Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-10
MRS. MORTON,s WAY.


broad land who has not extended
warm greeting to the ladies of the ne
administration in Wash" gton, withor
regard to political views. Yet "
would not be among those TO forget c
nfglect the outgoing on account of tn
incoming. Americans have ever
reason to be both proud and gratefu
that so many of the wives of those me
whom the nation has honored by plac
ing in position of power and trust raw
been so emInently worthy of respec
and imitation. We cannot know to-
much about them.
Concerning the charming ways" O
the wife of our late Vice-President w
quote a delightful letter from Mar
garet Spencer, which appeared in tn
Washington EUening Mars.
personal loss was felt by ever,
member of the Presidents officia
family when Mrs. Harrison died. T,
Mrs. Morton, the President.
wife, the death in the White Hous,
brought also many cares and respon
sibilities. AS the first Lady Of the
Administration, all matters OF socia
importance would have to be referred
to her judgment; her plans and wishe!
would be those for first consideration
and her decisions would be final. She
was loved and admired by all the
women of the Cabinet; nevertheless,
she felt no desire to assume the forma
public duties of her new position.
But the social world of Washington
had long looked to Mrs. Morton as g
leader. She was well placed as first
lady. Mr.. Blaine once said of her
"She is born organizer. She inspires
confidence and 10, atty in her social
duties, Just as she does in her domes-
tic affairs. They move without frlc-
tion.
Mrs. Morton enjoys an old world
distinction for social elegance. But
although she is famous for her magnif-
icent diplomatic hospitality during
the four years residence in Paris when
Mr.. Morton was American Minister to
France. and as leader of official cir
cles in Washington, and as a society
queen in her Fifth avenue home in
New York, it has been only a small
and minor part of Mrs. Morton's life
10 regnlly entertain and stand in her
place in the pageant. Hundreds have
thronged the public receptions to "see
Mrs. Morton"-to note her gown, her
hair, the deep blne of her eyes, her
diamonds, or the manner OF her smile
Ind her voice: but this does not con-
stitute the Joy of life for her.
The doors of the Vice-President's
handsome house or Scott Circle have
never been closed to the public. 1t is
thronged on reception days and visited
by reporters, photogr pin and auto
graph seekers and men and women
with wants on all days, and courte-
GUS attention is accorded each and
every one.
1t is a cheerful and radiant house
The hall is gay and bright with Turk
ish and Chinese draperies, wood fires,
green palms and cosy corners. The
reception. rooms are white and gold.
Mrs. Morton official reception room is
a dainty tea color. This opens into a
large room, hung III chintz pattern
silk like ones great prandmol her s
gown. The dluing-Ioom is in oak and
red, with buf1ets OF ebony. The sunny
family sittiug-rcOm over the iiLrary is
full of books and singing birds and
flowers
In summer the family lives at Eller-
slie, at RhIneheck on the Hudson.
This is an estate OF l, 900 acres, with a
dairy OF 100 Guernseys, with beautiful
Italian gardens, and parks of old eims
and naples.
An English peer spending few days
on the Hudson WITH them last year,
said: "W Ell they entertained me in
Paris | thought them remarkable, but
now that L see the bigness of their lives
in America, L cease to wonder" This
''b'gness' is not IN their circumstances,
many millionaire is very small of
soul, but in their hearts.
-Four years ago, when, AS Vice Presi-
dent, Mr. Morton came to Washington,
the five little gIrls of the family were
between the ages of seven and fifteen
Edith, Lena, Helen, alice and little
Mary. They are all blue-eyed and
fair, blonde like their mother, and all
have the strong features of their father.
No one will forget the picture of the
Vice President and Mrs. Morton as
they walked through the great Pension
Building at the last inaugural ball,
with four lovely young girls close be-
side them, dressed in simple gowns of
white mull-the simplest gowns in all
that gay assemblage.
They lived at the Shoreham awhile,
and the Vice President was to be seen
any morning or after school hours TAX
ing brisk walks down Connecticut ave-
nue with three or four pretty girls
hanging to his arm, all "holding
hands, wholly occupied with one an
Dther
Sometimes the elder daughters took
oug gallOps over the Rock Creek hills
with their father as escort. They all
promise to be good horsewOmen. Miss
Lena looks very pretty, with her long
O-sid OF hair hanging down over her
lark habit, and the younger ones ear
heir light hair flowing loosely on their
shoulders. They are all of them fond
If driving. Blocks away one recog-
liZes the red-wheeIed jaunty Morton
,art filed with sunny-taced girls in
mug jackets and caps, or in warmer
broad brown hats with sky
blue knot over their flaxen hair-sim-
pie, well-bred American girls.
Mrs. Morton was annoyed the first
season of the Administration by the
newspaper reports and society gossip
hat she was bringing her daughter
,ut."
She spoke of it to Mrs. Harrison one
lay. cit is absurd to say our Edith is
out in society. 1t makes me ashamed
10 be considered such a silly woman.
Edith Is as tall as l, and a womanly,
sensible girl, but she is only fifteen,
md a busy school girl. She is un-
Ipoiled as at ten, and We think she Will
De at twenty.
at is sad sight to see young girls
,ut IN society at fifteen or seventeen
iressed in velvets, satins and laces, los
ng their beauty sleepIn heated, crowded
looms, night after night. Nothing so
iepreciates me in the eyes of my hus-
Dand and myself as to be classed with
Oolish mothers. l blush when see in a
,ociCty column my name-as a mother,
Who is bringing ont her little girls. L |
wish the rosebud nonsense could be
' ped out"
Miss Edith is now nineteen, a tall, /
Expressive, strong-faced girl, OF beauti- /
nj presence and carriage As the |
ldest daughter of the Vice President,
he has Just this winter appeared in |
ociety.