New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
WASHINGTON STORIES.
MRs. HARRISON AND A BULLY.

, ou,st ,npretentIous woman. True It is that there
Is nothing quite so grateful TO the majority OF people
as the downfall OF a member OF that growing class
| the society bully. There Is such one In Washington
| indeed there may be more than one-but this ono
lately met her Just deserts at the hands OF Mrs Harr
en-, who although not a claimant for social leader
| sb,n has the most masterly quality OF being equal
| IN a situation. This Washington woman Is uaihe
OF high degree. She Is pulssant because III s'mo way
she holds tho balance Of power between the exclusive
arrogant resident society Of the Capital and the gena
nromsc,ous official circle My lady is keen, wonder
fy quick at repartec. and malicious In addition 10
| this she is as much a rebel as In ante oeiiun
dsvs So extreme she that she still hates every 'hhs
relating 10 a Republican Administration. Laey she
laid a wager that she would at some time ont"i' s"u
| humiliate the Presidents WIFE, -
| She had not met Mrs. Harrison at the time pu.
u,,Io later was presented. Mrs. Harrison exendeh
bcr hand Madame Bully feigned not to SEQ u. some
| porson who was too dull to discern me lhehu'u
nsoIence told Madame Bully of her oversight. iur"
| ing quickly, she said: .r.uo, MN
a. They tell me- Mrs. Harrison, that you onercu i'o
vour hand a moment ago. Pardon mo, l am very
| -, tohted ~ tben wiukine at a companion, she con
| ,inued Z" have always had tho entree Oh inc ",n
| House from the time OF Harriet Lane ~"''
| shall be admitted during your reign
| Tho manner Of the woman was worse in9"iU 49,.
the carefully chosen words. She ac'cu Do 'ioe
nrssepce in tho White House would be an hohor "hio
It's present mistress couu h"'ui' "OF
was not through. -. A..
a. have always sent deIicaces TO the ladies OF the
u,,,,o Uouses she continued, and trust you VIII
| ,aro some of my soup Mrs. HaInsonP
| Mrs Harrison paid small heed 10 THO oa'oh"s' pow
ronlzing tone but said quietly:
| at assure you, Mrs. -, should nave Occh si"'
- rcceive II last spring. as inherited very poor
| -. Che did not offer TO accept anything thS
fall, however
Madam Bully made another effort
| aWbat Is YOUR Given name, Mrs. Harrison. 40 50
want TO call you by It and 10 put my arm arouiu Sou
at your receptions that people Will see no" intimate
Voc arc. DO not deny me the-honorl"-with rising
| Infection. ,ooo.our
The Presidents wife ignored tho hateful buhoonery'
only pronouncIng her given name Caroline"
AT cannot put my around you,' continued
the old lady, who alas lives too iaie 10 Do known anu
described by Thackeray, do at least shake haos WIN
me-they tell me you are not even going to do that
often u
| rcannot Mrs - After l shake hands an hour,
tho Joints of my fingers pain me so that cannot
| Sleep
q put what shall you do when 1 extend my hand as
I mean to do. Shall you ignore it''
al shall always carry bouquet at my receptions
| Mrs Harrison spoke simply and with dignity. She
knew perfectly we'll that Of the cruelest ceverest
| women in Washington was trying to guy her, but she
treated the whole affair though 1t was in perfect
| good faith
The words Of the conversation written seem
| innocent and commonplace but the dullest person
present knew that for the time the wife of the Pres
dent was at the mercy OF society bully before whom
| many woman counted clever has quaied one
woman who was there and who has always been
| match for nv ladys ssrcasms said the moment she
began she felt like protecting Mrs Harrison and getting
her away. but she found before the end that Madam
| Bully had never been better foiled
| Colonel Thomas one time member OF Congress, was
in the city this and among tales OF the OLD days
| told tho following about Thaddeus Stevens
"Thaddeus stevens sitting in his office one day
with a few friends when in walked an old lady, wear
Ing a pokc bonnet blue goggles and carrying green
aIpaca umbrella She looked around the room as II IN
search Of some one and then said solemnly:
| Can you tell mo where to find Thaddcus Stevens,
| the Apostle Of ubcrtyP
| "Old Thadn blushed.
| " .pm Tbaddeus Stevens he replied shortly!
Are you Thadee-us stevens. the Apostle Of
| LibcrtyP
Il reckon I am. ma'am.'
| "The old lady dropped her parasol, made rush
toward Stevens to kiss him, and when he held her off,
she said:
al came from Bucks County to see Thade-eus
stevens the Apostle Of Liberty and to take home with
| me a lock OF his hair
"The Apostle OF Liberty took off his red wig, handed
II to her, and said
| Is,
want.''
Colonel Bill, Wade, of Missouri, and Colonel Joe'
Canncu Of Illinois, incOrrgIbe jokers They arc
also inscparable friends All Of the Missouri Republicans
| except Mr. Wade pledged to Major Mckinley for
| Speaker. Colonel Wade and Colonel Cannon are such
close friends that one has questioned the gen
era belief that Colonel Cannon would have Colonel
Wades support long lie continued in the contest
Some one suggested to Colonel Cannon one night this
week in Colonel Wade's presence that this condition
| of affairs undoubtedly existed
As to BIZ Wade.' said Mr.. Cannon, glancing at
the Missouri statesman out Of the Of his eye
with quzzical expression, my situation is that Of
the small boy with the postage stamp whose back was
not well supplied with mucllage. He planted t on
the corner OF envelope which he about to mail
| and wrote under it Paid II the thing sticks"
Colonel Cannon IS now living at the Shoreham,
Vice President Moron's apartment house, in suite
| of rooms whose magnfcence would starte granger
constituency. 1t is odd, II not especially note
worthy fact that all the candidates for the Speaker
ship are boarders.n Colonel Cannon has been for
many years a lodger at Wizards Hotel. He left 1t
for the more fashionable Shoreham when he entered
his campaign for the Speakership recently Mr.. Reed,
of Maine, has lived for many years at the Hamilton,
which is the Washington home Of Senator Frye and
great many other statesmen. Major Mckinley lives
At the Ebbt. Speaker Carlisle lived hotel for
many wears before he doubled up7 with Representa-
five Steele of Indiana, I'm housekeeping. lie found
II much more simple to transact certain Of the public
business at a hotel than to have men coming to his
homo at all hours Of the night to discuss political
questions with him.
After wasting several hours in discussion OF the
subject Of ventilation during the busiest part OF the
session. the Senate adjourned last March with the
understanding that during the recess some effort would
I've made improve the sanitary condition of the
senate Chamber which is about as bad as It could be
bnt the time for the meeting OF Congress is at
hand and no effort has been made to devise plan for
ottlng more fresh air into the Chamber. During the
| coming session the farcical discussion will be
.or,ed bnt IL Is to be hoped with n better result.