The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-21
SENATOR'S WIVES
In TIE THR0NG
Leaders in Important Social
Functions Of the Capital.
Teaches People at Home That Her
Husband IL More Than an Or
binary Somebody.

| The Senator's wife is quite a great per-
| sonage in society at the National Cap
4 itaL She takes rank in importance next
to the ladies of the Cabinet and the
wives of the judges of the Supreme Court.
Should she be rich and generous enter
tainer, she may even take precedence OF
them. socially. to all intents and pur
poses. though not officially. of course
| Her weekly receptions during the season
are eagerly sought. and in her parlors
may be found all the distinguished men
of the Administration and scattering of
foreign ambassadors and ministers with
taches Of legations She is invited to
state dinners at the Presidents house.
and indeed no door may be closed upon
her
Sometimes the woman who finds her
self in this exalted social position is used
to a quiet domestic and uneventful life
in some small Western town, and is
frightened as well as dazzled by this
brilliant company that surrounds her.
Usually under such circumstances, with
all a woman's clever adaptabiity. she
soon learns to take her honors mat
ter of course and soon becomes thor
Ough society woman. but occasionally one
is found who is so frightened by the CAV
prospect that she shrinks hastily back
into her shell and hides herself away i'm
In obscurity so that people of the smart
set almost forget her existence except
when they meet her at long intervals at
White House dinners The invitations
from the President. by the way, are very
like those that emanate from royalty
abroad. They are poltelyworded com
mands. and no one dare disobey them.
Most people do not want to- however; on
the contrary. such honors are eagerly
sought.
Most women. even II naturally inclined
TO shrink from social gayeties. would
make an effort to overcome the feeling
when their husbands are elected to the
Senate. if only for motives OF political
eXpediency. for IL is a well-known fact
that States take great pride in being rep
resented at Washington in a manner that
does them credit" The farmer loves to
read OF the gatetIes OF his favorite Sen
ator and to discuss them with his friend
over the counter of the store later in the
day. In fact there is no surer way for
a man to secure a national reputation
than by giving a series of dinners and
balls in Washington.
often the Senator's wife is woman
who has been used to society all her life.
and is thus able to make the most Of her 1
position. OFTEN, too her husba nd is A mil /
ionaire, or even a multimillionaire. In /
that case she Is able to give entertain /
ments so magnificent that they win re- I
nOWn through the land. and the gorgeous I
ness Of her gowns is quoted in the news /
papers as regularly the rise and fall /
Of stocks Twas thus in the case Of the 4
Brices. who took the historic old Cor 4
cOran house on Lafayette Square and 4
there gave one entertainment after an 1
other Of such splendor had not been /
seen in Washington since Mr.. Whitney 4
astorished the Capital city during Cleve- I
hands first Administra ton.
In order to be a perfect success So /
cially as a Senator's wife. a woman must 1
be decidedly healthy and strong, for the 1
life il rather an eXacting one.
A Senator's wife must be well informed 1
upon the topics Of the day at home and 4
abroad. She must know what bills are 1
being discussed in both houses and what 4
their prospects Of success may be.