The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-19
USEFUL AND CHARMING,

Mr.. Thomas Beatty Is a Social
Secretary.
AND HE is LOOKING FOR A JOB.
nrr. Beatty Recognizes That His Profess
sion Is u Queer One, but He Sensibly
Makes the Best of It-Uncle Sans Luck,
The Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON. May 1s.-[spccial. Nov
TINT Senator Brice has left public life, with
small prospect Of returning, Thomas Beat
ty is looking for q job. Tom Beatty is one
of the most interesting characters of Wash.
ington. He Is unique. He has his special
field Of usefulness, and in it he brooks no
rivalry. For years he has been the social
secretary of Mr.. and Mrs. Brice, and right
well has he served them. Ho has man.
ngcd all their affairs in this limo, ordered
tho dinners, negotiated with the musicians
and artists, attended to tho florists and
other decorations, selected tho winos, writ
ten tho invitations, growlcd at the dress
makers, and, in short, has taken charge
an aristocratio social establishment. Mr..
Beatty is not only Indispensable; he is
perfection. Everything under his charge
Is done to tho queens taste Ho knows
etiquette from tho first to tho last ohapter
OF tho book, and, what is good deal bet
ter, isa keen student of mon and women.
especially women. His tact and diplomacy
nave avcrtcd many collisions and sup
pressed numerous unpleasant scenes i'll
certain drawing rooms
Strange Paradox.
In his own person MIR. Beatty is q
model, young and handsome, attircd as
1ashionably and perfectly us the Prince of
Wales himself, glib with small talk and
fruitful of compliments. Mr.. Beatty is
the most charming, most useful and best
liked ladies' man In Washington The
best of it Is he actually possesses plenty of
good sense Ho recognizes that this is a
queer sort of profession which he has on
tered upon, and being in it he intends to
mako tho best of it, upon the theory TINT
acting well ones part is the only thing
that brings honor. Mr.. Beatty is gallant
to probably score Of pretty women every
day of his life, but such thing as CO.
quctry, Irritation, affaire or nonsense never
enters his level head. 1t is all matter of
business with shrcwd Tom Beatty. There
has been some talk to tho effect that he.
would he employed to take charge of the
social affairs mt the White House, but SEQ
rotary Porter says they are ablo to get
along without Mr.. Deatty's assistance.
Cabinet omces.
Some one has taken tho trouble to look
through tho records of tho century and
evolve the interesting fact thnt more than
one-thlrd OF nll the mon appointed to cab
met positions in this government have re-
signed their offices. This proportion is OK
elusive of men who have been transferred
from ono department to another and of
those who retire with outgoing presidents.
All but one of tho presidents have had
their cabinets moro or less broken up by
deaths or designations. Though 1t Is Gus
tomary for all of tho members of tho cnbi-
net council to retro when their chiefs
term OF Office expires, there have been cx-
ccptions even to this rule. In tho early
part of tho republics history Gideon
Granger served as postmaster general 10
years continuously-that is, in four diff
crcnt presidential terms. Tho largest num-
Der of designations has boon from the Office
OF attorney general.
1t is hoped hero TINT ono result in the
constantly increasing prominence of tho
United States in diplomatic matters will
10 an Improvement in the quality of the
enjoys sont TO this capital by European
governments. Until recently Washington
has been looked upon us sort OF Botany
Bay i'll tho diplomatic world. Tho theory
of European foreign Offices has been that
Washington was Mt the foot of tho ladder,
and, as rule, diplomatists who were pro-
motcd from secretaries to ENJOYS have
been givon their first post of responsibility
at tho American capital The result has
been that with few noteworthy excep-
tions the European ministers in Washing
ton rank in ability and experience much
below tho ENJOYS from South American
and oriental nations At the present time
the ablost members of tho diplomatic
corps i'll this city arc from South America
and not from Europe.
Reward For Genius.
Uncle Sam is very lucky parsonage in
sono things He Is ablo to command tho
services Of experts in various lines ut mis-
cradle salaries. n striking instance of this
is found in the case of David w. Taylor,
naval constructor. Mr. Taylor is conced-
ed to DO the best naval architect in tho
world. He is SO regarded not only In the
United States but in England. France and