Smyrna times., 1876-01-12
Cabinet Members Wives.

| 0iOh was made but now to those
whom official position compels to make 9
laoor OF what should be pleasure, and in
illustration l must give you some idea OF
what an arduous business falls to the lot NJ
tle wife OF member of the Cabinet in
washington. Every one, without limita.
ton, is privileged to call on these ladies ON
their reception days, and as custom has
made the returning of all these calls oblipa.
tory, when three hundred additions at least
are made to their visiting lists every We'd
nesday, the labor involved in making the
proper acknowledgment is easilv imaoined
From one thousand five hundred to two
thousand names on their visiting list is the
ordinary number. Several years ago a
lovely lady, since dead, who then occupied
one OF these harassing positions, gave me
some idea of her daily life. and ms her suo-
cessors of the present winter are no less
taxed, will repeat her words 81 order
my carriage" she said, "for twelve o'clock
every day, no matter what the weather
may be, and begin calling. Noon is n
little early to begin, but have no choice.
and L continue on my rounds until dark.
On returning home | have no time to rest
out changing my visiting coustume for an
evening toilet, go to a state dinner partv,
and immediatly on the conclusion of the
least begin my round of gas-light receptions
and balls" So many invitations ora
showered upon these ladies that they are
compelled to keep book in which to reris.
Ter their engagements, not daring to trust
the tultillment of them to an oycrtaxed
memory. If any one is amazed that ladies
are willing to undergo such fatigue. thev
must remember that unpopularity is the lot
OF those who are not rigorous in the dis
charge OF the duties long-established usage
has attached to the places they hold in
society by virtue of the official rank of tIoir
husbands. And it is not matter concern.
ing which the wife Of " Mr.. Secretary :,
can afford to be independent, for the nm
popularity She provokes will includo hAr
husband-yes, and the political party he
represents as well. More than one of these
victims to society are martyrs to prin. |
clple, and offer themselves up on the saeri |
hclal altar rather than make the Admin. |
lstratlon unpopular The most heroic of
those the Grant Administration has known |
is the wife of the Secretary Of Stat>, Mrs.
Hamilton Fish, who fulflls her every social |
duty with cheerful courtesy which is n
perpetal surprise even to those who hest
know her. State dinners on Monday. Tines.
lay and Wednesday of last week. a crowded
reception in the afternoon of the last.named
lay, and lunch for about dozen ladies
on Thursday, were few of her home en-
gagements, and yet the ceaseless round of
visiting went on. Nor does Mrs. Fish
employ a housekeeper, but superintends all
The details of her well-appointed house.
lold. Nearly all our leading ladies' as
careless reporters are apt to style them. are
actively engaged in some of the MANY
charities city the size of Washington is
pound to support. With such diversity of
lrduous duties how they find time for even
portion OF the rest exhausted nature de.
nands is cOnundrum. l for one give nm
That they do find some mo.
nents for recuperation is proved by the fact
hat they do not die or willingly resign.-
Washington Correspondent Detroit Pree Press.