The evening times., 1898-03-19
WOMHN'0 RULE
IN DIPLOMACY
Influence Of the Sex in Mat
ters of State.
The Traditional Kiss That Added to
the Fame of the Duchess of
DevonshiPe.

AT morning lecture, delivered at a
private residence before a. select audi
ence in a New York residence on Thurs
day. Miss Marion CoppernoiI recited
many interesting incidents. under the
subject of Bellies and Diplomats" The
subject. suggestive Of courts and draw
ing-rooms. was presented in the order Of
sequence, beginning with those French
women who We're exerting such influence
in political circles i'm the time of Car
dinaH Mazarin as to lead him to de-
clare that in returning to France he
could not expect rest, as there the fem
inine politicians were more 10 be dread
ed than the masculine.
Miss COpDernoll gave an e1itOme of
the career OF the Duchess Of Portsmouth.
that great ErenehwOman who was sent
by Louis XIV TO secure the secret
treaty he was endeavoring to effect with
Charles ii. So great was the influence
of a clever woman then felt to be in the
regulation Of political affairs that Louis
selected as his emissaries In time of
stress two women instead of two men.
To the sister of Charles II. Henrietta.
Duchess of Orleans. was given the CON-
mission of introducing to her royal
brother the Duchess of Portsmouth. who
accompanied the former TO England II
the capacity of Iady-tn-waiting. The
desired treaty was. by the duchess IN
tervention. effected. and. becoming all
powerful in her influence over the Eng
ish king. she worked for both country
and the Roman church.
Nine. Rolauds life. in its many bear
ings. was taken in turn. and the ter
rOrs of the age in which she lived were
again felt, with a renewed veneratiOn
for her courageous spirit. Next in or
der was considered Sarah. Duchess Of
Marlborough the wife of the great gem
eral This woman had as the lecturer
said. exerted more political power than
any other woman not a queen. She ruled
Queen Anne. and used such influence
over her intrepid. cold-hearted and in
domitable husband that. as Macaulay
said: "She enjoyed the distinction of be-
ing the one human being who could
rnisIead that far-siGhted and sure-fOoted
Judgment.
Then came the Duchess of DevOnshire. -
in the reign Of George ILL., who was so
enthusiastic in her labOrs for the Whig
party that her efforts TO secure Fox
election alone would mark her for an
unusual woman. IL was told of her that
she with her sister. canvassed the
London streets 10 solicit votes for him.
and that when an aUdacious butcher re-
fused TO vote. unless she would give
him a kiss. she gave it promptly.
Taking up the women of America. Miss
COppernOll spoke Of Mrs. Washington and
her influence in society and politics. Of
Nellie Custis. OF Mrs. John JAY and OF
Dorothy Quincy Hancock. the wife OF
Governor Hancock. Mrs. Hancock. the
leader of society in Boston. had been
married but short time when price
was put upon her husband 5 head and
their flight might be necessary at any mo-
ucnt- Later on. when il was demanded
IF John Hancock that he should become
.le president Of the General Philadelphia
Congress- she started on the then most
difficult and tedious journey from Boston
% Philadelphia with Il fortuiCht-0Id in
fIut in her arms. Soon after. Hancock.
r-arned by a secret letter that the patriots
Of Boston might find IL necessary TO burn
that city to prevent its falling into the
hands of the British. told his wife that he
had signiied his consent. although their
entire possessions would thereby be sacTi-
feed.
An incident of John HancOck's irascible
temper was amUsinEly related. He had
prohibited the use in the family Of the
set or CHINA QISNGS. INSISTING t1dt tfe
pewter be kept for ordinary Wear The
pewter was more difficult TO keep clean.
and those in charge Of il were apt to
substitute the china when the governor
was not present. Being Laid up with the
gOut on one occasion he suspected that
this trick was being played upon him.
and ordered the whole pile of china dishes
to be brought to his room. The negro
who brought the dishes was told to open
the window and throw them out The
man opened window. but one looking
upon the garden. and beneath which was
a bed of soft earth; he also managed to
throw the dishes one by one so that they
fell without striking each other. and not
one of them was broken.
II don't hear anything break" cried the
angry governor and president of u re-
bring them up again." The servant obey
ed. Now open the widow over the paved
courtyard and throw them Out,' was the
command So the offending china was
really destroyed.
The story Of the handsome Mrs. Bing
ham. of Philadelphia. and the attention
she attracted in London as given by Mrs.
Adams in a letter. was amusing. The
manner in which she refused her daught-
er's hand to Louis Philippe. when he be-
came suitOr for the young wOman's ia,
vOr was characteristic. IF you are re-
stored to your position" she said, you
are too great for her. and if not. she is
too great for you