The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-27
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
A STORY THAT CAUSED TROUBLE
IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES.


IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES.
A Tempest in a Teapot That Ragged
for DayS-Kind Words From Char
lesion Respecting Mrs. Roosevelt.
The Two PattersOns in Congress
Whose Friendship Is Attracting
AttentiOn-A Committee Room That
Is Fitted Up with Historical Furn-
iture-The HandiwOrk of the Sec
rotary of the Navy-An Interesting
Event That Is to Occur in Russia.
The Meeting of the international
Red Cross SOciety-Other Matters
of General Interest.
Washington, April 25.-Oficial and
diplomatic society was all torn up last
week over what seems to outsiders a
very small matter; so small, indeed,
that it passeth the understanding of
those who are unacquainted with the
undying strife for precedence which
pervades every strata of official life
naval, military, judicial governmental
congressional, diplomatic. These in
tense jealousies bitter and relentless
as Corsican vendettas, undoubtedly
furnished the true animus of the
Schley- Sampson controversy, the pro-
posed retirement of Gen. Miles, and
similar unpleasant happenings, which
keeps Mrs. Dewey in self-imposed So
cial exile, compels Lieut.. Richmond
Pearson HobSon to remain in the dim
est possible background, and condemn
ed Poor Alger and many stranger
man than he to the melancholy limbo
of political has-beens.
Last weeks kindling anew of the old
spirit was as utterly without reason
| as jealousy usually is. A senseless
| story got into the papers, through
some reporter, to the effect that Mrs.
Hay was about to issue cards to the
wives of government officials and SEN
| ators, inviting them to call upon Nine.
| Cambon, the French ambassadors
wife, who is about to make her first
| visit to Washington. No mention was
made in the article of the Corps Diplo
| matique, the Supreme Court ladies, or
wives of naval and military officers;
but it was authoritatively stated that
| the women folk of members of Con-
gress would not be hidden. The tenn
pest in a teapot thus created ragged for
days. What business has the wife
of the Secretary of State to assume
the leadership of society in such a
matter?" who conferred upon her au-
| thority to draw the line at the congress
| sional circle; or anywhere else, for that
| matter?" ut is the province of dip
| lomatic corps to introduce it's own to
| whom it pleases," were comments fire.
| quently heard. The truth of the mat
| ter is this: Mrs. Hay had been absent
| taI oVIU nicrI1
making a last visit to her daughter,
| Mrs. Payne Whitney, before the latter
| leaves for her summers yachting in
| European waters, and did not even
know that Nine. Cambon is coming to
1 this country. Had she known it, she
would have been the last person to as
| sumo the responsibility of her intro
| duction to Washington society, being
| well aware that the matter does not
| fall within the jurisdiction of the Sec
| rotary of State, and certainly not with
in that of his wife, who has no more
authority in official society than any
other pleasant hostess.
have had the pleasure of reading
private letter from a social leader in
| Charleston, S. c., which has this to
say concerning the ladies who accom-
panied President Roosevelt on his re-
| cent trip South: Mrs. Roosevelt is
/ lily lQedl OIL WHAT d 1I6SlueII WlIe
should be. She is immensely prettier
| than any of her photographic wo-
man whose real beauty comes out in
her conversation, her animated ex-
! preston, her irresistible smiles and
| captivating manner. She isn't the
| least bit conscious of being person.
| age; and have you noticed what a
really beautiful voice she has? Her
absolute devotion to the President is
| apparent to the most casual
observer; and besides being mar
| ried lovers, they seem such
| friends and comrades. He wants her
to see and enjoy everything that he
sees and enjoys. and she is keen for it
all Mrs. Roosevelt hasn't the appear
| ance of being robust, but l never OBJ
I served the slightest trace of fatigue
| about her while she was in Charleston
I believe she would be fully equal to a
rough rider hunting trip with her hus-
! band-and like it, too 1t seems to me
| that Mrs Roosevelt and Mrs. Cowles
are much alike. 1t would be easy to
| take them for born sisters instead of
| 'inlaws' l never met two more
thoroughly unaffected and socially I'M
spoiled women than the Presidents
Wife and the Presidents sis
ter. They completely captivat-
ed us all down South Every