The Washington times., 1894-08-19
THE CONGRESSIONAL WIFE:
HER HUSBANDS HELPMATE,

There are Congressional wives and Congress
sional wives. Tho United States Congress is
nowhere when compared with this body OF
female legislators. The measures they bring
up, discuss, and pass upon would put tariff
and silver to shame. Their influence is much
greater than the world in general supposes,
and there is no denying the fact that more
than one member can recall the time when on
account of his wife's friendship or hatred for
Mrs. Smith he has helped to push along or
defeat measure in which Smith himself was
interested.
Between these august DANES much rivalry
exists. Especially is this noticeable where
the entire delegation from one State is located
at the same hotel Then the on-looker may
observe daily no end of scenes from the drama
oflif Take Mrs A, for instance. a warm
hearted, good -natured, Western woman, with
a deep admiration for her husbands abilities.
Then let envious Mrs. B., whose better half
lacks that keen foresight and courage SO
necessary to Congressional success, which
MIR. A possesses, bring up some dead and
forgotten story not likely to add any part1cu-
lar glory to Mr.. As past career, and
presto! the battle has begun. On one side
will be arrayed Mrs. A and her sympa-
thizers; on the other Mrs. b, and follow
ing in her wake can be found any number o.
female agitators anxious to have row.
Probably while this is going on Messrs. A
and B will be amicably discussing poli-
tics, the weather, and divers matters OF inter-
est to Congressional souls.
In nearly every delegation there Is Con-
gressional wife with White House aspirations.
Mark well her manner toward her associates
and you will know, when Executive lunch
cons. receptions and dinners are in order,
whom she intends to give the entree to and
whom she meaDs to coldly ignore. In her
minds eye she is even now at one of her re-
| ceptions, clothed in elittering attire, stand
ing with one hand graciously extended to the
public ut large. She even, with an attempt
worthy of DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde, trans
forms herself into one Of her guests and in
dulges in numerous fattering remarks about
the mistress of the White House. Well, it is
| a harmless delusion at best; SO let her enjoy
it while she can.
The Congressional wife from the far West
is sometimes known by her clothes and the
way she puts them on. She is often past the
age of furbelows and 1xIngs and labors un-
der the hallucination that beauty unadorned
is beauty at its best But If perchance she
goes not 10 this extreme, then her attire in
its multiplicity of tints and utter disregard
for the feelings OF the public. would do
credit to the dusky belle of u South Carolina
cake-walk. Not long ago saw hat on one
OF these people which put mixed thoughts of
Oscar Wilde. etc, into my mind. 1t was a
grayish straw knocked up the back and
! orna-nented with towering loops of green and
brown ribbon. whilst nesting confidently on
the sunset head OF its wearer were quantities
of little reddish yellow blossoms. Tho effect
was chaotic. to say the least.
One must not forget to mention the aggres-
sive Congressional wife with her small con-
stituency of children gathered about her.
Mayhap in times gone by she was a country
schoolmarm, but having reached her present
dignity that fact is long since forgotten. She
seems trifle narrow in her views of life; in
fact. her thoughts run in one particular chan
mel. i. e., the importance OF her official posi-
ton. The children. likewise. imbibe so freely
of these notions that life in their vicinity be-
comes anything but joke, and one soon takes
10 envying Robinson Crusoe before Friday
put in an appearance.
One frequently finds in the Congressional
wife unmistakable signs of the female lob
byist. A woman gifted in that way can do
great deal of good-not 20 mention a vast
amount of harm. No dinners are so we'll
arranged. no receptions so largely attended
as hers. She has u manner friendly and cal
culated TO inspire confidence. Her interest in
politics men find amusing rather than other
wise. and in attempting to learn her views,
give way many OF their own much to their
future discontinue.
Taking the Congressional wife all in all, We
find her very much like the average woman
OF the day. If she is kindly Of heart she is
subjected to many annoyances perhaps, which
the average woman could scarcely appreci-
ate. For instance, she will listen to innum-
cradle tales of woe from would-be govern
ment employees and have-been government
clerks, all of whom believe fully in her ability
to aid them if she chooses. Consequently
her position is not always an enviable one.
Z. /. F.