The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-17
TRANSFORMATION.


Some Of the social transmutations in this
favored Republic would read like fairy tales,
the pranks of good hearted genii gone mad in
the endeavor to Guido themselves in elfsh
tricks. Three years ago to-day certain lady
was plodding along in obscurity, unknown be-
yond her very limited circle Of acquaintance,
and never heard of in the world at large
Content with her humble surroundings, she
was a moderately successful school teacher.
For the edifcation of her pupils, and as pa
pers before formal meetings of teachers asso-
Citations, she had at odd intervals of time,
when the interminable round of school duties
allowed, prepared several essays on such
topics as she found convenient to descant
upon. There was no thought in her mind
that they would ever gain publicity, and it.
probably never occurred to her to attempt
putting them in book FORM The reading pub
lie would have freezingly allowed them to die
of so many poor teachers destined to plod
quietly on in the maddening round Of school
duties But the sun of her good fortune sud-
denly appeared above the horizon, and rapidly
climbed to the zenith before her bewildered
eyes, Dame Fortune knocked at the school
room door, and, taking her by the hand,
quietly led her to dizzy heights Without an
effort on her part, and without reference to
her personal merits or dement's, the ugly
duckling was given the wings of swan, and
led up out of the fens of obscurity. The I'M
known school mistress awoke to find herself
famous, if not great. The essays she wrote
in hours Of relaxation were drawn from their
hiding place, and it was easy enough to secure
to her advancement. And now the public
reads of grand dinner given by member of
the Presidents Cabinet, to which this school
teacher and her brother were invited to honor
the occasion. Eighteen guests were en-
tertained, the President sitting next
to Mrs. Whitney, at one end of
the table, and Miss Cleveland at the
opposite end, next to her host. Miss Cleve-
land wore dress of ruby-colored velvet, re-
lieved by pink. The center Of the table was
mass Of beautiful flowers, with candelabra
at each side, and at the four corners standing
on squares of Turkish silk, embroidered in
gold, were wine fagons of repousse silver, and
silver epergnes lined with gold for fruit and
bon bons. Mrs. Whitney wore a lace dress of
great value, and her ornaments were of pearl.
The ballroom, attached to the house, was
lighted after dinner and opened to the guests.
This banquet initiates series of grand enter
tainments to be given during the winter by
Secretary and Mrs. Whitney.
The rubbing of Alladin's lamp never pro-
duced a more remarkable transformation.
The President of to-day was, four years ago,
an unknown lawyer, rooming alone over
hardware store in Buffalo. An accident of
politics lifted him to the mayor
atty of his town. Another even more
remarkable accident made him Governor Of
a Republican State; a third accident, follow
ing in bewildering rapidity, raised him to one
of the highest positions in the world. The
man and woman have in no wise been changed
in themselves, and owe all that has happened
to fortuitous circumstances which they did
little to bring about. 1t is very probable, too,
that, il all these conditions could be with
drawn. each would inevitably 60 back to the
accustomed place, he to practice law in
small way and she to wrangle with refractory