The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-26
MRS. JOHN SHERMAN.
The Lady Whose Husbands Position
Gives Her Deserved Social Importance.

WASHINGTON December 21.-HOwevert the
election OF Senator Sherman as presiding
officer OF the Senate may be viewed polltl-
cally, there are no two opinions as to his
wifes fitness to occupy the position which
necessarily comes to her in consequence OF
her husbands being the President pro tenn
pore OF the Senate, and as such under ex-
listing laws, social and political, the second
in the scale of official precedence. Mrs.
Sherman has lived in Washington thirty
years, though younger than most other
ladies whose husbands have been IN poltl-
cal places at the National capital as
long continuously. Beginning with that
OF President Buchanan, she has dlned
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 pop
uIarity and become O. leader of fashion, is
vet one to whom others naturally defer out
of admiration for her womanly traits OF
character and even disposition. She in
variably speaks kindly OF Others, never
shows resentments and always tries to place
everyone at ease. Her manner to those
whose political opinions are totally at va
Rance with her own and husbands IL 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 poll
tics were never allowed to affect the meet
ings 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 at
| tended state dinner party given by him
in the White House in 1880. Mr.. Sherman,
| who that winter had been candidate Tor
the Speakership, when, after a long con-
| test 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 administration, and
| Mrs. Sherman says she felt as If (for she
| was new to Washington life then) it were
not quite right to partake OF the Presl-
dents hospitality 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 ming.
| ling together in the drawing-room and
slipping their coffee, he expressed the hope
! that she and her husband would come to
see him often, and added, you know IN
| Washington wenever allow politics to affect
social intercourse in any way. Although
Mr.. Clay and 1 were bitterly opposed te
| each other politically, our private friend
ship continued unbroken. l lent him my
! only white waistcoat to wear to Bodisco' &
wedding and wore black one myself
| This proof of friendship those who kne"
Mr. buchanan and his punctilious observ
ance of all social requirements as to dress
as well as other matters, say was one o
the greatest he could have cited in suppor
] of his assertion.
Mrs. Sherman is devoted member OF tn
Episcopal Church and a regular attendant
! as her husband is also, at the Church o
the Epiphany. She visits the poor in thei
| hovels to relieve their DISTRESS never carin
what danger she may incur in going to Sc
the sick. A few years ago she found hersel
in room with a case OF smallpox, bu
finished her visit without showing any sign
OF fear. Ong going home she confided them
cident to a faithful servant, forbidding he
to mention it to Mr.. Sherman and enjoine
on her to have her promptly taken to
hospital if she should have smallpox
which luckily she escaped; but she woul
not let her husband know the risk she ha
run.