The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-31
THE WHIMS OFWOMEN
Mrs. Harrison's Collection of
White House Furniture.
MRS. sPooNER's FINE OLD DESKS
How Mrs. Hearst Entertains Young Peo-
pie-Mrs. Palmer's Weakness for
Dogs-Democratic Mrs. Pauncefots.

WASHINGTON CRY, May 25.-TSpecia
correspondence. The world is full of
fads, so full in fact that small space is left
Tor more substantial culture though, as a
mass, the men and women Of the period
are distinguished in many respects above
the average class Of society whose doings
and sayings have been handed down as
typical OF the elegance and culture that
marked the age of our forefathers, when
solid worth and sterling integrity were the
only sure stepping-stones TO the attain
ment OF public favor and high Office.
MRS. PRESIDENT LIsCoLN's PEcuLIARIrIEs.
Probably no more eccentric woman ever
reigned supreme in the White House than
the wife OF President Lincoln, though few,
II any, OF her predecessors or successors
have entirely escaped the impeachment.
Mrs. Lincoln's most Distinguishing weak
ness was an innate jealousy Of DISPOSE
ton that ofttimes proved sore
trial to her iarge-hearted. impulsive hus-
band, who, in the chid-like simplicity of
MS nature, was constantly guilty of rous-
ing this little demon in the breast of his
better half" Mr.. Lincoln was proven
bially disregardful of all the lesser rules of
etiquette that hold such an important
place in the estimation of his wife. and for
nearly two years following their advent
into the White House Mrs. Lincoln's fem
mime wrath was stirred at the action of
her liege lord to ignore her right of prece-
dence upon every occasion of public recep-
ton or official entertainment. 1t was the
custom of our chief executive those days,
as in the present to take advantage of the
period following the close of large even
ing reception, to promenade through the
suite of apartments thronged with eager
sight-seers and prominent officials.
Passing through the line that opened on
either side to admit of their approach, and
followed by members of the cabinet pres
ent, the president would make the entire
circuit before the final hour for the clos
ing of the doors. It was President Lin
coins custom to waive all precedent upon
such occasions, and offering his arm to the
first lady to whom he happened to turn in
the fancy of the moment, without regard
to her official standing, he would lead the
way through the rooms, leaving Mrs. Lin
coin to follow with whomsoever a kind
fate awarded her among the off,
Gals present. This state of af-
fairs, however, did not happen to
agree with this lady's preconceived no
tons of etiquette, and the irate mistress
of the White House never lost an oppor-
tunity Of impressing upon her husband
her disapproval of his breach of the
usual rule in her case. for she was often
heard to remark: "If the president, by
right of precedence, ranks first among
officials, should not his wife. by the laws
of church and state, stand second to
none? Thus, to her alone, above all
others, is due the honor of taking her
position by his side upon all and every
occasion of public appearing" Many
and sore were the lectures given
to the delinquent by the outraged
spouse, but it was fully two years
before the wife prevailed and succeeded in
her determination to bring the president
to regard the matter with the importance
of her own views instead of lightly ignor-
ing the question or passing it by with
light laugh or genial response, so charac-
teristic of the easy-going, tender-hearted
nature of the man.
MRS. HARRIsoS's TWO FADs.
In her artistic temperament. Mrs. Har-
rison's eccentricities all combine in pas
sion for the beautiful, whether in nature
or art, and her enthusiastic devotion to
painting has often proved a severe strain
upon her overtaxed strength. Yet in spite
of the thousand and one demands attend
ant upon her elevated position, her regular
attendance upon the studio classes was sell
dom omitted even during the height of last
seasons gaieties. Another eccentricity, If
such it can be termed, that will
always distinguish Mrs. Harrison's reign
as mistress of the White House, is her
earnest effort to gathsr together all the
scattered treasures in the shape of articles
of furniture and odd pieces of bric-a-brac
that have from time TO time been disposed
of to make room for new things at the ex-
ecutive mansion. Though up to present
date comparatively small returns have re-
warded her efforts, yet the little seed once
sown, it will not be long before the per-
fected bloom in the form of one Of the
most historically valuable collections will
reward her patriotic zeal. Already many
ardent sympathizers are enerSetlcally.
though quietly, at work collecting chance
pieces that have through successive
changes wandered far from their original
use, most probably laid away for long
years unnoticed and forgotten IN some
dusty garnet or public workshop,
MRS. MoRroN's EXERCISE.
Mrs. Morton is woman OF sterling
practicability, and among cabinet ladies
there is no better or more judicious house
keeper than the handsome wife of our
vice-president. Mrs. Morton's hobby in
regard to the taking of regular exercise
amounts TO an eccentricity. No matter
how busy the day or crowded the season
o;ol II; in, har t00 inn