The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-27
MRS. DEPEW'S
REIGN IN SOCIETY
LEADER IN THE CAPITAL SET.
BORN SOCIAL QUEEN WITH A CO.
OPERATIVE HUSBAND.

wives of New York Senators Prom
inent Figures i'm WashinEtOn's
Coterie-Neither Mrs. Black Nor
. Mrs. OdelI Who Are Possibilities
i'm OmciaI Society Were Prominent
During Their Former Residence
in Wa.hington-Charac of
the Two Women.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, Nov. 26.-Society people
of Washington are more than ordinari-
ly interested in New York politics
since the threatened departure from
official circles of Senator Chauncey Nj.
Depew.
While the names of former Secretary
of War Root and former Cows. Odell
and Black suggest interesting possible
ties. there is no question but that the
wife of the present junior senator from
the Empire State would continue to
play more conspicuous social part in
Washington, provided her husband is
returned to the Senate, than would
the wives of the other recognized can
didates.
A Social Queen.
1t would be very difficult for any
other woman to equal or excel the So
cial vogue of Mrs. Depew, who is re-
garded as the most accomplished host
ess that ever presided over historic
Corcoran House. She represents New
York in Washington society exactly as
did the late Mrs. William c. Whitney
and Mrs. Levi P. Morton. She is a
born social queen, with cooperative
husband.
If Mrs. Root returns to Washington
as the wife of a New York senator
she may not feel it incumbent upon
her position to entertain as lavishly as
when her husband was Secretary of
War. Mrs. Roots tastes are artistic
and literary. She is a great reader and
the mere frivolities of a Washington
season-which is mad chase after ex-
element from New Years Day till
Ash Wedresday-do not appeal to her
like a select coterie of congenial as
sociates.
Formerly Lived I'm Washington
Both Mrs. Black and Mrs. Oden
lived in Washington while their hus-
bands were members of the House of
Representatives. Neither pressed the
advantages of her position or figured
prominently in official society. But
since their residence at the national
Capitol, both women have undergone
the experience of executive hostess
ship in the Governors mansion at Al
bany and their points of view and
opportunities have widened necessa-
rily with their husbands increased
incomes and official prestige.
Times Have Changed Socially.
The wives of the men who have
forged ahead in American politics I'M
der the present strenuous regime"
are apt to do little independent
forging by themselves. Mrs. Black,
for instance. took small interest in
national affairs, from a personal
standpoint, ten years ago. She and
her gaunt, humorous and original hus-
band, with their one son, lived in
a modest suburban home in Troy and
were content, apparently, with liter
airy clubs and picnics for their social
diet. The Blacks old white horse
Bob was the sort of Pegasus the fam
days. The few persons admitted to
the intimate acquaintance of Mr..
and Mrs. Black were loud in praise
of the young lawyers wit, and pre-
dicted brilliant things of him. Mrs.
Blacks preference for a Tam o'Shan-
ter cap over an Easter bonnet, and her
husbands aversion to a silk hat, in
no way detracted from the popular
ity of the couple. up in rural Troy.
Gov. Black 10 Years Ago.
It is unlikely now that the man who
made the nominating speech at the
last Republican National Convention
would ride in the line of Governors,
with a ralxish SLOUGH hat pulled over
one eye as an Inauguration day cos
tune. as did Mr.. Black at the first Nc
Kinley Inauguration.
A s1O0.000 a year law practice takes
the carelessness out of a man! When
Mr.. Black tramped New England as
a book agent, upon leaving college,
and neglected often to solicit business
in the engrossing interest with which
he absorbed Greek. Latin and law
through his big spectacles, he saw no
vision ahead of magnificent country
seat in the White Mountains of New
Hampshire. and never dreamed OF
pocketing political honors.
Mrs. Black and Mrs. OdeII.
Mrs. Black is a large handsome
woman, unspoiled by conventionality
and originally clever. AS the wife of
a. cabinet official or New York senator,
she would stamp her individuality upon
everything she did quite as characters
tically as her husband.
Mrs. Odell possesses a pronounced
social gift. She is a ready and bright
alert, and quick at
grasping a situation. She Is a woman
who knows how to chat" with men
as well as wonderland she is intensely
intolerant of shams and false pre-
fences. Mrs. Odell possesses the pride
that refuses to solicit social distinc-
ton that is not spontaneously accord
ed. She cannot curry favor and II
her husband takes a seat In the higher
branch of Congress. Mrs. Odell will
chose the conventional way that does
not seek notoriety.
The Depews, on the contrary, pro-
vided the Senator Is returned TO Con-
go serenely along their ac-
customed way Of great wealth. high
position and easy social achievement.
Both the Senator and Mrs. Depew are
thoroughly Injured TO the glare OF kind
ly public light in which they have
shone to advantage.
cess Louise. daughter OF the late Queen
Victoria and sister 70 King ia wa rd