The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-07


Knoxville. Tenn. caused a stir in Wash
ington society. where Mrs. Davis was a
prominent figure for many years. Walt
er Wellman. the well-known correspond
ent of the Chicago Record Herald, tells
the following interesting story of Mrs.
Davis social trials at the national capt.
tai:
"a romance of American social life
could be written with the bride OF today
as the central figure. About her hand
some head and we'll rounded, amazon
esoue figure. social battle ragged IN
Washington for several years. Mrs. Da-
Wis was nominally the winner in that
conflict, which involved Presidents, am
bassadors. senators, and all grades OF Of
ficials and their wives. She fought for
recognition by Washington society, and
in the end cot it. Not only did she win
here. but she carried her triumphs TO
Paris. and by sheer courage and force OF
character compelled the highest official
society there to open its doors to her.
Her career proves that with American
women. as with American men, almost
all things are possible. 1t also demon
strates that a bad beginning need not
necessarily make bad ending, and that
weapons in society as in any OF the other
pluck and perseverance are as good
activities of life.
Mrs. Davis was the second wife OF
Senator Cushman X. Davis, and she
knew her future husband long before the
first Mrs Davis died. For some reason
or other. unknown in Washington, So
cietv at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. DAVIS
refused to receive her. People who insist
upon regulating or at least scrutinizing
the affairs of other people closed their
doors to her Mrs. Davis has always had
a few stanch and loyal friends who IN
sisted she was the innocent victim OF ma
licious conspiracy, but when once started
there is no way under heaven OF stopping
it. Even after Mr.. Davis had become
senator st. Paul society refused to I'M
bend And when the senator brought his
beautiful wife to Washington society at
the national capital wore for her its most
frigid air.
'Senator Davis was genuinely fond of
his wife. He stood by her nobly, and did
everything a man could well do to over
come the unreasonable prejudice which
had been formed against her-everythlng
except to 90 into society with her and to
lead. her proudly as his queen wherever
his official rank would take him. Mr..
Davis abhorred society. He almost new
er went anywhere. Even dinners he could
not brook He gave his wife beautiful
house, gowns for her regal figure, money
for entertaining, but he would not 60 out
with her. He loved to sit at home in mis-
library night after night smoking cigars
by the dozen while his handsome wife
was courageously fighting her battle for
social recognition.
"One of the most drastic incidents OF
Mrs. Davis long struggle occurred dur
ing the Harrison administration. Mr.
Davis had only short time before taken
his seat in the senate. The wives OF
other senators, trampling underfoot the
rules of social intercourse which have OBJ
tanned since our republican court was
founded, refused to make the first call
upon the wife of the new senator from
Minnesota. Mrs. Davis had her Thurs
day afternoon receptions, as did the
wives of other senators, and her small
circle of devoted friends attended. But
the senatorial circle was conspicuous by
its persistent absence.
AT length Mrs. Davis decided to make
one bold step for recognition. Mr.. Wan
amaker and Mrs. Wanamaker were CIV
ing reception in the house which was
made famous by the social triumphs OF
William c. Whitney, Mr. Clevelands
first secretary of the navy, the daughter
of former Senator Payne of Ohio. All
Washington society was there, and Mrs.
Davis came in her magnificent carriage,
alone.
'sWhen she was announced upon her
entry to the principal drawing room the
assembled fashionables looked at one an
other and shrugged their shoulders. In
stinctively the women drew their escorts
to the farther borders of the apartment
and stood facing the door. When Mrs.
Davis-tall, beautifully attired, diamonds
in her hair, her statuesque figure appear
ing to fine advantage, and smile of
hope and confidence upon her face-ad-
vanced few steps into the room she was
met by an icy stare from hundred men
and women ranged in long lines about
her. She took another step or two, and
still no one advanced to greet her, Mr..
and Mrs. Wanamaker CHANGING at that
moment to be in the other drawing room.
There was no welcome save the freezing
stare of the throng, over which a silence
had spread as they gazed upon the wom-
an in the center of the room as if she
were a wild animal from the jungle. In
a few moments the smile left Mrs. Davis
face As she fully comprehended the
crushing nature of the snub which Wash
ington society was administering to her
a deathly pallor overspread her counter
ance She looked as if she were about to
faint.
''At this juncture First Assistant Post
master General Clarkson and his wife
happened to enter the drawing room.
They understood the situation in a mo-
ment. Advancing to the center of the
room they greeted Mrs. Davis warmly.
Mr. Clarkson gave her his arm and led
3 1er&to the other drawing room and pre-
scented her to the host and hostess. They
infrodnced her to many friends, and if
defeat &as not instantly converted into
frinmph,s the bitterness of the first few
monlsrits SKas at least assuaged by fair
share Of ehil attention upon the part of
many 8entlemen and few ladies.
,. n TAtSthaf lime the Clarksons were lead
SIN lWashngton society, being favor
itesss as tie White house and endowed