The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-10

very bright and forward and full of his
fathers nervous energy. He is Affection
ately called ''the young governor in
the family circle.
Mrs. Waite is not much over feet
tall and not much over 100 pounds in
weight. She dresses plainly and does not
go into society. On the day of the gov
ernor's Inauguration she sat in box in
the Broadway theater. where the cere-
mony took place, an inofensive looking
woman. rather thin and wholly COM
monplace in appearance. just such
woman as might be imagined sewing
buttons on the governor s clothes, duty
which no doubt she is frequently called
upon to perform
The society women Of Capitol hill re-
garded her as person Of modest station,
who would probably make great many
plumbers for their amusement, but whom
they would not slight, though it would
doubtless be their duty to make her feel
her little Deficiencies The shoe was
soon on the other foot. Mrs. Waite left
formal cards just once in return for calls
and since that time has appeared quite
oblivious of the existence of such thing
as society, except on rare occasions. The
ordinary functions at which a govern
or's wife is the central figure are not
graced by her presence and she has Civ
en- no entertainments, except an occa-
sional card party to intimate friends.
One reason for her action is probably
that the governor is poor man, having
little income besides his salary, and
Mrs. Waite knew that she could neither
entertain nor dress like the women on
the hill. 1t is said that Mrs. Waite
makes her own clothes in order to have
more money TO devote to charity She is
interested in w. @. T. U. work and
other reforInatory movements, is a de-
vout believer in all the doctrines of the
most advanced branch of the POpulist
movement and has been active in the
women's political clubs formed since
their right to vote was established
But above al things else Mrs Waite
is interested in her husband and his
work. Her devotion to him is complete.
and in return her influence over him is
greater than that of all his other advisers
combined. Not infrequently the govern
or says before deciding some important
matter, We'll, TIL talk TO my wife
about it, - as though that were the most
natural thing possible. Unfriendly
tongues say that he is henpeclzed, that
Mrs. Waite interferes altogether too fire.
quently in matters of state, and that the
governor is guided entirely too much by
her opinions and judgment. Most people
who have met Mrs Waite consider her
aQuiet domestic woman, quite incapable
of meddling with state affairs.
Colorado has no gubernatorial man.
sion Governor Waite resides in a small
family hotel in the heart of Denver, &C.
cupying front and back parlor and a
third small room. The apartments are
only four or five feet from the ground,
separated from the sidewalk only by a
narrow lawn. Meals are provided by the
house, except when Mrs. Waite gets up
a lunch over an oil stove. Sometimes
they eat in their room and at other
times sit at table with the rest of the
boarders.
The governor comes home from the
splendid executive chamber each day
about 5 O'Clock unless there is pressing
business. He pulls off his boots, slips his
feet into the easy slippers kept at hand
by his wife and sinks into a big loung-
ing chair, from which he rarely rises
until it 10 time TO retire Mrs. Waite is
with him, his son plays around the
rooms, few close friends, mostly APP
pointees from the back counties, drop in,
and pass the evenings talking politics.
Governor and Mrs. Waite are both ma
tives of western New York, where the
governor edited the Jamestown Journal
for 20 years, and where he married his
first wife in 1852 The present Mrs.
Waite, who is q cousin of her prede-
cessor, was then beautiful child of
and danced merrily at the wedding.