The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-13
WASHINGTON GUIDES.
Coaching Needed by Wives of New
Cuncressmen

When man is elected to congress he
has fought only half the battle. On en-
two problems-how to make his influ-
ences felt in the political arena and how
to be successful socially.
For the first he must depend upon
himself On the other hand his social
career is largely at the nlercx of his
wife. Through her bISas 1srs or lack of
tact he may lose that personal, social
influence which in Washington, as in
every capital is invaluable. Here IS
where the social coach is Of use.
The social history of Washington
shows that from presidents down to
members of the lower house the major
ity of men have been self-made, or, at
least, have risen from q humble station
in life. In nine cases out of ten, with
their foot on the lowest rung of the
political ladder, they have met and mar
ried. Political success for the husband
means new social duties for the wife
Without much difficulty she assumes
her position in the small city where her
husband holds an Office of some import
ance. Small wonder that her husbands
progression to the national capital fills
her with only pleasurable anticipations.
EnVied by her women friends and show
cred with kindly, if useless. advice. she
lends herself TO the most fashiona Bile
modiste in town and to happy visions of
new social worlds to conquer
They invade Washington They en-
terrain. which is necessary. They are
entertained, which is customary
To do honor to the first occasion she
dons her most elaborate frOck and takes
one last complacent glance in her cheval
glass. Then comes the awakening.
Passing that line of receiving women,
irreprcachably zowned and groomed, she
reads plying amusement behind the few
words Of perfunctory greeting and the
fleeing smile. 1t must be her gown, she
reasons, and, having paid her respects,
she slips into a corner and studies the
froel<s and bearing OF these women, who
know Washington ways
She cannot define the difference but
it exists. Moreover. she finds her usual
volubility checked by an indescribab1e
shyness. In a word. she realizes that
she has stepped into a new world filed
with social pitfalls and snares. She
goes back to her hotel dismayed. and
she lies awake the rest of the night
thinking it all out.
If she is daring and self-reliapt she
recalls something d Well-knOwn for
eigner has written about the adapta-
bility of the American women, and
vows that she will stand or fall on
this quality. If she IS cautious she APP
peals to a coach.
The coach is a woman rich in knowI-
edge of Washington customs, of good
family. well bred, well groomed and
well gowned. Perhaps there have been
! financial reVerses in her family Per
haps she is ambitious and independent.
( tie socially elect, and consequently to
1 be approached with due diplomacy.
There must be nothing said about the
I fee, no agreement, no conversation
about terms. But some day there ar
rivers in the coach's mail a check from
4 her pupil.
The coach having assumed the re-
/ sponsibility Of the woman's social fu-
/ ture, goes about her work in the most
! sytematic fashion For awhile she is
almost constantly at her patrons ell
bow.
The first lesson is. Who is who and
how shall you greet them" The right
/ Of precedence. how to avoid the fncon-
gruous issuing of invitations-that IS,
/ inviting opposing factions to the same
function and a nice discrimination in
/ greeting are taught For instance. a
! hostess may personally like an iHdi-
vidua1 temporarily under the ban Of
! Washington society. but received by
right Of official precedence For such
4 meetings she must cultivate what is
known as a frigid graciousness.
The coach overhauls her patron 5
wardrobe Good frocks well made. 9
is the mottO-frocks that absolutely
suit the personality of their owner. II
+ small town fashions war with this per
/ sonality. then everything is cast aside
The coach's pupil places herself unre-
servedly in the hands of an artist Sc