The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-10
MA cLENMER HUDSON.

hundreds they are numbered by scores and
the work which they accomplish is a pecu-
liar and trying one, though popular as a
feature OF journalism, and at the same time
profitable TO them. Few of the lady writer's
of the Capital now essay the sort of work
done by Mary Clemmer, Olive Logan and
Mary Mapes Dodge years ago. Emily Edison
Briggs lOlivia), who wrote in something ofthe
same vein as those mentioned above, some
years ago. does comparatively little work
now, having become wealthy by the appre-
citation in value of certain property in
Chicago. purchased by Mr.. Briggs at low
figures years ago, about the time when he so
popularity served as Stationery Clerk of the
House. OF the Others who now give most OF
their time to society work there are large
numbers. They have a society or ascot
alton of their own, q sort OF press club,
which meets at the residences OF some of the
members. and serves as bond of union, be-
sides adding much to the social and intel
lectual pleasures of the members. Their
work now is largely given to picturing the
events of the day in the social world. AT
any and all of the prominent social events
of the season they are to be seen, note book
in hand. busily engaged in gathering the
pearls OF fact, which, strung upon the thread
OF fancy during the small hours
while the great world is asleep,
embellish the front pages OF the daily
papers all over the country the next
morning The work which they accomplish
is not only interesting to thousands and
thousands of readers, but important as part
of the picture of the daily and mighty life
OF the capital of the greatest nation of the
world. And while they are sometimes &C
cused of inaccuracies, and even more Impor-
tent defects their persstency in overcoming
obstacles which had often caused the other
sex to despair, their success as newsgather-
ers, and the general accuracy with which
they picture the events of the day in the So
cial world, entitle them to great credit. 1t
is not an easy thing to visit a private resi-
dence at a time when the ladya gentleman
of the house are engaged in attentions to
score or hundred guests, and get facts and
fancies about house, and home, and guests,
and dinner and dresses. Yet these women
accomplish this, and that, too, under the dis
advantage of having to do it in the night for
most of Washington society is only to be seen
in the late evening.
They must make themselves sufficiently
welcome TO gain an entrance to the house,
whether they really are welcome or not, and
gathering their facts about home, and guests,
and dresses, from some quiet corner, hasten
from one "even" to another, until the cir
cult of the evening is completed, and then
hurTying to the office, through cold, and
storm, and darkness, write it up" for the tel
egTaph, printer and prOofreader thousand
miles away, who in turn must prepare it for
the reader, who is then sleeping in q COM
Portable couch. little dreaming of the hard
ship which these men are undergoing to pre-
pare the pleasing picture OF Washington SO.
cial life with which he or she is to 0e served
with the morning breakfast.
1t was with the three women mentioned
in the beginning of this letter, however, that
it was to deal most. Mary Clemmer, whose
picture is given herewith, was, perhaps, the
earliest, or at least one OF the earliest, OF the