Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-01-23
WIVES OF GREAT MEN.
Women Who Share the Fame of Our
Leading Statesmen.
Mrs. Reeds intellectually Mrs. Ne
kinley Can Discuss Politics
With the Most Astute
Thinkers.

There is no city in the world where
revolutions are so frequent as in the eapl-
tai OF the United States The Congress
man or Senator Of today may be Cabinet
officer or President tomorrow. Changes
follow fast on each others heels and be
hind every change Is the official service
Of the then predominant individual. Ihere
are great many women in Washington
who. from close viewing Of the social side
and diplomatic management OF their visit
ing lists always happen to bl in with
the '.ins. and seldom if ever 'out with
the "outs In the official that Is Amerl-
can oticial-social life here there Is little
if any distinction between social and
political, and there is. as a rule. as
much politics in the afternoon teas as
there Is ON the floor Of either House or
Senate. although in the former case 1t is
more charningly yelled and draped. In
Cabinet diplomatic Senatorial and Con
gressionai circles the social leaders are as
clearly defined as are the more purely po-
litical leaders In the halls Of legislation.
Just now there are a few ladies the wives
Of members OF congress, vino. through
the combined forces of their individual
characters and the positions Of their hus-
bands, occupy prominent places in the
social world
Among them are Mrs. Reed. the wife of
the present Speaker Of the House of Rep
resentatives: Mrs John G. Carlisle the
wife of the eX-Speaker, present leader OF
the Democratic Congressman: Mrs. Ne
KInley. the wife Of the Republican leader
on the floor Of the House. and Mrs Hem
derson. whose husband was prominent a
little while ago as candidate for the Speak
ership and who. through the candidacy
and the strength Of her personality. are
still prominent on the floor of the House
These ladies are almost as prominent them
selves as their husbands and In more than
one instancs are not little responsible for
the success attained by their husbands
More or less social obligation rests on the
fair shoulders Of each OF these ladies, and
all of them have spent sufficient time in
Washington and amid official circles to
be thorough mistresses Of the art of full
filling such duties rs their positions I'M
pose Mrs Thomas b, Reed has spent
twelve winters in Washington her hu,-
band having last November been elected TO
his seventeenth consecutive term as Con-
gresham In color Mrs Reed is a bru-
nette in form rather tail and strikingly
graceful with a courteous dignity that
makes many friends. She was "a Miss
Susan Merrill. the daughter of o Congrega-
ti0nal minister who moved 70 Portland
Me. where Mrs. Reed met and married
Thomas q. Reed. in 1870. he being at that
time State Senator and shortly afterward
Acknowledgements Miss Katharine Reed
aged Is. is her mothers constant COM
panion and 'chum, the two being warm
friends In addition TO the nearer relation
ship. and together entering into many
plans for pleasure as well as instruction
for the little lady. Well read. and some
times called conservative in her opinions.
Mrs Reed is one of the most welcome
guests at the brilliant entertainments Of
Washington winters. The most striking
effect produced by Mrs. Reed /, that of
force and intellectually Her dress is all
WAYS refined and quet i'm tone and her or
uameuts few. Canoes and plain gold
bracelets are her fayorIties. and the sparkle
of diamond on her person isa rare sight
save when In evening dress As the wife
of the Speaker the calls upon her time are
most frequent and as descendant Of
Puritan ancestors She does her duty thor
0ughv. and rs a well-brel woman. charm
-
or attention without receiving careful and
considerable courtesy, to which fact is due
in no small degree. perhaps, Mrs. Reeds
popularity
Mrs John G. Carlisle whose husband
has been described BIZ the famous historian
Bancroft, us the most remarkable man Of
his age Is a keutucklan born and bred
Her father Col. John A. G0odsOn. was a
native Of Georgia, who early i'm life moved
10 Coyingt0u. Ky. Of which city be was
Mayor from 1857 to 1861, and afterwards
becoming q member of the State Assembly
and Senate To was In Covingt0u that Mr..
Carlisle was born. and it does not need
a second glance at the clear-tUt features
and straight figure 10 detect the Southern
blood. Mr. and Mrs Carlisle have been
married thirty-two year, and have two
grown sons who resemble their father not
little. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle still keen
mp their charming home I'm tovingtOn and
spend as much time there as they can.
Despite her twelve years OF life I'm Wash
lugtou Mrs. Carlele finds nothing So
charming rs her own home circle. OF
course il is still necess 3ry for her To do
good deal Of social work, but the charm
ing little informal gatherings that occur
every now and then al the X street house
are among tbe more delightful entertain
meuts, IF the word is not too big. that are
held i'm Washington
Mrs William Mckinley. Jr.. 4, one Of
the most charming and intere ting women
I'M Washington society. She was Miss
Ida SaNton, her father James a. SaNton.
having been most prominent I'M Ohio and