Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-04-06
A SPICY DESCRIPTION or
CABINET WIVES.

ence what manner OF woman Cabinet
officers wife is, especially in these Coy
days OF Washington society. There
is a certain amount Of social duty de-
volving upon the wives Of the Presi
dents advisers, which brings them be-
fore the world and from the seclusion
which they may have enjoyed previous
to the elevation of their husbands
1t is just as incumbent upon the
wife to be everything to everybody as
it is for the husband. Seldom has ii
been that in the selection Of Cabinet
tho wives OF members enjoyed such
distinction apart from the regulations
Of their husbands as do some Of those
of the present Administration.
Mrs. Blaine is a fine looking lady,
tall, with good features, and hair well
sprinkled with gray. She is pleasant
in her manners, ready conversation
alist, and shrewd. Her long expert
ence in public life has made her a val.
liable acquisition to the Administration
or, at least, to that part of 1t repre-
sented by her husband. She can keep
secret and ward off the inquisitive
One day, about a month ago, follow
with q curious mind thought to ascer.
tain from Mrs. Blaine whether the
Senator would become Prime Minister
under Garfield. 81 suppose.you will be
delighted when the Senator goes into
the Cabinet ?" said Curiosity. ain
deed" replied Mrs. Blaine in apparent
astonishment 81 have noticed consid-
erable comment in the newspapers on
the subject. Pray, tell me what you
know about it" Tho gentleman could
have been bought for a penny about
that time. On the 4th of March Mrs.
Blaine, before taking her seat upon the
stand at the Inauguration ceremonies,
walked to the front with tho air OF q
queen and gazod upon the vast crowd
below. She was recognized, and a
shout went up that showed that she
was as popular as her husband Mrs.
Blaine possesses those peculiar quail
fcations which make q wife a great
comfort and aid to public man,
Mrs. Window is fine matronly
lady, who has never shown any dis
position for society and its frivolities
While she always dressesin good taste,
in either black silk or satin, or some
solid color, there is nothing dashing to
distinguish her in crowded reception
room. She appears to best advantage
in the home circle.
The oldest fish in the Cabinet basket
is Samuel j. kirkwood, the Secretary
oi the Interior. He is q plain man
and has an agricultural appearance,
but tho one whopicks him up as a fiat
will be mistaken. Little is known Of
his wife beyond the fact that she is an
estimable lady, who partakes in meas
ure the quiet manner of her husband
and has a limited circle OF acquant-
ances.
Secretary Lincoln's wife was Mary
Harlan, daughter ofex.S Senator Harlan,
a woman of oquislte lovelness. In her
younger days the suitors for her hand
were numbered by the sooro. Hor
presence in the charmed circle of the
Cabinet will add to its brillancy.
The fact that Mrs Mac Veagh is
Simon Cameron's daughter has given
her reputation which has preceded her
here. She is tall, graceful of figure,
and, having spent years in society
with her father when he was in the
zenith of his political glory and power,
come well prepared for the new hon.
ors for which both her husband
and herself will receive, Those who
know her intimately state that she
possesses in marked degree many Of
the characteristics which distinguishes
her father, and that those traits are
more largely developed in her than in
any of her relatives. Being brought
up in political atmosphere, she has
acquired the faculty of reading men
and women at a glance and | am told
that hers has been the directing mind
in many of the movements made by
her husband. Mr., MacYoagh intends
to keep house here, and his establish.
mont will be among the most noted at
the Capital
Mrs. Hunt will be the belle of the
Cabinet beyond doubt. She is beauti.
ful blonde, agreeable in manner and
cultivated in taste. Mrs Hunt is one
of tho best educated ladies in Washing.
ton, and withal a brilliant society wo.
man. Her circle of acquaintance is
largo and she entertains with true
Southern liberality.
Postmaster James has lovely wife,
who will be an ornament to society
here.
The Cabinet is not made up Of rich
men by any means. Blaine is proba.
bly, fixed better than any of the rest,
so far as q bank account is concerned.
He has a fine residence, handsomely
furnished, on fifteenth street. The
rest of the members live moderately,
and it is doubted whether they will
branch out, because the salary of IS, 900
per year willhardly warrant extraordi.
nary expenses. In tho last Admins
tration Secretary Sherman bore the
brunt OF entertaining on behalf of the
Ministers; under the new regime this
will fall to the lot of Mr.. Blaine.
For some time past there has been
q quite movement on the part of some
of Mr.. Conkling's and Mr.. Blaine's
friends to bring these two gentlemen
together and have them forget the
past. Conkling has been greatly an
noyed at the prominence given Blaine
and has refused TO call at the White
House. Cameron is also miffed, and
he will not go near Garfield, but when
he wants anything sends Russell Errett
or some one Of his followers. John
Sherman does not speak to Conkling
and Conkling docs not speak to Blaine
Grant does not recognize the existence
of Blaine. Sherman also has cold
side for both Grant and Blaine.
Minister Noyes is coming home from
France. The reason assigned for this
is that he has Mt exchanged words
with Garfield for some years, on ac
count Of trouble between them in Ohio
Noyes would not hold place under
Garfield, so the story goes, and he lost
no time IN officially informing the
President of the fact Garfield wasted
no time in decapitating Noyes. Sc
the fight among the great men of The
day goes on.
Here is quartette whose lots have
been cast in different places, but who
claim peculiar prominence. Wayne
Mac cVeagb, Judge Hunt and Billings
and Randall Gibson, of Louisiana, wer,
in the Same class at college, Gibson ant
MacVoagh were room-mates. They
parted as young men, each to make