clear, fair complex
ION, dark, lustrous hair, very black
and very bright eyes, and quite as
much as anything her graceful, dig
nified carriage and polished manners
gave her the prestige of appearance
everywhere she went. If you were
i'll ballroom your partner would
nudge you and say, "There is Mrs.
Belknap." If you were promenading
parlor your escort would propose
to go into the other room to see if
Mrs. Belknap was there.
Not only her appearance, her car
riage and her manners made her ad-
mired, but her active, reflective mind,
excellently schooled to reason quick
ly and to perceive instantly and ac-
curately, and adapt itself to circum-
stances, her ready wit and her habit
of saying pleasant things in pleas
ant way to everybody, big or little,
white or black, famous or obscure, 1t
made no difference. She paid all
her conversational debts in rich coin.
No one ever spoke to her without re,
ceiving a reply that made them wish
to speak to her again. Her style of
dress, too, made her famous. Hers
is a complexion and contour that can
wear all shades of all colors. She is
one of those women whom modlstes
like to adorn; no matter what she
wore or how it fitted, it was always
distingue and effective. l have seen
her in rose-colored silk, with soft,
creamy lace lying in folds around her;
and in torquoise blue that would
dim any other woman's face, but hers
was as bright as the garland of
flowers that slept upon her train;-
and l nave seen her III velvets of al
most every hue. Her wardrobe was
said to be the richest in the city, and
every dress made by Worth in Paris.
She had hats and boots and jewels to
match every toilet. Her feet are her
pride, and the envy of her lady
friends. Although of more than the
ordinary height of women-belng
five feet six inches tall-she wore
one-and-a-half boots. Every boot and
slipper she wore came from Paris
Mrs. Henry Clews, of New York, is
her sister. Mrs. Belknap's honor has
never before been assailed; the breath
of scandal never whispered a word
against her, and there are but very
few women of the position she has
held, and the experience she has
seen, who stood before the world so
pure and unblemishcd. What won
der that the world was startled when
the fact waa announced that she was
the tempter.
TIN Talles1 Man in Teuuesaee.