Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-24
CABINET MEMS WIVES.

! Chicago Tribune: Everybody knows
all about the men that Mr.. Cleveland
has picked out for his new Cabinet
but what of the women who, as theil
wives, are to figure almost as promin.
emily in Washington society as the
Secretaries themselves? At least three
OF these women, Mrs. W. S. Bissell
MIS-. Hoke Smith, and Mrs. Daniel S.
Lamont, will ill the positions to which
they have been called with grace and
tact. All three have children, and take
more interest in those little cabinet
pledges than in anything else on earth.
They are all young women, about the
age of Mrs. Cleveland, and they are all
energetic. Each owes a great rise III
the world to the husband whom she
was good enough to marry
Mrs. Wilson S. Bissell, wife of Mr..
Clevelands old friend, law partner, and
Postmaster-General of the incoming ad-
ministratiOn, was Louise Fowler Stur-
ges Of Mansfield, O., and, on the ma
ternal side. of Philemon Fl. Fowler of
and is consequently now in her 9th
year. Her parents were not wealthy,
but they were able and willing to give
their daughter more than the ordinary
educational advantages, and the facili-
ties afforded by residence in Utica were
supplemented by study and travel in
England and On the continent.
talent for music. She studied three
years under Stockhausen il Frankfurt,
and finished with Nine. La Grange in
Paris. When she returned with her
musical education perfected it Was ex-
pected, naturally enough, that she
would put her talents to practical use
and adopt the concert stage as means
of reaching distinction. But instead
of this she married Wilson S. Bissell,
whom she met in Buffalo while visit
ing friends here.
The wedding took place Feb. 6, 1890,
a little more than three years ago, at
Geneva, n. Y. Mr.. Bisseu took his
bride back to Buffalo and established
her in an elegant home on Delaware
avenue Mrs Bissell had all the charms
and graces that are SO admired in So
cial circles. and it was not surprising
therefore that she took the position to
which her husband introduced her and
maintained it.
Mrs Bissell, as Washington society
will see her, is a woman Of considerably
above the average height, OF a full,
commanding figure. She is fine looking
rather than beautiful. Perhaps hand
some would be nearer the adjective.
Her type is the brunette. The striking
features of her face are her color and
the animation and vivacity that light
up the countenance. She is young
enough to appreciate and enjoy the
pleasures of life and she has the high
spirits that 60 so well with youth and
health.
This is an administration of babies,
and Mrs. Bissell is strictly at the front.
She has little daughter born in Octo-
Der, 1891. few days after the advent
of Baby Ruth.
1t was ten years ago that Mr.. Hoke
Smith led to the altar Miss BERTHE
Cobb of Athens. Ga, the youngest
daughter Of Thomas R. Cobb. She and
her husband had been engaged about
five years whel they We're married,
this long betrothal being caused by
Miss Cobbs reluctance to leave her in
valid mother
At the time Of their marriage Nh.
Smith had tramped over all the hard
ships and disceuragements that must
come to penniless young barlisters, and
had made fortune He was only IS
years old at his time, and when he
took his bride to Atlanta from her
colonial home in Athens he made her
the mistress of a mansion whose build
ing they had planned during their en-
gagement. This house, with its wide
piazza, it's thirteen spacious rooms, and
it's beautiful conservatory, is situated
on a lofty eminence and surrounded
by q wide tetracod lawn. dotted with
trees and shrubbery, which We're plant
ed during their honeymoon by the
young couple.
Mrs Smith is a youthful and attract
i've woman. with pink and white COM
plexion, and a face whose sweet and
happy expression betokens a nature
full of comfort in all the blessings of q
happy domestic existence. She is not
only a good wife and mother but she
has a big heart and a generous hand
for all the unfortunates who appeal to
her, and she and her husband do a
great deal of charity in a modest way.
Mrs. Lamont has both experience and
tact enough to make her friends pre-
dict for her an enviable position in the
social life Of the new administration.
She hasn't the youth and beauty of
Mrs. Cleveland. nor the wealth and
social ambition which made Mrs. Whit
ney a queen in Washington official cir
cles. But she is a very attractive wo-
man. with a grace and courtesy which
will give her popularity whether she
wants it or not. Mrs. Lamont is tall
with a good figure and a well-set head
Her dark hair is thickiy sprinkled with
gray: she has pleasant. brown eyes, an
extremely sensitive mouth, and a
charming voice Her face is not beauti
ful. 1t is much less a pretty" face.
But it is much more than good look.
ing. and. taken with her manner and
voice. it has real attractiveness.
| Her voice is decidedly un-American
| 1t is soft. with that natural softness
which does not forget itself In man
ner Mrs. Lamont is unaffected. but Al
the same time thoroughly self-possess
ed. Her movements are quiet. like he1