The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-19
WIVES or PRESIDENTS.
Interesting Gossip About the
Charming Women.
why There Was SO Much Jefferson
ian simplicity Drying
in the white House Attic

over a century. and - them he no
second place given. for to woman 3
tact. and 20 woman's POKER has been
largely due the success Of each admin
istratioa. Washington life j. eminentiy
a social one. and must be catered to.
The grace and popularity of the presi-
dents wife i an added virtue To the
president. she must make and keep
friends for him when he cannot do Is
fer himself. She must relieve him
of the weight Of the social burden
that be may give the more time 10
the grayer affairs. Often she i
the power behind the throne 10
Whose wise counsel is due the desired
results. She gives up all privacy and
measures OF home life 10 live in the
ewes Of the people for brief term Of
responsibility and forced gayety she
must Iways be on duty, and never
forgetting for an instant that her
every act will be for the advancement
or harm OF her husband, must be
gracious alike 20 false friend or true.
Her features. manners. dinners and
dressing are described and CRITICIZED
a. 20 much public property. and I u
i less a tender subject With her than
Other women, she will read with
Amusement the widely different &C
counts Of herself. the gross mis-
representations that are made out OF
whole cloth" Tor political reasons, Or
10 III in the columns OF the news
paper. After few years o. bitter
swset experience, she retires 10 cont
narrative oblivion and the peaceful
knoyvletlga that she has been the
nrogd recipient oil the highest posi-
lion that can be bestowed on an
American woman, and that il will
come e. no woman but once IA a lie
time.
MANY Of the presidents wives have
beeu Ia delicate health, untitled by
their early days OF hard work ana
povertv for toe duties imposed on
Them when Dame Fortune deigued To
smile Tor in almost every instance the
famous men OF thi. country have risen
from the poorer conditions OF lie.
Theirfwjyes kept pace with them, how
ever. and the most brilliant ladie. OF
the White House were those who had
no claim TO the blue blood OF the arts
tocracy.
Martha Washington was q plump,
brown-eyed widow Of 70, with money
and a sweet disposition when the gen
eral married her, and they had a we'd
ding feast that lasted for days and was
participated in by all the r. f. VS..
The best proof ne have OF her win
someone's. Is that the still old soldier
unbent enough 20 give her the pet
name Of PATSY She was not bril-
liant little woman-knew more about
housekeeping than she did about the al
airs OF state-but Gen, George did not
need helpmeet particularly, ana the
prosy details OF home life were a rest
To him after day of contentious ana
intrigue Her unbounded- pride in
her husband kept her following where
he led hence the awesOme dignity OF
that administration. The receptions
to which the common people were
not inyited-were conducted with all
the stiffness and ceremony OF foreign
courts, the guest, retiring at 1870,
however. The hostess received seated,
and the president greeted each kindly.
hut never offered his hand. Think
what We have come to in these degene-
rate DAYS. when the head OF the nation
il COMPELLED to stand hours az a
stretch. and submit 10 having his
hand wrung and shook by long lines
OF crushed and perspiring people,
while the newspapers gloat over the
iimpness OF the presidential collar.
The father of his country would never
have accepted a nomination on any
such terms.
The first presidents wife made up
I'm grand manners what she lacked in
fine clothes. for We hear of her at a
hall clad in a simple russell gown with
n modest white handkerchief around
her throat, but with a most regal bear
Ing. She superintended the weaving
and making OF the generals inaugu
raj suit and was 50 proud OF two
dresses with silk stripes made OF raw
elings OF her brown silk hose and old
crimson chair covers, that she had
them exhibited as an incentive 10
other women to 20 and do likewise
trimming with amiahiiity and beneyo
lenCe and good common sense, Mar
tina Washington was just the woman
r. head the list-may IL be long.
Abigail Adams was the first rea
Lady Of the White House, moving
into ID when it was unfinished and I'm
Speakably dreary She came iron
Philadelphia 20 .pend the last ioul
months oi the administration IN tht
new presidential mansion. 10 find D
right IN the woods, with no seryant
10 cut enough OF the surrounding woot
10 give warmth aud dryness TO the few
inhahitahlc rooms, scant lights n'
looking glasses, no ueighbOrs. Tn,
d Il q a 49, .ss.. q.
of a miry clay. making il an all-day
task 30 return one Of the many cali
she Was bound e. acknowledge. for IN
those days. sending ones coachmat
around with card was not cunsitierr,
call With all her trials and trlhula
tons she had one great comtort-sh,
could use the great. untufnishe,
audience room to dry her clothes in OF
rainy days.
Thoutas Jefferson 4, vile had beer
dead some years when he begam,
president. and his daughters were 20,
small 10 be Of any assistance e. him IL
a social way, hence the 'lcllersonial
simplicity We hear 50 much about
Hal he been more blessed witt
womankiud. there would have beer
less simplicity,
vioas shortcomings when the poNe
came into her hands. however Tn
old adaer Train Up a child. etc. Wa
lost uu her. \ demurc nitlc Quakeres
while under the parental eve. bu
directly she is married enjoys IA
gaiety ot the neN lie As though to th
manor born. She va, Is idoW oi le>
than a wear when she capiya.ei Ga
future president ana once in "a
White House fascinated oil about he
with her gay good humor an
ready wit No stiffness now. nor sin
plicity Her sole aim Na- To be poPu
lar. and having uo children. all hc
enersie, We're pat forth 60 please sh
never forgot 4 name or a fsee and IA
had the happy faculty OF making eac
one feel himself the oh}c,t oi her pAi
ticular attention She used snuff an
paint. and was given a. wrappin
bright si.ken scars around her hea
tarban fashion. bat i seemed not on
OF place in Dorothy Madison. IN
fourth wear OF that administrator
was a most eyentful onc- During
skjrml,h with English troops IA
White House was ranSacked an
burned and light hearted Dorothy SAY
fear and trouble enough.
The White House Vas partially ne
built when EiIsabcth Monroe wen
into IT, ana she undertook To rebuff
the tone OF is manners and custom
as We'll Having been with her hu.
hand " hen he was minister 20 Ems
land. she WAs disposed u coudGc
thtngs less on the free democrats
plan, There Sas more reserve and