St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-15
SOCIETY IN THE CABINET.
Special to the Globe.

Special 10 the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Society is in
terested just now in the formation of
President Cleveland's cabinet, quite as
much as are politicians and the country
at large. II is an unfortunate fact that
great men have not always great wives,
and the man who has ability enough to
rise to a position OF the highest honor,
is often possessed of wife totally unfit
to fulfill the social function of the office.
1t is to be hoped that the next cabinet
will be a social success. The present
cabinet is decidedly so. and is noted
especially for the elegance of its din
ner5.
If Illinois is honored by the elevation
of "Horizontal BilP' Morrison to the
cabinet. one cabinet minister's wife at
least will not be eXtravagantly fond OF
society. Mrs. Morrison is short, plump.
dark, gray-haired woman, who is her
husbands constant companion. The
MorrisonS have made their home at
Wizards hotel for years, and in one
corner of one of their rooms stands
typewriter on which Mrs. Morrison
pounds out letter after letter of her huS-
bands correspondence. She is Mr..
MorriSonS private secretary, and
knows just about as much about politics
and talks it as we'll as he does himself.
Mrs. Morrison is great reader or news
papers. While not a society woman.
she realizes the Importance Of the social
side of official life, and if opportunity
presents itself, will entertain correctly
and we'll.
1t is matter Of regret that the name
of Herbert. of Alabama, is no longer
mentioned for the cabinet. Mr.. Herbert
is a widower. but is always to be seen
with his daughter, who is great beauty.
She is the boast of the navy, a graceful
blonde. So lovely is she, that strangers
are prone to think her beauty, merely,
but she is clever as well. Scarcely a
woman in Washington is better read
than she. and the ease with which she
quotes author after author, proves her
memory an excellent one.
Mrs. Carlisle, of Kentucky, is Won
derful woman and prominent figure in
Washington society. though o. late in
ill health. She is a large woman, not
handsome, and of a complexion most
aptly termed SANDY" She is niar-
velous politician. and has helped her
husband out of many a tight squeeze.
During Arthur'S administration, the
settled, as speakers wife, Mrs. Carlisle
was the first lady in the land, and sat at
the foot of the table at all state dinners.
The cabinet women objected, but it
awaited them nothing, for the brilliant
Kentucky woman was the mistress of
the White house, and remained so,
gaining experience which has since
stood her Ill good stead.
~
Mrs. Daniel Lamont is woman of
great social ambition. She is young,
entertaining and handsome. During
Cleveland'S first term she was we'll re-
ceived, and was met everywhere. She
was person of far greater prominence
than one would have expected. In the
Lannon'S pretty home, at Bar Harbor,
Mrs. Lamont is often to be seen driving
with her two pretty children, to whom
she is devoted. If she is cabinet
woman her house will be the gathering
place for the most brilliant society in
what promises to be brilliant admin
iStration socially.
Mrs. Gray, of Delaware, is a woman
for whom public life has little attrac-
tons. She is a home body, an excel
lent wife. all admirable matron. The
been talked OF for the next cabinet are
women who are in every sense repre-
sentative women. They are women of
culture and refinement, which all.poli-
ticans wives, be it said in tears. are not,
and they will uphold the social credit of
the nation in the eyes of all the world.
~
When a man is making his place, his
wife is merely his wife, but when his
place is made and he stands out in all
the luster of his glory's MONDAY sun,
the wife becomes public character and
the nation has claims on her she is
bound to respect. She is, in a sense,
society'S servant, and let us hope that
Mr.. Cleveland will think of that side of
the question and ask Mrs. Cleveland's
advice when he goes about selecting his
cabinet. RUTH KIN1BALL.