The Washington times., 1895-06-02
Wives fh6 Bright Stars;
husbands fh0 0atollfeS
Women Famous in Society, Literature. or Art,
Whose Lords and Masters Play Second Fiddle
or Entirely Efface Themselves.

"Amelie Rives' husband. /" "Vinnie Reem's
husband" !" Baroness Burdett-Coutts' hus-
band" are common expressions.
When a woman marries and preparations
for the wedding are absorbing the mind,
with al the fascinating details of bridal
gown, attendant maids, collection OF gifts
with accessories or the trousseau, wedding
breakfast, ETC.. the fact Of the existence OF
an adjunct in the shape Of groom, seldom
enters into the calculation.
Just why Messrs. Chanler, Hoxie and the
Hon. Asllnead Bartlett, M. p, Should be SO
entirely ignored when their accomplished
wives ale mentioned. orsimply recognized as
the husband OF the woman whom they have
taken for better or worse, TO be their welded
wife and with all their worldly goods
promise TO endow, must be left to the eluci-
dation or the new woman.
The three particular cases mentioned are
but illustrations OF score or more of Others
the world over, at least in that civilized
portion of the globe where women are re-
garded in the light Of human beings, with
individual claims and immorta souls 10 save,
rather than the poor benighted slaves OF
the orient.
Taken socially, however, a woman's pre-
nothing 10 do with the larger aims
In the home life the womans sphere is
distinct, and her duties as wife and hostess
are far more exacting than those of the
man.
BETTER HALVES ARE busy.
Washington is the nucleus OF all social
as well as political problems. and while
the Cabinet ministers and Iaw-givers in
Congress are considering events that shape
the veal or woe of the country, their better
halves are none the less busy in sh aping the
future Of their liege lords. without the
aid OF ballots or even stunlping the coun-
try. AS every great and good man takes
pride in giving the credit TO his mother s
training, so every honest statesman takes
pleasure in aekno wledging the debt he owes
for his success in life t0 the discretion and
wise management of the woman who hears
his name and regards his fair fame her
pride
Conspicuous is Mrs. Frances Hodgson
Burnett, the faF-famed author and play
wright. who makes Washington her head
quarters and entertains delightfully."- at
her attractive home oD Massachusetts
avenue. One OF the most successful ana
busiest writers or the century, Mrs. Burnett
always finds time for the innUmerable
little obligations that go TO make up the
lives OF SO large q percentage OF woman :
kind. and her recherche little dinners and
informal afternoon teas are ranked among
the most enjoyable entertainments OF the
season
While presiding with dignity and grace
over her husband S home Mrs. Burnett finds
ample time 10 devote to her writings. She
is in all respects womanly, and while her
name lis familiar in every reading household
of the land her husband, Dr. Barnett, is no
less distinguished az a specialist for the
h hat
fame and ducats in proportion Under
these circumstances it can rot justly be
said that he is entirely unknown or that
his wife absorbs all the bonoTs OF the part
nership. The question is simply one of
superiority OF natural gifts over the more
plOdding attainmeHts or science, and Mrs.
Burnett's genius is Eaid to have made her
the wealtliicst OF living woman authors
Just at present DR.. Burnett is pursuing his
professional duties at his home in town,
while his talented wife is enjoying her
London villa, gathering data for a forth
coming novel. With their son at college in
New England, wrapped up in his pIofes-
sion, Dr. Burnett cares little or nothing for
society and is feldcm Eeen outside OF his
professional round or in his richly furnished
office giving treatment.
MILLIONAIRE LETTERS MODESTY.
Mr.. l. z Letter, the Chicago nlulti-mil
lionaire, whose daughters marriage to
the Hon. George CurZon, M. p, recently
created such wid spread interest, is another
ofthehusbands who opreferto hidethenselves
beneath the popular social reign OF their
better halves, and while giving his wife and
daughters carte blanche inallmOneymatters,
enjoying the eclat and success thus at
tanned through the superior attractions
OF the ladies of the family, he smokes his
cigar in cuietude OF the club and takes solid
comfort in obliterating himself from the
social calendar.
Having devoted his best years to busi-
ness, and through discreet management
and successful speculation, attained grati-
flying financial success, Mr.. Letter feels
justly entitled to slip into the backg round
and allow his wife and handsome daughters
20 lavish their means as discretion dictates.
Nothing OF a niggard, he shares with his
wife q strong and practical desire to help
Others less fortunate in this worlds goods,
and the list OF their private charities, il
known, would astonish some of the more
ostentatious in almsgiving.
The list of social leaders would not be
complete without Ohio's fair daughter,
Mrs. Albert Clifford Barney, whose ar
tistic talents have received most graft
flying tribute in the Paris Salon, and her
valuable art collection in the long gallery
connected with her Massachusetts avenue
residence, planned from her own archi-
tectural designs, is well known here.
That Mrs. Barney is an artist Of high merit
is undeniable, and that she is a woman OF
Oh arming personality is equally true
Having travelled widely, and being a fine
linguist, her drawing rooms during the
Washington season are attended by the
brightest wits and most distinguished
minds OF the age, both at home and abroad
MR. BARNEY'S BUSY HOURS.
Possessed of an Independent fortune Mr..
Barney is a descendent Of one of the oldest
New York families, man specially fitted
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