The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-03
RIVAL SOCIAL QUEENS
Mrs. Hay and Hitchcock Dispute
Leadership in W a. n nston

Ac-dcESAAp IN w a. n NJ tous
Washington. April 2.-Washington So
ciety is divided into rival factions. each
headed by a charming and ambitious wo-
man of high social position and each the
wife of a member Of the Cabinet. The
opposing queens are Mrs. John Hay. Wifi,
OF the Secretary Of State. and Mrs Ethan
Allen Hitchcock, wife Of the Secretary OF
the Interior.
The social world is divided into two
camps. and in no political campaign has
the party feeling run higher or warmer
than in the sharply waged war thar Will
only cease with the victory Of one and
the defeat of the rival clique. whichever
ii shall be-
Usually the wife Of the President. our
First Lady. has been privile ged TO lay
down the law on matters OF etiquette
which all are but too happy to obey.
The history of the present feud is well
known in Washington. II began shortly
after the permanent retirement Of the
Hobarts During her residence at the
capital the gracious Lady Of the White
House had come 10 regard Mrs Hobart
as heaven-sent parsonage almost. In
gay or stately functions Mrs Hobart's
splendid qualities as a hostess and man.
ager never failed her, and during two
long seasons it was she alone who kept
up the social reputation of the Mckinley
administration.
1t was anticipated after Mrs. Hobart's
retirement that Mrs. Hay would step in
to the coveted place and become the alter
ego of the Presidents wife.
Mrs. Hay IS regarded by many as the
grande dame par excellence of the ma
tional capital. She was Miss Clara Stone,
and is the daughter and heiress OF the
late Amasa Stone the great Cleveland
millionaire. Mrs. Hay IS of medium
height, somewhat inclined 10 embonpOint
and carries herself with a dignity and re-
serve worthy of one born to the purple.
Her eyes and hair are dark, and her col
oring, which is her chief attraction, is
clear and vivid as a girls Always the
great lady, never known TO engage in
badinage, Mrs. Hay is a patrician hostess
to be proud Of, and especially for doing
the honors of the diplomatic corps, for
these strangers within our gates are fire.
quently entertained b. the Secretary Of
State.
Mrs. Hay understands all the niceties
of social diplomatic usage and etiquette.
She herself never oyersteps the bounds
and permits no lapses from the strict dig
nifty which hedges round the exalted Of
flee Of the Secretary of State OF this ma
ton and encircles his family as Well The
correct fOrmality Of the mistress Of Ell
quette ms never for a single moment per-
mitted 20 unbend beyond a gracious smile.
There be those in Washington who
freely declare that the wife OF the Sec
rotary of State has borrowed the erst-
while haunteur Of Her Majesty the Queen
OF Spain They assert with some fervor
that the legend that all men in this glo-
rious country are born equal stu ex-
lists in remote Washington districts. and
in a contest Of this sort they are natur-
ally enrolled on any side but that OF the
unbending and infexible chatelaine OF the
Hay palace.
Mrs. Hays opponents have set up r.
val deity, and a dangerous one withal.
She is no other than Mrs. Ethan Allen
Hitchcock. wife OF the Secretary Of the
Interior a brilliant. charming woman.
possessed not only Of SAVIOR falTe and u
tact but gifted with that rarest OF ali
charms, a magnetic and fascinating per-
sonaHty.
Mrs. Hitchcock was born Collyer end
comes from St Louis. She IS as high
bred as Mrs. Hay, victor in many social
campaigns and considered quite the
handsomest woman OF the Cabinet
Mrs. Hay represents the social disci2- I
nnarian. and in justification q the radi- I
cal movements regarding social and 20 /
utcaI prestige which she has inaugural /
ed in Washington her followers point - .
the fact that for fifteen years before her
husbands advent 70 the Cabinet Mrs. /.
Hay had been the zn8is-uted arbi;er of /
the residential st. and that a woman o. ;
her position IS emitted % right % inn +
press upon society ne proper status o. .
the Cabinet member.
The ladies Of the Cabinet be e under .
stood. are nearer the throne. for nearer. 3
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