Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-01-21

Z MRS. GROVER CLEVELAND.
affairs, there is nothing for man to
do but call on some obliging lady friend
for facts in that line; and that is what
have done.
Write a letter about the ladies of
the cabinet" says Pauline Amber.
'Write about their homes and the way
they entertain people. Tell them about
the intimate friendship existing be-
tween the wife of the president and the
wife of the secretary of war. 1t is
fact that Secretary and Mrs. Daniel S.
Lamont are the Lord and Lady Church
hill of the present administration While
the secretary whispers confidentially
in the ear of the president, Mrs. Lamont
presides sweetly but tyrannically over
Mrs. Cleveland's teakettle. Mrs. Cleve-
land is as fondly attached to Mrs. La
mont as ever good Queen Anne was to
her doting duchess. When Mrs. La
mont first went house-hunting, Mrs.
Cleveland accompanied her and insist
ed on the secretary settling as near the
white house as possible. Consequently
the secretary closed the lease for the
old Woods house on Lafayette square,
facing the executive mansion.
This is the house that Mrs. Cleveland
picked. out of all those visited, for her
''GcuI lend" There is almost IN
INSTRUCTED view between the two
houses. and, as Old Hickory used to
signal to Van Buren, across the park
when affairs of state were in furry,
so can Mrs. Cleveland call for her con-
fidential friend when there are little
social and domestic questions to be con-
sidered. The home of the secretary of
war is historic itself and located in the
most historic section of Washington.
The old house has rather an important
social history. Secretary Gideon Welles
lived there during the war. Senator
Stockton's family made it their home
when they were leaders in the gay
world of fashion. The house adjoins
Daniel Webster's old residence, now the
palatial home of Senator Brice. The
house has no street door, but Is en-
tered through an arch driveway and
French court. The Ohio senator dimes
all the nobility who chance to visit
Washington and takes the lead in taxi
ing up the latest fads.
Miss Amber says that during the
entire administration Mrs. Lament and
Mrs. Cleveland have together settled
many problems which have affected po-
litical as well as social life. Over the
teapot social leaders have been created
or decapitated. Over their chocolate
they have discussed executive and other
state dinners and decided upon the ar
rangements of their guests, as well as
the details of menus. Thus together
they have given fame to the favored
and mediocrity to those who have been
disfavored.
Mrs. Hoke Smith, who entertained so
lavishly and brilliantly last winter, will
not be here this winter, because her
husband is no longer secretary of the
interior. He resigned from the cab
met last August, and the family now re-
sides in Atlanta, Ga.
The small green parallelogram be-
tween the white house and the Airing
ton hotel, in which Secretary Lamont's
home is located, has undeniably the
most interesting history of any locality
IN this country. At the time of the revo-
luton it was an insignificant part of
David Burns farm. But long before the
British soldiers tramped over it on their
way to burn the white house in 1913
the political grandees of the land had
already begun to build their homes
around it. The center of that farm is
now one of the most beautiful spots
in Washington, Lafayette park.
The great double mansion east of
Secretary Lamont's residence was built
by Matthew st. Claire Clark, long clerk
of the house of representatives. 1t after
ward became the home of the British
legation. 1t was here Sir Bulwer Lytton
lived during his embassy. 1t was also
here that his son, "Owen Meredith"
wrote Lucille"
On the corner above, facing the white
house, is ST. Johns Episcopal church.
long known as the Court church"
1t was attended by every president be-
fore Lincoln. Since the civil war Pres
ident Arthur is the only president who
has been a regular attendant and com
municant there. After the death of his
wife, President Arthur caused me-
mortal window to be placed in the
church, and there it will stand forever
as monument to the nemory of that
gentle lady who was the wife of Presi-
dent Arthur, and daughter of gallant