The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-26
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
COMMENT ON THE DEATH OF MRS.
BLAINE.


Wrong Impression in Europe
About Ex-Presidents and Their
Wives The Secretary of
State Grandfather-MOvem
of Well known PeOpIe-The En-
gagement of the Daughter of the
General who Is Soon to Be the
Head of the Army-SenatOr Clark's
New York and Washington Fol-
lies-The Plans of the Chinese
Minister for the Summer-Other
Matters of General Interest.
Washington, July 24.-The death of
Mrs. James G. Blaine removed another
familiar and once very prominent fig
ure of Washington official life-al
though of late years she participated
very little in social affairs. Hers was
a checkered life, with more triumph in
it, as we'll as more sorrows and bitter
disappointments, than fall to the lot
of many women. From a New Eng
land country school teacher to the wife
of United States senator is something
of a long step; and when she found
herself at the head of the cabinet la
dies, with the shining prospect appar-
emily just ahead of becoming First
Lady of the Land, one would think that
her every ambition was realized.
Though more than once at the head of
the cabinet circle, the ignis fatuus of
the presidency danced always just
ahead of the "Plumed Knight" and
except for the little time the Garfields
remained in the White House, Mrs
Blaine never personated the First Lady.
Perhaps her proudest days, if not her
happiest, were those spent in the his
toric mansion on Lafayette Square,
the former Seward mansion, which has
since been converted into an opera
house.
The idea seems to prevail in Europe
that because we change our Presidents
so often the country must be embar-
rassingly full of eX-Presidents and lex
First Ladies" with whom nobody knows
what to do, and who don't know what
to do with themselves for fear of be-
httleing their former high position. So
far from being the case, the fingers of
one hand are too many on which to
enumerate all those that are now liv-
ing. The recent death of Mrs Har-
rlet Lane Johnston set us to counting
up the few that remain. Mrs. John
ston, though known to be wealthy, left
an unexpected amount, including half
a million dollars in various gifts, after
her relatives had been provided for.
Besides generous fund for free schol-
arships in several colleges, she be-
queathed $500, 900 for the establishment
of school for choir boys in Washing
ton
Again as the Secretary of State had
greatness thrust upon him." so to say,
being made a grandfather twice with
in few weeks. This time it is his
second daughter, Mrs. James w
Wadsworth, who was married a little
more than a year ago. This youngest
scion of the house of Hay is a girl and
has been named after her maternal
grandmother. The only living son of
the Secretary of State, young Clarence
Hay, is at present the guest of his
eldest sister, Mrs. Harry Payne Whit
ney, at Newport. The other day Mrs
Whitney gave an elaborate luncheon at
her Newport residence "Edgerton," in
honor of Lady Mimic and Lady Eileen
Elliott wife and daughter of the Gov
ernor of Canada, who are guests of ex-
Senator Wolcott.
The ex-senator, by the way, is a
new light in Newport society. but one
of the first magnitude. Nobody sus-
pected him of having leanings in that
direction when he first came to Con-
gress. Senator Wolcott is a remark
able man in many ways, and as inter-
esting as remarkable. Before all else
he is man of brains, and, after sue
ceeding in politics, in the financial
world, and in pretty much everything
else, if he turns his attention to So
ciety. 1t goes without saying that he
will easily forge ahead of all competi-
tors. His social career began last
year, in a small way, when he was
visitor at the ROLAND Morse villa
when he gave the smart set the first
intimation that brains are worth more
than jewels or titles.
Mrs. Payne, wife of the Postmaster
General. and her niece, Miss Louise
Jones, accompanied Mr.. Payne on his
coast trip on the Revenue Cutter Onon-
dago, which left here last Saturday
They will spend some time at Old Point
Comfort, and at the Norfolk navy ward
and will then proceed up the coast as
far as Portland. Me. They expect to
return to Washington in about two
weeks.
Speaking of we'll known figures in the
Civil War: Mrs. Stonewall jackson.
widow of the Confederate general. has
been visiting in Washington for sew
eral days. She has many friends here
and is in the enjoyment of excellent
health. Mrs. jefferson Davis is one of
the interesting visitors in Atlantic CITY
this summer. She is greatly improved
in health. and is receiving much at
tention.
The engagement Is naounced
of Miss Elizabeth w Yo ing. the
youngest daughter of Maj. Gen. S. NJ.
B. Young U. S. A. to First Lieutenant
John r. R. Hannay. Twenty-second In
fantry. This is the more interesting
because on Aug. S Gen. Young sue
ceeds Gen. Miles as the head of the
army. Miss Young made her debut
here only last winter Just now che is