Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-02
As ZEN BY OTHERS
A SOCIAL RESUME OF THE PASR
FOUR YEARS
fIeasfng Outlook Predicted EVom
Existing COndI-
lions.

| The social life of the past four years. so
| far as the administration has been con-
| cerned, has run along on even lines. 1t has
| not had any sensational features nor been
| disturbed by any untoward events save
! death or illness President and Mrs Nc
| kinley's participation has been continuous,
| except the omission of few functions by
| reason of the death of the formers mother
| and the past winter because of his own Ill
| health. In the first the nation admired his
action as again when official gayety ceased
ana all paid reverence to the dead of the
MAINE. -Four years ago the administration
sociaiiy was an unknown quantity. The ex-
| tent in which the White House wouId he
! prominent was the greatest problem of all
Ihat the burden would be an impossible
one for Mrs. Mckinley was an accepted
fact' and how much the President would
care about this phase of his occupancy OF
lne executive mansion invited discussion
Ihese questions have received most salts
factory answers. President and Mrs. Nc
kinley have entertained more Frequently
and much more deliberately than any or
their immediate predecessors They have
loVed to surround themselves by the official
FAMILIES and those notable at the moment
elther by reason of personal or public worth
diplomacy hasn't been left entirely TO
the foreigners The President has had a
farge reserve force from which to draw
new inspiration where any of the bother
some questions affecting official procedure
mas been concerned. Singularly enough
events nave helped out wonderfully in the
solution or these matters. The President
mas shown the greatest tact on all social
occasions and has proved himself again
and again a splendid host. His old home
frieds have often shared In the pageantry,
as they will many times again during his
second term Names heard most frequent
ly four years ago in connection with tho
new administration are still powerful fac
tors In the making of history today but
some Of those who are most at the front
at this time were scarcely heard of then
Who could have foreseen in the person OF
probable assistant secretary of the navy
leader of the Rough Riders and future
Vice President2 The wars of the past
three years have added element OF mill
tary glory to the social life OF the capital
with which the present generation had
become unaccustomed. Men and women
hitherto leading quiet lives have become
personages about whom a picturesque
glamor has settled most gracefully. The
wars have brought appointment and pro-
motion to hundreds TO whom these words
four years ago seemed an empty dream.
They have sent men and women on err
rands of peace and war to distant parts
of the earth, and have opened up such
possibilities that even the widest romancer
seems to stop far short of the truth
OF those who came into new prominence
March 4, 1897, only a few remain in the
positions of that day. The career of the
late Vice President Hobart and his wife
was marked by liberal conception of their
duties to the public. as the earliest opinions
of them predicted.
AT the head of the cabinet circle. Mr..
and Mrs. Sherman, both veterans in the
knowledge of all that aprertained to gra-
cous hospitality, were succeeded by Secre-
tary and Mrs. Hay, whose frequent and de-
lightful entertainments have been always
most interesting feature Of their residence
here.
Secretary and Mrs. Gage have carried out
the pleasing anticipations formed of them.
General and Mrs. Alger Were not strangers
to Washington society when they came
here four years ago. Secretary and Mrs.
Root, on the contrary, were not generally
known. save by reputation. Both during
the terms Of General Alger and Secretary
Root, the Office has lost none of the social
prestige with which in later years it has
been so brilliantly identified Mr. McKin-
ley's first Postmaster General. Mr.. Gary,
and his interesting family formed one of
the delightful home circles of which the
first cabinet group presented several nota-
BILE examples.
Emory Smith, the sociabilities accruing to
the office have been in good hands. Mr..
McKenna, at the head of the Department
of Justice, was succeeded by another AttOr-
ney General and family in which group
of charming young daughters added an in
terest hard to duplicate.
Mrs. Griggs has been a charming hostess,
whose home has been a popular one with
all.
AS indicated at the opening Of the admin
istration, Mrs. Longs health and that OF
her daughters have not permitted frequent
participation in the gayeties of the capital.
They have had to be content in showing
personal interest in the manifold works OF
kindly cooperation with which the women
have strengthened the sinews of war;
Miss Flora Wilson, who has presided so
gracefully for her father. is now equal to
any social demand. and enjoys Washington
life, both in its public and private features.
The new term of the President, therefore,
has no vexing questions of social fitness to
determine. The hold-overs, from the high
est places to way down the line, are quite
experienced now In their various duties or
brave enough to start out on entirely new
lines. Each could contribute a readable
chapter on personal successes mistakes,
which would be Of great benefit to future
holders of high office, but there is not the
faintest danger that any will do So especial
ly on the latter topic.