The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-16
MRS. JOHN SHERMAN.
The Lady Whose Husbands Position Gives
Her Deserved Social Importance.


The Lady Whose Husbands Position Gives
Her Deserved Social Importance
Washington Special.
However the election of Senator Sherman as
presiding officer of the Senate may be viewed
politically, there are no two opinions to his
wife's fitness to occupy the position which neces-
sarily comes to her in consequence of her hus
band being President pro tempOre of the Senate,
and as such, under existing laws, social and po-
hticai, the second in the scale of official pre-
cedence. Mrs. Sherman has lived in Washing
ton thirty years, though younger than other
ladies whose husbands have been in political
places at the national capital as long continuous
ly Beginning with that of President Buchanan,
she has dined at the White House during each
administration at state dinners. She is one Of
the women who, without any taste for society
which would lead her to court popularity and
become a leader of fashion, is yet one to whom
others naturally defer out of their admiration
for her womanly traits of character and even
disposition. She invariably speaks kindly of
others, never shows resentment and always tries
to place everyone at ease. Her manner TO those
whose political opinions are totally at variance
with her own and her husbands is as pleasant as
to those who are in political accord with them.
Mrs. Sherman says she learned very early in
her residence in Washington that politics were
never allowed to affect the meetings in society Of
those who were bitterly opposed to each other,
and lately recalled a lesson gently given her by
President Buchanan when she and her husband
attended a state dinner party given by him in
the White House in 1860. Mr.. Sherman, who
that year had been candidate for the speaker
ship, when, after long contest, Pennington of
New Jersey was elected, had been quite severe
in his attacks in the House on the political
course of President Buchanan and his admins
tration. and Mrs. Sherman says she felt if flor
she was new to Washington life them it were not
quite right to partake of the Presidents hospital
lty under the circumstances. Evidently the
President saw that she was embarrassed, for he
showed her many kindly attentions during the
dinner, and afterwards, when the guests were
mirg Cling together in the drawing room and sip
ping their coffee, he expressed the hope that she
and her husband would come to see him often.
and added you know in Washington we never
allow politics to affect social intercourse in any
way. Although Mr. Clay and l were bitterly
opposed to each other politically. our private
friendship continued unbrOken. lent him my
only white wastcoat to wear to Bodisco's wed.
ding and wore black one myself" This proof
of friendship those who knew Mr. Buchanan and
his punctilious observance of all social require
ments in dress as well as ether matters, say was
one of the greatest he could have cited in sup
port of his assertion.
Mrs. Sherman is devoted member of the
Episcopal Church, and a regular attendant as
her husband is also. at the Church of the
Epiphany. She visits the poor in their novels to
relieve their distress, never caring what danger
she may incur in going to see the SICK A few
years ago she found herself in room with a
of smallpox, but finished her visit without
showing any signs of fear On going home she
conided the incident to faithful servent, for
bidding her to mention it to Mr.. Sherman, and
enjoining upon her to have her promptly taken
to hospital if she should have smallpox, which
luckily she escaped: but she would not lot her
husband know the risk she had run