Evening journal., 1901-12-07
Family Of the President

The wife of the President possesses,
happily, not only the knowledge and
experience requisite for the admins
tration of the social affairs of the
White House, but she is endowed with
the physical strength necessary forI
their proper performance, which was
lacking in so many of Those who pre-
ceded her, and her amiability and good
will, the democratic spirit, which the
President fosters in all those about
him, cannot fail TO make her
regime a notable one Moderation, how
ever, will mark the social plans of the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt this win
ter, for the shadow Of the late Presi-
dents death is still upon them, and
three of their official family, Secre-
tary Hay, Secretary Gage and Secre-
tary Long, are in deep mourning. All
that tradition requires and good taste
dictates will be done, and Mrs. Roose-
velt has already announced that she
will revive the custom of holding
weekly receptions on Saturday after
noons--a custom so popular it is diff
cult to understand why it fell into dis
use-whfch she proposes to begin in
December, giving three before the
holidays, since the date upon which
Lent falls will make the season a short
one, says Leslie's Weekly. The more
formal functions will not be inau-
gurated until after the New Years re-
ception, when the usual state dinners,
the card and public receptions will
take Place.
For the first time since General
Grants Administration, when Nellie"
was the pet of her fathers encourage
and society as we'll there will be a
young woman in the White House.
Alice, the Presidents eldest daughter
by his first wife. Miss Lee, of Boston,
who died not long after her marriage
Miss Roosevelt is an extremely pretty
girl bright and gay, as all young girls
should be, with much of the original
fly and tl1e spirit of determination
which compel admiration for her dis
tinguished father. Her debut is an
nounced for january 2. The entertain
ment to be given in her honor is not
yet decided upon, but it will inaugl-
rate a series of festivities THAT will
make the White House gayer than it
has been any time since Mrs. Sartoris
reigned as belle there.
1t is no misnomer to call the Cabi-
net the Presidents official family. It's
members are most intimately associ-
ated, the President and his wife fire.
quent their homes, they are constant
ly entertained at the White House. and
the women of THE Cabinet. who are the
real leaders of official society, invari-
ably assist the wife of the President
at all public functions. Mrs. Roose-
velt naturally has precedence over all
Others, the wives of the ambassadors
ranking next; the members of the Cabi-
net follow according to the age of
their different portfolios. This gives
TO the wife of the premier an import-
ant position. She takes precedence of
her associates, is appealed to in mat
ters involving etiquette and policy. and
constantly called upon to settle dis
puted points. OF the annual dinners
given by the members of THE Cabinet
in honor Of the President the initial
one takes place at the home of the
Secretary of State whose wife. as a
rule. sets the dates for Cabinet recep-
tiOns, decides what calls shall be re
turned i'm person, and, while in nc
sense an aultocrat. she is to the women
of the Cabinet what her husband is To
his colleagues-the acknowledged
head.