The Irish standard., 1896-02-01
AGOYERN0R
A Sketch Of the Life and charac-
ter Of Iowa's First Lady
Graphically Told. II. .
She Will Adorn the State House
at Des Moines and Honor
Her Father.
splendidly Equipped in .Intelii-
gence But Prefers the SIM
pie Ways of Life.

pie Ways of Life.
A Des Moines dispatch to the Chicago
Sunday Times-Herald says:
The most prominent woman in Des
Iowa just, now, is Miss Mary Lord Drake,
daughter Of General Francis Marion
Drake, who has been governor Of the
state about a week. General Drake is a
widower, his wife having died about ten
years ago, and this daughter IS the only
unmarried child he has. She will make
her home with him here during his ad-
ministration and will occupy the position
Of the first lady of the state For the
present at least they are living in the
Savery Hotel, where they occupy a large
part of the main parlor floor.
Miss Drake is admirably fitted to as
sumo the difficult and responsible place
which her fathers position gives her. She
has been we'll trained from childhood:
Since her mothers death she has made
her home with her sister Jennie, wife Of
DIR. J. l.. Sawyers, a physician in Center
educated in the public schools of that
town and in Miss Grants collegiate school
in Chicago. After that she spent two
years in Mrs. Reeds school for young wo-
men in New York City. She has had
every advantage that her fathers great
wealth and ample generosity could give
her, including extended foreign travel and
the best musical education that her lei
sure would permit She is good French
coryersationalist.
Physically Miss Drake may be said to
be handsome and stately, rather than
Beautiful. for she is by no means an or
dtnary looking person. She is a, blonde
Of medium height and good form large
and expressive blue eyes; she resembles
her father very much in features and in
strength and independence of character.
Her face bears the stamp Of authority, al
though there is nothing overbearing or
intolerant IN her nature; on the contrary.
she is anything but overproud of her sta
tion in life, and does not draw close social
lines. In Cenierville she is a most pop
llar girl, and though her father and
brothers are the leading people OF the
place, she treats every one with the same
consideration, and her friends are not
confined to wealthy families: Some OF
them are only poor girls earning their
own living, and they all love her dearly,
because she puts on no airs with them,
but is glad to be as girl among them.
Miss brakes special fondness is for
music, and although she does not pre-
tend to be an accomplished musician, yet
her piano playing gives much pleasure to
her fa1nily and friends. mo, I haven't
any particular fad am not a girl Of
fads: T like all good things" she said
to some one who asked her 1t she was
making q collection of anything, or had
ahy hobby that she would undertake to
popularize here. She is an extensive read
er in nearly all literary lines, especially
with current magazines. and she keeps up
to the tines in the newspapers. Her de-
votion to her father is so deep chat she
strives to keep pace with him in every
thing that he does, and she thoroughly
understands, and sympathizes with him,
taking the place, to a very large extent,
of her mother, E. -.u t-..,..
This feeling is fully reciprocated by her
father. who takes every opportunity OF
showing his confidence in her, and his
love for her. Il
Miss Drake will endeavor, during her
fathers administration, to fully discharge
all the duties that fall upon her. and she
rather en- joys the prospect, although she
does not relish the life OF a society wo
man--that is, a woman deycting herself
wholly to society. One Of her friends
saws Of her: .tShe likes best to put on a
comfortable gown and enjoy the quiet
end seclusion Of her own home. She
says she likes to meet people and make
new acguaintances and know all her
fathers friends and give them the social
recognition which he would desire, and
she intends to do it, but will not under
take to go actively into the society OF
the city,
8 She had great many friends here
before her father was elected governor,
for she used occasionally to come to the
city to visit her aunt and uncle, Chan
cefor and Mrs. Carpenter, Of Drake Uni
yersitv. Her uncle died about two years
ago,aand her cousin, Miss Mary Carpen-
tel. has come here to be her companion
during her life in Des Moines. Miss Car
penter is an accomplished young woman,
who has been for several years in Chica
go. as one of the assistant city editors Of
the Christian Oracle, the organ of the
Christian church, of which the Drake
family are members. The editor, F.. II.
Ilirkham, is Miss Carpenters uncle.
Miss Drake has not figured as public
woman except in the church and in the
POE. society, of which she is a prom
inent member. The Drake family, from
the governor down, is. a generous one,
and gives much Ito charitable objects,
but always in a quiet way. The only in-
stance of General brakes benificence be-
ing made public affair is that Of his
Drake university in this city.
He has given several hundred thousand
dollars4to this institution and is all the
time giving to it. He and his daughter
and sons have the reputation Of being not
only just. but generous, with all who are
associated with them or employed by
item, and many poor families owe
heavy debt Of gratitude to them for be-
ing helped over some ii gllt place.
I During the session Of the legislature
this winter, Gen. Drake and his daughter
will give number OF large receptions IN
the governors reception rooms in the
state house, then they Wiilsbe assisted BIZ
the state officers and their wi yes. Miss
brakes pei sonaI reception day will be |
"wednesday from 9 until 10 m q The