The Topeka state journal., 1903-02-28

breakfast with the family at s. All her
personal business is transacted in the
morning and about IL o'clock she takes
a short nap. During the afternoon she
is always occupied with social affairs,
Notwithstanding the fact that she does
not return calls
In spite of this great care, Mrs. Roose-
welt has barely escaped a serious attack
of nervous prostration, and is still un-
der the Doctors care She viii take q
relative amount of rest during Lent bat
rest for the mistress of the White House
would mean the most arduous labor Tor
nearly every other social leader IN the
United States.
The obligations entailed on the wives
of cabinet officers are 50 numerous and
various that it would be a brave wo-
man who would knowingly undertake
the labor. The cabinet matrons are the
assistants Of Mrs. ROcfeVelt on public
and formal occasions. They stand IN
line below her on all the official levees,
and they are constantly subject to her
command during the official season.
It may be said that each cabinet Wo-'
man has all the duties OF the mistress
of the White House multiplied by ten
When Mrs. Knox suffered nervous col
lapse a few days ago persons who noted
her during the past two winters ex-
pressed surprise that the event had not
occurred earlier.
For two winters Mrs. Knox has been
the most faithful attendant at the
White House, and she has given 8. num-
also kept her Wednesday at home with
scrupuIous regularity, and as she Is one
of the most popular women in the ad-
ministration set. her receptions nave
been crowded. Like the president and
Mrs Roosevelt. the attorney general
and Mrs. Knox are very hosoitable
Their dinner parties have been numer-
Gus and they are always in demand as
guests at other dinners
i The secretary of the treasury and
Mrs. Shaw have also Deem notable en-
/ tertainers and have also figured fre-
quently at official and private functions,
/ The postmaster general and Mrs. Payne
are not robust. and they have limited
their hospitable inclinatiOns to official
functions and feya' small dinners
/ Nevertheless, Mrs Payne spends two
] thirds OF her time in her room, resting
from the exertions. Miss Wilson, daugh
/ ter of the secretary of agriculture, also
feels the strain and viii soon go south.
The most fatiguing part of the cabi-
net matrons duties are the endless Sc
4 ries of calls required by long custom
Each cabinet woman must call on the
wife of every senator. a herculean task
in itself, as these visits must all be paid
on Thursday. the senatorial reception
da-.
They must return the calls of all who
attend their at homes and of the wives
! Of reDresent tatives in congress They
must likewise make first calls on the
wives Of the justices of the supreme
court of the ambassador and on the
wife of the speaker of the house.
Those wealthy residents of other states
who maintain winter dwellings in
/ Washington and desire to participate in
official gayety must be of iron frame
and indomitable energy to fulfill all re-
quirements. They must comply with all
the local customs, differing entirely from
/ the rules which hold IN every part of the
country.
In Washington the stranger makes all
! the advances. She must make the en-
/ tire round of calls before she can expect
any recognition from the official set
/ The millionaires who own palaces here
are, of course honized, and they are al
lowed many privileges But the official
persons are great sticklers for etiquette,
and as they make an impressive show
1 ing at entertainments, the civilian
Croesus is willing to comply with the
old time rules.
This winter there is more than the
usual percentage of nervous breakdowns
in consequence of the immOderate en-
tertaining which is the vogue.
The most prominent hostesses have
been compelled to close their homes pre-
maturely and go south. Among these
are Mrs. Matthew Quay, Mrs Dewey,
the Baroness Moneheur. Mrs. George E.
Huff and Miss Huff, Miss Letter and
/ Mrs Thomas Nelson Page and her
I daughter, Miss Florence Field. The
I debutantes of the year are no less fag-
ged out than their elders, and this is not
I surprising when it is recorded that one
bud of the winter. Miss Carolyn Post
/ lethwaite has had twenty-five dinner
parties given in her honor since last
November