The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-01-17
Cabinet Members Wives.

must give You, write n Washington
correspondent, some idea OF what IN
arduons business falls to the lot of the
wife OF II member OF the Cabinet. Every
one, without limitation, il privileged to
call on these ladies' OH their reception
days, and rs custom has made the re.
turning OF all these calls obligatory,
when three hundred additions ut least
are made to their visiting lists every
Wednesday, tho 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 itlea of her daily life. and rs her
SUCCESSORS OF the present winter are no
less taxed, I will repeat her words: ~
order my carriage" she said, "for
twelve o'clock every day, no matter what
the weather may be, and begin calling.
Noon il a littlo early to begin, but I
have no choice, and / continue OH my
rounds until dark. On returning home
have no time to rest. but, changing
my visiting costume for an evening
toilet, l go to state dinner party,
and Immediately on tho conclusion Of
tho 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 whic to register their engagements,
not daring to trust the fulhllment OF
them to IN overtaxed memory.
In any one is amazed that ladies' are
willing to undergo such fatigue, they
must remember that mpopularity 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
matter concerning which the wife Of a
"AIr. Secretary" can afford to be indie
pendent, for the unpopularity she pro-
vokes will include her husband-yes,
and the political party he represents rs
we'll. More than one Of these victims to
society are martyrs to principle, and
offer themselves up on the sacrihcial
altar rather than make tho "Gdministra-
ton unpopular. The most heroic Of
those the administration has known is
the wife OF the secretary Of state, who
fultills her every social duty with q
cheerful courtesy which is,a perpetual
surprise even to those who best know
her. State dinners on Monday, Tues.
day, aud Wednesday OF each week, a
crowded reception in tho afternoon OF
the last,namcd day, md lunch for
about dozen Indies on Thursday were
few of her home engagements, and yet
tho ceaselcss round of visiting went on.
Nor does Mrs. Fish employ house
keeper, but superintends all the details
OF her well appointed household. Near
" all our "leading ladies'" rs careless
reporters arc apt to style them, are ac.
lively engaged in some OF the mauy
charities city the size OF Washington
is bound to support. With such ii diver:
sity OF alduous duties how they find
time for even portion Of the rest ex-
exhausted nature demands is n conun.
drum. I for ono give up promptly.
That they do find some moments for
recuperution is proved by the fact that
they do not lie or willingly resign.