The times., 1897-05-16

nuence is cast as her sympathies or inter
est dictate, rarely, OF course, for pecun-
iary consideration, but even this influence
can be bought Several years ago 1t was a
notorious fact that the wife of man, who
stood high in the councils OF the nation, had
been subsidized by "a powerful corporation
She entertained rega1ly. her halls were
the handsonest, her dinners the finest, her
tolettes the most magnificent in town.
Everybody wondered at the swath she cut,
and the corporation paid the bills.
Such influence is not bargained for in a
vulgar way. "How much will you take
to look after our affairs?'' is a question
never asked. An ony-tongued attorney
diplomatically sets about to become ac
quainted with the woman he wishes to sub
sidize. He is properly introduced; he enter
tains her, makes himself agreeable, ,confides
to her his plans, his ambitions. She is inter
ested and fiattered; they become warm
friends. my dear madam he says
finally, having gained secure footing in
heresteeIn, your Was hngton tablsbment
must be great expense. You are, doubt
less, sometimes craTnpcd for money. Pray
allow ME to be you rbanker to the extent OF
five, ten. fifteen"-whatever the amount
thousand dollars. Pay me at your CON
venience.''
OF course madam protests. but after all. 4.
what is 1t? Only friendly loan, which
she will pay back one of these days. She
accepts the money, but the obligation
weighs upon her. How can she make an
adequate return for this disinterested
kindness? Her obliging friend is much in
terested in the bill, a rational and proper
measure, no politics in it, Here is an oppor
tunity Husband shall help that bill along
So. hardly realizing 1t, this lady becomes
the paid servant OF corporation. Loan
follows loan, but they are never repaid;
my lady earns her money. She eultivat es
her husbands S friends; she dimes and wines
them; she coaxes and fiattcrs them; soon
she has a following and is regarded as
power She is coached by the men who
pay her: she talks giibly on the phases Of
the xxx bill; she answers arguments;
she gains reputation nforcIeyerness Timid
men seek her advice; men who have dined
at her mahogany are glad 20 grant her
favors: it becomes the fashion To do her
bidding, and the xxx bill rides on the
crest wave OF popular favor
AS matter of fact, there is no measure
that comes before Congress but has won-
an champion. Even the ladies Of the Dip
lOmatic Corps take an interest in affairs
OF international Importance. IL was an
open secret, and for weeks was the spiciest
bit of post-prandial gossip, that the beau
tiful and clever wife Of one OF the foreign
ministers was OF valuable assistance TO
her husband last winter ia preventing leg
islation concerning a matter vital 10 her
country. She made no attempt 10 conceal
her interest but on the day the matter was
before Congress sat in the diplomatic gal
lery an absorbed auditor of the proceed
ings EveTyzsocal occasion was made an
opportunity to speak a good word for her
distressed country. She buttonholed legis-
lators whenever and wherever she could
The Chesterfield of the Senate delivered
au eloquent speech against the measure
she autagonized, which was directly trace
able to her influence She succeeded n her
efforts beyond the utmost hopes OF her
husband and proved herself his able and
discreet coad tutor
There is still another woman who plays
role on the political stage. She works
for her own pleasure and glory, and reaps
no pecUniary benefit She natters her
self she is q considerable influence; she
believes in her own strength; She delights
in subtleties. and, in her own mind, is
De Stael or a Maintenon. She affects
salon; she is the Egeria of statesmen; she
occupies high moral ground; only meas
ures of noble purpose receive her support.
But this type is easily flattered, made to
see virtues where none exist, and often
becomes the unconscious tool of people more
clever and less vain than herself
These women are rarely in evidence at
the Capitol They are never seen in its
lobbies; they do not visit the committee
rooms; they are not TO be found in the gall
leries. Their drawiDg-roOms serve as Of
fices; their hours are the fashionable ones.
Tea-tables ans wer for desks, but they are
as exactly as Influential, even more sue
cessful, than the old-fashoned lobbyist,
although their methods are different, more
complex and various.