Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09
Of things for her husband, who draws all
the salary and gets all the glory. Then-
The Social Duties.


The Social Duties.
what is 1t, 1NIary?" turning from the
Scribe to a tear-stained, troubled face that
peered around the door hangings. Want
to see me? Excuse me a moment to the
Scribe, and the chatty, CHEEKY Representa-
tivewoman disappeared for few moments.
She came back Tuning.
Now, there is a case for you. That is
one of the best of girls, modest, and minds
her own business A guest of the house
insulted her, she slapped him, and as re-
suit he has got her fired without charac-
ter as she expresses it. She has httie
child to care for, and it is hard to get
place. I'll have to do a little retaiiatory
diplomatic work tor her, and threaten TO
leave if she is discharged. 1 have httie
power" she added with twinkhng eyes,
land l don't mind using it sometimes"
She began to gather up her mail, whlch
covere table, chairs and couch, and the
Scribe suggested that she had only outlined
her morning and night work. What about
the real duties of this very interesting day!
She dropped her burden in comical despair
Does not this mail present what would be
fair weeks work, to say nothing OF cl-
vding it into days of eighteen hours each
crammed full Of social duties?' she de-
manded. Now, listen to me. 1t is 10
o'clock, and have eaten my breakfast and
partly examined my mail. l positively
could not get up any earlier, because
have not retired a single night in the last
month before in the morning, and often 1t
is later.
Il must start out now and visit the de-
partments to round up the reasons for
batch of dismissals of my husbands APP
pontees which occurred last week-you
see / am away behind on my department
work'-and I have promised to see about
having two women appointed as postmis-
.tresses in third-class offices. I can't pos
sibly get through before O'Clock, and then
I am to lunch at the Capitol with MIR. Sill
nd hpa r1 Of
town. At o'clock have promised posi-
lively to attend musicale, and my note
book reminds me that have also promised
for that same hour to lend my presence at
coming out tea, a Dickens recital,
private picture view, and four charity con-
certs. ! have on my list four deserving
cases of restitution, which 1 must Try 70
interest my friends in, and Will work them
up in my rounds At 3 l am due to stand
behind the line at Mrs. Cleveland's recep-
ticn. You think l might forego that and not
be missed? Why, bless you! before l got
away from the Executive Mansion your in
teresting Evening Twinkier would be on the
street, and half the politicians in the CITY
would be commenting On the fact that Mrs
Silver declined to assist at the reception
at the White House, thus widening the
breach socially that has so long existed
politically between her husband and the
administration Then they would go on
and draw a lot of conclusions based on my
absence that would turn our political world
upside down, and it would be cabled abroad
that Congress utterly refuses to sustain
the President and all because one poor
little woman has not cast iron conStltu-
ton, and finds it physical impossiblhty
to perform all the duties that society
thrusts upon her.
For the Hue bands Sake.
IT shall remain at the reception just long
enough to get my name in the papers as
being there, and thus prevent another po-
litical oataclysm, then I shall hurry 10 a
conference with that high and mighty per-
sonage, my gown builder, to try her last
idea in attire for epicurean functions. Be
tween and have list of six calls that
must be made, or six of my husband
friends wives will be incensed, and {. social
row will be imminent. L pick up my nus
band for those calls. Two are in he eH-
treme northeast, and the others reside In
the extreme northwest The distance De
tween is good half hours drive with swirl
horses.
"At we tea with some senatorial friends
got to go, too, for there is a difference OF
opinion on the silver question, and 1t must
not be made wider. AT we tea again,
still another must of another political
phase. At Z we dine four friends here:
They are two bankers from way-back, ana
two extreme gold bugs from down east;
the, prospect is appalling! A box )arsy at
the theater,a senatorial dance and supper
at II will round up the evening abroad.
Then there will be a smoking symposium
IN our apartments lci Il iS" ShoiSS
If / don't die before that hour, l will be
on hand to see that everything runs
smoothly / have not mentioned chapsron-
ing numerous debutantes. my interest IN
the proceedings of Congress, or my love
for music art and literature.
why do l attempt to keep up with the
social swim when it is manifestly diStaSte-
full? l never said it was dissasteful. l like
it, but one has to live at a fearful pace,
and the cost of it all is enormous; besides
that, 1 don't intend to have it said that
nv husbands chances of promotion IN Off
cial life were handicapped by his wife's
indifference and lack of interest. Now you
will excuse me, l know. 1t is time Tor the
active rounds of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
day to begin. Do call again, I shall always
be at home to you" And the Scribe left
with the feeling that perhaps the Repre-
sentative would be somewhat less OF
power both at home and abroad, If The
Representativewoman were to fail him.