The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-05

L
the senator and her husband was the gov
ernor of the state. The Merriams have
come to Washington to live, and the presi-
dent is trying to patch up a truce between
these two women SO that he can still re-
main friends with Senator Davis and take
care of his other friend, Ex-Governor Mer-
Ram. Rumors that peace had been patch
ed up have been circulated at different
times, but the two women-both beautiful,
too, it might be added-met in a drawing
room the other evening and neither spoke.
In fact, it is said that they turned their
backs one another to show their dis
pleasure at meeting.
President Mckinley doubtless remembers
with something like sympathy the troubles
of similar nature which befell old jackson
when he was president. Jackson said once
that international and interstate compilca-
tions were nothing to compare with the
worry he experienced in handling the social
affairs of his cabinet.
White House to Charity
The application for pension of Mrs. Lee
titia Tyler Semple has revived interest in
q woman who was once a lady in the white
house and who is now living in a charitable
institution founded for impecunious gentle
women by Mr. Corcoran In fact, the origi-
nal plan of the oLuise home was so rigidiy
enforced that it is said there is not an IN
mate in 1t who cannot trace her lineage
back to some officer of high rank In the
COlOHlal wars. MIS-. GoSIHplO ID OhS VI NA'S
most conspicuous inmates, being the daugh-
ter of President Tyler and the widow OF
renowned naval officer In her letter OF ap-
plication to Senator Vest Mrs. Senple says
of herself
81 ask that you obtain pension for me
the same increase that Mrs cambridge re-
ceives-for at all points we stand alike,
save that she has married again ana that L
represent four presidents. James Monroe,
William Henry Harrison, John Tyler ana
Benjamin Harrison were cousins OF mine
through the Armisteads and the Tylers OF
Virginia.
my necessities must plead with YOU for
me, inasmuch as the IS pension. which re-
ceive from the Mexican war is the only in
come whatever 1 have. I close my letter
with this fact-that after the death of my
mother, upon the invitation of the presi-
dent I assumed the duties of the Lady OF
the white house, and performed them TO
the satisfaction of ALL"
Mr. Morris, in pleading her case in the
PIES 'elBues eql p9ssBd SuIABq IIIq IoU'esneou
that there was no woman in America who
deserved a pension more than this gentle
lady, the daughter of John Tyler, the pres
ident of the United States. The ravages of
war left her2destitute and at the age now of
nearly eighty years she seeks a pension
The sum asked for by the senate was fifty
dollars a month, but Mr.. Ray of New York,
succeeded in striking 1t down and reducing
her pension to thirty, in spite of the fact
that Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Sheridan and other
pets of the government get more than this
sum.
Brilliant Season
There has scarcely been a moro brilliant
season than this one at the White House.
The president has not only entertained the
men of state, but he has given dinners to
the young people of the capital During the
season now drawing to a close, the dinner
parties at the White House have increased
In numbers as well as in size The growth
of dinners at the executive mansion has
been so rapid that it is no longer possible
to serve a dinner in the state drawing room
to seat the guests there. During the
Cleveland administration the state dinners
We're always served in the dining room, the
table being laid in the shape of a when
there an unusually large number or
guests. But, owing to the proportions which
the Mckinley dinners have assumed even
this arrangement has proved inadequate.
In consequence, the tables are now laid in
the broad corridor which extends from the
main hallway entrance by the celebrated
Tiffany screen. Between fifty and sixty
guests can be accommodated at table in
the hall. 1t was first resorted to when the
Belgium prince visited Washington. 1t
proved so satisfactory that 1t has been used
ever since.
There is much work necessary to seating
SO large a company, especially as so much
depends on the proper placing of the ranks
and titles to office. In the past the fact was
made simple by the fact that the president
sat opposite his wife at all state affairs but
Mrs. Mckinley is so delicate that the presi-
dent always has her plate laid next to his
own
At state dinners the seats of honor are
to the right of the host and hostess, and
on this plan the table is built. But owing
to the position of Mrs. Mckinley at the
presidents right, the place of honor has
been shifted to the left. If the vice president
is present. he is placed opposite to the
president, but If he Is not, then all the
guests of honor are placed radiating from
the presidents left and from the right of
his wife.
Table Arrangement
Mr.. Pruden, one of the presidents secre-
taries who has been at the White House
for many years and who is au fait in all
matters appertaining to the official func-
tons there, has the arrangement OF the
table. In order to facilitate matters, he
has had constructed a miniature adjustable
table with leaves that can be taken out
or put in according to the number of invi-
tations sent out. At each place for plate
he has a little hole and peg to mt each,
with the name of the guest upon 1T. He
begins by placing the peg representing the
president and one for his wife in the center
of the side of the table, and from this he
builds his covers. 1t sometimes requires
hours to look over the pegs and study out
where each shall CO. An offlciafs VIE mas
| to be carried in the scale of precedence,
and so she must always be given a seat
corresponding to the one occupied by her
husband. Yet the table must be arranged
| so that men and women sit next one an
other The secretary of state Is only an
| ordinary man at table. He is supposed to
make himself agreeable to the woman on
| his left, as the case may be, and nils up the
gaps on the right when conversation Tags
on that side.
The president himself always reviews the
| little chart just after he dresses for dinner
| to make certain that no mistake has been
made. After he looks over the miniature
| table and finds all correct, 1t Is sent down
stairs, where the cards are laid on the table
| corresponding to the pegs on the miniature
table. "A. w. D.
Fayne VIII Not Star
New York letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
Fayne Moore is still in the Tombs, and
| the chances are she will not star In the
of ha PippO for