The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-06
A CLOSE VIEW OF
MRS. LYMAN GAGE
She Helps Her Husband Garry the
Treasury Portfolio and Leads
Her Social Set.

Is taking q retrospective view OIL the
past winter and its functions and the
grand danes who have presided as
alostesses thereat. And as this year
viii solve the perplexing question of exc
c,Itive rule for the next four to come,
there is a social as well as a diplomatic
interest envclopcd in the political cloud
which will burst on election TUESDAY,
next November.
Socially, the question is who will be the
leader next year? VIII the same group
of 1na1rons constitute the feminine quor-
UNI of the cabinet that have Eraced it
during the past four years, or will there
be entirely new faces and customs intro
duced into this department of state?
If coming events result in the former
alternative society will be pleased, for
never in the history of the country have
the ladies of the cabinet formed such
a delightful group as this season. With
each noted for her originality and pos
sessing some peculiar charm of manner,
society during the present administration
has been able to carry out its entertain
ments upon lines of almost unlimited
diversity; and to this fact must be at
tributed much of it's remarkable soclal
success.
A hostess who comes In for a great
share of the honor of this success as
having been a leading factor, in It's
promotion Is Mrs. Lyman j. Gage, wife
of the Secretary of the Treasury En-
dowed with a. gentle nature and chart
table disposition and occupying high
social position both in the East and
West. Mrs Gage went to the capital
soon after the appointment of her hus-
band and was Immediately accorded
place among the leaders Of Washington
Societ-r.
The entertainments given by Mrs. Gage,
while Of the most delightful and en-
10, Ia. r1a marked nv
eXtravagant display. To the contrary,
they have been conducted upon the
lines of elegant simplicity that charac-
terze the truly refined and cultured;
and invitations to these functions nave
been regarded as an honor By those who
received them, and responded to with nat
tering cordiality.
Although she is generally considered a
Western woman. Mrs. Gage comes origin
ally from the East. She was born or a
conserva tive New York family by the
name of Lansing, which traces its ances-
try back to the early Dutch settlers. She
has been married twice and, strange to
say, each time has linked her name with
that OF a Gage. Her first marriage took
place when she was very young wo-
man living in Albany, New York. Mr.. and
Mrs. Gage moved to Colorado, and 1t was
only comparatively a short time when
they had settled down to a happy married
life that Mrs Gage became a widow.
AT that time the present Secretary of
the Treasury had a position In bank
in Chicago. Some time after ne was sent
to Colorado TO attend 10 an affair of
financial Importance, and while diversl-
flying his business with the SocialitleS of
Denver Mr.. Gage met the charming
young widow. He was deeply impressed
and saw Mrs. Gage several times, but
in his diftidence failed to press the suit
Finally he was compelled to return to
Chicago. securing before he left, however,
the happy privilege of writing TO Mrs.
Gage. They corresponded for some tune
and Mr.. Gage evidently thought his
prize secure. But one day the news
reached him that another wealthy Color
ado business man was an ardent sutton
for the hand of Mrs. Gage. Realizing for
the first time that he had never really
declared his love and was in danger of
losing the woman of his choice, young
Mr.. Gage left his work and rushed to
the teegra ph office to send this brief mes
sage:
Don't do anything until you see me.
BY first train. GAGE.
Securing leave of absence he took
the train for Denver the same evening,
and when he arrived went Immediately
to the home of Mrs. Gage. where he
declared his love, with the happy result
that he was accepted. 1t was not long
al leT mat GHc COUPE were eilil,
like the characters in the fairy story
books, have lived happily ever since.
Mrs. Gage then moved TO Chica go with
her husband. and has been intensely de-
voted to his interests during every stage
of his rapidly career. The
home on North State Street, Chicago, is
one Of the handsomest in the West. and
there. as in Washington. are given the
delightful entertainments to those who
frequent exclusive society
Mrs. Gage is 8, woman of distinctive
bearing, tall and graceful with deep
blue eyes. Her manner is simple. earnest
and engaging. and her conversation bril-
liant and witty She is very fond of
music and literature and is a devoted
patronesS of the fine arts.
Her entire residence in Washington has
been only a succession of triumphs and
should she go back to live in her west
ern home. society vii! miss her; and
Washington charities Will be the poorer,
for she is as generous TO the poor as
to the rich.
WOnr1NiS BANK STOCK.
The amount of national bank stock
held by women in America is estimated
at $50. 100000. and the amount of pri-
vate and State bank stock at $751;, co.,
000.