Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1901-05-24
CAPITAL NOTES
Letter From the National Cap.
ital.
NEWS AND GOSSIP
Trying Social Life Among the
Official Families-.-Some Army
Frauds.

Washington. life among the
official set in Washington is not an
unmixed pleasure. 1t is, indeed, a
strain which few, even among the
robust. can stand. This death of Mrs.
Lyman J. Gage, wife of the secretary
Of the treasury, emphasizes this fact.
She was woman of exceptional
vigor, and yet there is no doubt that
her fatal illness was the direct result
Of the strain of last winters s social
ties. Her friends sadly recalled to-
day that she was ailing just before
the inaugural ceremonies, and that
she had remarked then that she
would probabl not be able to par
ticipate in the festivities. 1t is essen
tial in the opinion Of the leaders of
the elite here, that the plan hitherto
followed in social administrative cir
,les will have to be reorganized, and
1t is believed that one Of the first
things that will be considered. upon
the return of the president, will be
the advisability of departing from
the traditional routine required of
the executive and cabinet families.
Intimations have reached here, in
fact, Mrs. Mckinley will never be
able to resume her social duties
again, even if the present hopeful
conditions of her present illness
should be realized
The fatigue attendant on the recep-
tions at the White House has long
been a source of anxiety to the presi-
dent and his advisers. Mrs. Cleve-
land, who was young and strong
when first lady of the land, often ex-
pressed her sympathy for such of the
cabinet ladies who were her seniors,
and who felt the ordeal more severe
fy. 1t was she who tried to make the
innovation Of having the ladies
grouped in the different drawing
rooms, where they could rest ocoa-
sionally, instead of standing for hours
in line, smiling and bowling and
shaking hands with thousands of
callers. This change, however, was
not favorablv received During the
ppresent regime Mrs. McKinley's fee.
BILE health made it incumbent on the
ladies of the cabinet to especially ex.
ert themselves at these receptions,
Mrs. Mckinley has always remained
seated and did not shake hands al
all, but even the fatigue of sitting sc
long has been heavy drain on bei
strength.
The death of Mrs. Gage now leaves
but one of the original cabinet circle
still participating in the social life.
This is Miss Wilson. Mrs Long
withdrew from society permanently
two years ago, stating that her health
would not permit her to follow the
program expected Of her. Miss Will
son has been in failing health for the
past year. Mrs. Hay, who is very
stout and healthy, frequently cannc'
appear at receptions, as she is unable
to endure the fatigue Of having tC
stand for hours at time. Mrs. Root
Mrs. Smith and Mrs Hitchcock hav,
all suffered from the strain put upor
them. As the wife of prominen
diplomatic representative remarked
''There is not court in Europ'
where such heavy load is laid upor
the shoulders Of the ladies in wait
ing" Verify, 1t is the pace that kills.
Brief funeral services were held a
the secretary's residence Monday
morning. The interment occurred IL
the family lot at Rose Hill Cemetery,
Chicago. The officers Of the treasury
department acting as pall-bearers