St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-03
MRS. JOHN SHERMAN.
The Qualifications Which Make
Her n Natural Social Leader.

The Qualifications which Make
Her n Natural Social Leader.
However the election Of Senator Sher-
man as presiding officer of the senate may
be viewed politically, there are no two
opinions as to his wife's fitness to occupy
the position which necessarily comes to
her in consequence of her husbands being
the president pro tempOre of the senate and
as such, under existing 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 political places at the national
capital as long continuously. Beginning
with that of President Buchanan, she has
dined at the White house during each ad-
ministration at state dinners. She is one
of the women without any taste for society
which would lead her to court popularity
and become leader of fashion, is yet one
to whom others naturally defer out of their
admiration for her womanly traits of char
ter and even disposition. She invariably
speaks kindly of others, never shows re-
sentiments, and always tries to place every
one at ease. Her manner 10 those whose
political opinions are totally at variance
with her own and her husbands is as pleas
ant 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 op-
posed TO each other, and lately recalled a
lesson gently given her by President Bu-
chanan when she and her husband attended
state dinner given by him in the White
house in 1860. Mr.. Sherman, who that
winter had been candidate for the speak
erShip, when, after long contest, PEN
nington 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 flor she was
new to Washington life them it were not
quite right TO partake of the presidents
hospitality under the circumstances. Evil
IDENTIFY the president saw that she was en-
barraSsed, for he showed her many kindly
attentions during the dinner, and after
ward, when the guests were mingling to-
gethe. in the drawing room ind slipping their
coffee, he expressed the hope that she and her
husband " uld come to see him often, and
aided: You know in Washington we
never allow politics to affect social inter-
course in any way. Although Mr.. Clay
and were bitterly opposed to each other
politically, our private friendship continued
unVroken. L lent him my only white waist
coat to wea- to Bodisco's wedding and
wore black one myself" This proof of
friendship those who knew Mr.. Buchanan
and his punctilious observance of all social
requirements as to dress as well as other
matters. say was one of the greatest he
could hive cited in support of his as,er-
tion.
Mrs. Sherman is devoted member of
the Episcopal church, and regular attsnd-
ant as her husband is also. at the Church
of the Epiphany. Shc visits the poor in
their novels to relieve their distress, never
caring what da ger she may incur in going
TO see the sick. a few years ago she found
herself in room with a case Of small -pox,
but finished her visit without showing any
signs of fear. On going home she confded
the incident to faithful servan' forbid
ding her 10 mention it to Mr.. Sherman, and
enjoining upon her to have her promptly
taken to hospital if she should have small
pox, which. happily, she escaped; but she
would not let her husband know the risk
she had run.