Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11
distributing seeds and supervising scientific in
vestigations concerning which he could know
comparatively little.
POTENTIAL PREsrpRyrs,

POTENTIAL PREsIpRSTa
The members Of the cabinet may enjoy the
Pleasur~bls consciousness that they are all po-
tential Presidents. If Mr. Cleveland and Mr..
Stevenson should die or be disabled for duty
the functions Of the chief magistracy would de-
voive upon Mr.. Gresham. and in their turns
successfully upon Mr.. Carlisle. Mr.. Lamont,
Mr. Oiney, Mr.. B'ssell, Mr.. Herbert, Mr.. Hoke
Smith and Mr.. Morton of Nebraska. This order
OF succession was provided for only recently by
Congress. because the Constitution fails to des-
1gnafe what officer shall lake the executive chair
IN the event Of the death or disability of both
President and Vice President The order Of
Precedencs mentioned governs at meetings OF
the cabinet. which are held in the White House
on tuesdays and Fridays at ii sharp. The
President sits at the head OF the oblong table,
WIN the Secretary of State at his right and the
secretary Of the Treasury at his left Then
come the Secretary Of War on the right and the
Attorney General on the left; next, the Post
master General on the right and the Secretary
OF the Navy on the left, and at the foot Of the
liable the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec
Rotary OF Agriculture. In time Of peace the
members OF the cabinet are equal, to all in
tents and purposes, but let war upraise its aw-
ful front and the Score taries of War and Of the
Navy tower above their fellows to gigantic
stature, welding, under the President, the
mighty physical forces Of nation. Then. As
soon as hostilties are suspended, the Depart
arranging the terms by which quiet shall DO
restored.
THE SOCIAL DUTIES
which an officer Of the cabinet is expected to
meet are very onerous. To begin with, his
wife must keep open house on Wednesdays
Formerly it was customary to hold a reception
every Wednesday, but the wear and tear on the
furniture and hospitality of the hostess has be-
come so great Of late years that three or four
Wednesdays in q season are considered enough
The Wanamakers made that their limit On
these occasions people come in crowds, stay as
long as they feel like it and eat as much as they
can. Nearly all of them are entirely unknown
to their entertainer. They come to see what
she looks like, how rich she is. "a exhibited by
her furniture. and what her dwelling looks like
inside. LIZ they get anything to eat they VIII
probably come again, to consume sandwiches
and chocolate with bonbons. No punch is ever
offered. lit once became known that a cabinet
oftcer was setting up punch on Wednesdays his
house would be besieged by mob.
EXPENSIVE LIVING.
Other entertaining il discretionary with a
member of the cabinet If the President dimes
out each Secretary feels bound to give him q
dinner. Both Cleveland and Harrison have
dned with their official advisers. cabinet
officer VINO lives in small house and who is
known to be poor man need not do so much.
His wife is spared good deal of the annoyance
which falls to the lot of the wife of rich
Secretary. She need provide no refreshments
at her receptions. This Offering Of food on such
occasions, by the way. is an innovation OF later
days. 1t was not practiced before Mr.. Cleve-
lands first term began. The people who call
all expect some sort of recognition for their
courtesy. and this is accorded them i'm the shape
of a card OF the Secretary and his wife. These
cards are sent in envelopes BY Carriage or by
mail. Many persons lake offense because the
S"cretary's wife does not return their visits in
person. Possibly she nj Oh. do so if she kept
pair OF fast trottiug horses and devoted her
entire time to tina: purpose and nothing else.
There are many rcaeons why cabinet officer
finds ii difficult to live his salary of IS 900
year. He cannot live in one or two rOom', as
MANY Congressman do. To support the dignity
of his position he must have line house. He
must keep number OF servants and he is
obliged to pay more for everything that he gets
because hs is public parsonage.
NOT A FASHIONABLE CABINET.
The new cabinet is not fashionable cabinet.
The ladies in it are not fashionable women in
the accepted sense Of that term. Mrs. Gresham
is quiet and hag domestic tastes. Mrs. Carlisle
knows the social business of Washington thor
oughly. Her duties i'll that regard were always
well fulfilled when she the wife of the
Speaker OF he House; but she lived at hotel
then and has never posed a. a leader of fashion.
Nrs. Lamont is already well known in Wash
ington. She il fond of entertaining. but she is
not a real society woman. Mr. Herbert has no
wife; his daughter will do the honors in his
house. Mr.. Olnev is said to be swell and will
doub less enter ain. if q Bostonian reception
can be called entertaining Washington people
still remember the stiffness of the receptions
given at Secretary Eldico.ts of Boston during
the first CleS Gland administration. Washington
trade men are Disguised because Secretary
Whitney did not come back Efe would have
put life into the business of the florists. ca
terers e., hero AZ he did before bv scat
tering of money broadcast. According 10 their
account he vas the oa!v statesman ever resi-
den; here who had no respect Whatever for
dollar. RENE BACHE.