The San Francisco call., 1899-11-19
Mrs. Nelson A. Miles Talks of Our American Girls.
"If an officers wife
shares her husbands
dangers she adds a
burden of unneces-
sary worry

d q g. a a g. o o O o a. o q y . o . q"
scorned a carriage despite the drizz.e.
Miss Miles declaring that the only way
TO sec anything Is on foot.
Mrs. Miles consented 20 tell hrleny or
her daughters courtship. Captain Reo-
ers mother is my first cousin. sara MIS-.
Miles, so he and Celia have "iWaNS
called each other cousins. though t"e -
lationship. three times removed. U.s. OUT on
the cOusinly limits. Judge Reber ana MS
family live I'm ST. Louis. and We often eA-
change visits.
Il don't believe IN planning such things
so we never gave a thought 10 the young
people marrying. But when they theu-
selves proposed IT, Of course We were de-
lighted. Captain Reber Is most promis-
ing officer. brilliant and manly. and botn
tho general and myself are fond and
proud OF him"
Way down In It's democratic heart the
American public Is glad that this daugh-
ter OF tho regiment has not wandered out
OF the fold OF the Stars and Stripes. There
Is q snobbish hue and cry when ar Amer
lean girl becomes a Duchess or a Princess.
But Uncle Sam really never says half as
heart felt a bless you. my children over
these titled unions. When a girl OF posi-
tion and wealth escapes the title taint.
she's twice as popular as her crown
Miles can't keep out OF print-the public
insist on having her.
The expression of these sentiments
called forth Mrs. Miles opinion on for
eign marriages. IL was then that she said
that American women are as a rule hap
pier when they marry American men.
that the foreign point OF view does not
adjust itself 10 our manner OF thinking
"I have known OF some happy marriages
under those circumstances Mrs. Miles
continued, but / do not believe they are
very frequent. We bring our girls UP 20
expect attentions that the foreigner f. not
educated TO giving
do think the American girl a wee bit
spoiled? OF course ! don't-that Is. not
the typical American girl. our women are
so versatile. so adaptable. The same
woman who can preside so gracefully az
a dinner could. II necessary. cook that
dinner"
When Mrs. Miles was Mary sherman.
little Washington schoolgirl. the civil
War brought keenly home 20 her the fact
that she was the relative Of a general.
She felt the anguish Of wars uncertainty.
child though she was. and learned the les-
son that a soldiers women folks must
con with breaking hearts-that death
hovers over a battlefield and may seek
out their loved ones
Early in the '70's Mary Sherman was
married TO Captain Nelson A. Miles. She
was a child in years but with woman's
strength Of character Niece of gcn-
eral she stepped down with her husband
20 the captains rung on the army ladder.
Captain Nelson Miles did not win pro-
motion away from the whiZZ Of bullets.
Wherever the red man skulked and
scalped he went His reputation as an
Indian fighter grew-he advanced quickly
until a generals shoulderstraps decor
topmost runC Of the topmost ladder-he
was General Nelson A. Miles. commander
OF the United States army.
In the almost 80 years Of her married
life Mrs Miles has lived at forts desira-
BILE and undesirable. Mrs. Miles has
moved her household goods from army
posts In the tor-ld south 20 army posts
I'm the frozen north. But she never ac-
companied the general on his campaign.
IF woman shares her husband dan
ger" says Mrs. Miles. she IS simply add
Ing a burden OF unnecessary worry 90
him. IL does neither OF them a bit Of
good; simply increases the worry for
both.
daughter? on. yes. but We Joined the
general after the campaign was over"
Mrs. Miles expresses her Views on this
subject most positively. 10 Is a noticeable
fact that the women who have gone 20
the scene Of action are for the most part
wives OF volunteer officers.
Before spring trips on the heels OF win
ter General and Mrs. Miles will have a
son-in-law. Sherman Miles. hard at his
studies. preparing for West Point will
have a brother-in-law. The daughter Of
the commander. like her mother before
her, Is marrying a captain. VIII he. too
rise TO the position OF commander OF the
army7
In army circles they say why notH"