The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-21
FIRST LADY IN THE LAND.
Sketches OF Some of the Possible Success
sors of Mrs. Cleveland.


sors of Mrs. Cleveland.
That is a rather unpleasant, even
though a popular phrase-the first lady
in the land. 1t is unpleasant because II
suggests a counterpart to the phrase
the first gentleman in Europe" which
was turned to such bitter account by
the satirists of George w. Yet, after
ALL Is not the wife of the president
truly the first lady in the land?
She is the feminine head of what is,
after all, the best society In the coun-
try, the society composed of the elected
rulers of the land-men who have been
chosen by their fellow men for high
station because of some superiority,
real or assumed. Though the sham
and the counterfeit occasionally edges
his way in, yet on the whole society at
Washington is composed of men supe-
rior to the average. Is this not better
than the snobbish aristocracy of birth.
or the shoddy aristocracy of wealth?
So a matter of great interest, even
to non-politicians. is pronounced In the
query: who will be the next Mrs.
President" The time may yet come
when the availability of the candi-
dates wife will be quite as serious
consideration as his own. II Mr..
Cleveland obtains a third term, re-
marks the New York Herald, then we
shall have over us the same gracious
and lovely lady who in his second ten
ure of Office confirmed and strengthen
ed the hold upon the popular heart
which she had gained during his first.
His former rival on the republican
side, his possible rival in the next cam
paign, former President Harrison, has.
alas! lost the benign and amiable part
ner who frightened the white house
while he was in IL. A.lother possible
candidate, William B. Allison, is like
wise a widower. But Messrs. Morton,
Reed, Mckinley, Quay and Lincoln are
all married men, who still enjoy, and
for many years, we trust, will continue
to enjoy the companionship of their
better halves
Mrs. Levi p. Morton, the beautiful
and accomplished wife of the governor
of New York, is as we'll known, to So
ciety at least. as her distinguished hus-
band. Her tact and grace helped to
make memorable the Harrison admin
istration. II diffuses a pervasive charm
over executive circles in Albany. II
has been felt in Paris and in New
York.
Anna Livingston Morton was born
and educated at Poughkeepsie. Her
father was William j. Street, a lawyer,
the brother of the poet. Alfred b.
Street. Soon after she left school her
family removed to New York city. and
there she at once became a relRnlnR
belle. Her marriage TO Mr.. Morton
transferred her from mere belleship TO
social leadership. She stepped at once
into the front rank of New York So
ciety. When he became minister to
France she aided greatly in making his
administration a success. Her recep-
tons in Paris at that time were con-
sidered the most brilliant and enjoy
able in the gay capital. Popular. how
ever. as Mrs. Morton has always been.
she is probably seen at her best in her
home circle. She has five charming
daughters. An only son died in in
fancy in London.
Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln is the
daughterof ex-senator Harlan of Iowa.
She also is OF a singularly retiring and
domestic disposition. In Chicago she
goes comparatively little into society.
although in Washington. when her IA
Their was a member of the senate, she
was one of the leading bellies. II was
there she met her future husband.
Their marriage. owing 10 the high So
cial position OF both parties. was a no
| table event. when Mr.. Lincoln was
| appointed secretary of war in the cab
met OF President Garfield. which port
folio he held until the end of President
Arthurs term in 1855. Mrs. Lincoln did
the social honors at her husbands resi-
] dence with rare grace. tact and dig