The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-06-17
Fierce Social d2dp
:. TIN Capital Life.

Mrs. David Jayne Hill, wife of the first
assistant secretary, and her friends The
diplomatic corps has taken sides.
Mrs. Hay and Mrs Hill do not even
exchange official calls. Back of 1t all is
said to be the determination of DR.. David
Jayne Hill to become secretary of state
in the event of the reelection of Presi-
dent Mckinley. So far those in a posi-
ton to speak with authority award the
palm of victory to Mrs. Hill.
As wife Of the secretary of state, since
the death of Vice President Hobart, Mrs.
Hay has occupied a social position next
TO that of the first lady in the land
Mrs. Mckinley is an invalid, and most
of the duty of entertaining falls on the
ladies' of the cabinet. For time official
prestige easily gave the lead to Mrs
Hay, who, with feminine spirit, cared
nothing about the matter apparently un-
til one arose to dispute her claims
Some said that the disturbing element
was with Mrs. Hitchcock, the pretty and
accomplished wife of the secretary of the
interior. Those in the inner circle soon
began to perceive, however, that the real
rivalry lay between Mrs. Hay and Mrs.
Hill. This rivalry has now become SO
pronounced that the two women do not
speak as they pass by
WE'RE LAVISH ENTERTAINERS
Washington society has had few sec
retaries of state, and never an assistant
secretary. who entertained as elaborate
ly as Dr. and Mrs. Hill. Scarcely a week
during the season passed that DR.. and
Mrs. Hill did not spread their festive
board at least two or three times
Their guests have been the cabinet Of
hcers and their wives, the ambassadors
and other prominent diplomatic represen-
tatiVes, and senators and representatives
In congress whose names are powers no.
itically and otherwise. They have intro
duced delightful novelty into Washing
ton life, the salon, and here the ambassa-
doris and the great literary lights have
gathered and enjoyed themselves many
afternoons in the week
Mrs. Hay, as the wife Of the secretary
of state, did not approve of the social
activity of the wife of a minor official.
AT first she quietly ignored the growing
popularity of Mrs. Hill. Then Mrs. Hay
1t is said, conveyed to Mrs. Hill an init
nation that such activity in social af-
FAIRS is not becoming in the wife of a
man who is merely an assistant secre-
tary. Mrs. Hill sweetly ignored the hint
and continued giving dinners, receptions
and teas, at which the wittiest and most
distinguished men and women of Wash
ngton appeared.
Previous to the daring innovations of
the assistant secretary and his wife, the
stately Mrs. Hay had not taken kindly
to Washington society in it's broad sense
She was not the woman to preside over
a political-literary salon. She had reign
ed In a smaller circle long before the
days of officialdom.
HER COURSE WAS CRITICISED
The daughter of the millionaire railroad
magnate of Cleveland, o., Amasa Stone
and one of the heiresses of his immense
fortune, Mrs. Hay has been used to lux
ury and culture from her earliest years
Her husband has always been the center
of admiring coterie, here and in Ohio,
but it was a select circle, not the throng
which public office brings.
It has been said of Mrs. Hay that she
absolutely dreaded the public receptions
which the wives of the cabinet officers
must hold, and that the fact of having a
horde of strangers infesting her drawing
rooms was painful in the extreme.
Her home is by far the most preten-
tious occupied by any of the presidents
official family, and her facilities for en-
tertainng were unequaled. But Mrs. Hay
did not open her doors, as society
thought obligatory. She performed all
her duties with punctiliousness, but she
did nothing else.
This course was somewhat criticised
during Mrs. Hobarts regime, but there
was entertainment enough and TO spare
during the regime of the hospitable vice
president.
But afterward Mrs. Hay assumed the
leadership of the STATE department set,
and trouble began.
II go to the secretary of states when
1t is my duty 1 go to the assistant sec
retarys Immediately afte w1rd, be ause
1 believe that the performance of the
duty should be rewarded" One Of the
continental diplomats made use of this
bon mot in explaining his frequent ap-
pearance at the Hill salon.
1t reached the ears of Mrs. Hay, and
thus fuel was added to the fame by the
ambassadoriaI corps itself, supposed,
above all others, to keep the sembiance
of peace. Mrs. Hills Tuesday afternoon
had come to be the envy OF Wash ngton
entertainers. Her drawing-rooms were
crowded. and blight literary men and
women and talented musicians provided
a fund Of entertainment.
THRONGs AT MRS. HILLS.
Mrs. Hill herself proved an inimltable
hostess. She is good linguist well in
formed, and could converse inte ige fly
with foreign diplomats in Their native
tongues They thronged her house. 7 he
women, many of whom Mrs. Hay had
alienated in one way or another, followed
suit, and Mrs. Hills supremacy became
very real. If unacknoWledged.