The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-03
.fEqOR FAGAN'S LOVELY PARTY
GRfETS JERSEY CITY VONEN
AND HANDS OUT PINCUSHIONS.

lie Cleared Town Politics OF some OF Its
Cruditles, So They Had Him Elected.
and He's SO Pleased lie Holds n New
Years Rout for Them, the Dear Things,
Mark Pagan, the youngest Mayor Jersey
City ever had by full seven years, gave a
pm cushion party yesterday to the ladies'
1t was held in his Office In toe City Hall OF
the metropolis of Hudson county. and. az
the women put 1t, cit was a lovely party
There Is much behind Mayor Fagan's
pinoushion blowout 1t was not a mere
frivolous New Years gathering 1t stood
for something 1t was reminiscent OF re-
form In politics, the independence OF woman,
her emancipation from civic thralldom.
All 1t lacked was the dignifed presence Of
May Wright Sewall and Susan B. Anthony.
1t was Mayor Pagan that raised political
meetings and campaign rallies in Jersey
City from coarse, noisy affairs to gentle
gatherings Of earnest thinkers. Before
1901. when Mark Pagan stormed the Mayors
office with plurality OF over 5000 behind
him. campaigns in Jersey we're practically
for men only. The local statesmen ohewed
so much twist tobacco and smoked so many
strong cigars and discussed the burning
issues with such freedom OF language that
the Jersey women ventured not into the
halls where the men folks we're.
They wanted 80 much to come and they
talked about the rude condition Of politics
with tears in their eyes when they met at
womens clubs and 5 o'clock teas. They
passed resolutions by the ream asserting
their night to have a voice in the making Of
Mayors and city bosses. but until Pagan
rose mp az their champion there was nothing
doing for the downtrodden in skrts
When Pagan ran for Mayor he announced
straightaway that he did not approve of
political meetings at which circumstances
did not permit OF the women attending
He said he Thought the women ought to
have a say in campaign meetings and he
proclaimed that 1t was rough and rude for
the men to turn them into back rooms Of gin
mills. Then the women hailed Pagan with
loud cheers. They reeoluted about him,
and told their bubbles that If they did not
vote for Mark they needn't expect TO be
any too popular at their own firesides.
The result Of II all was that the most popu-
lar undertaken in Jersey City became the
most popular Mayor the town had known
since the year of the big wind.
Naturally, there grew up a pretty warm
feeling between Mark and the Mayor
makers in pettcoats. When the women
wanted anything done they went on the
hotfoot straight TO the Mayors office and
told Mark about il. Usually IL the moment
was suspicious, they got II. Mark felt pretty
kindly 10 the women for boosting him into
the mayoralty and they regarded him
something In the light OF deliverer. There
began the custom of the women of Jersey
City paying New Years call on Mayor
There was one on the first day Of 1902 that
was hummer. Il WAS 80 charming that il
was repeated with enthusiasm on Jan.
1903, and on New Year. Day last year
Last time Mayor Pagan gave away about
a thousand pretty little inkstands with a
picture of the City Hall gilded on them.
They may be seen to-day in a thousand
Jersey City homes on the marble topped
table in the parlor with the family Bible
and the Handy Letter Writer This
year Mark had another idea. He came
over to Manhattan one day and prospected
around the department stores until some
thing sweet in pincushions caught his eye.
He gave an order for a round thousand Of
them, and they were sent 10 him at his
Office the other day.
The reception began yesterday morning
at II O'Clock When the doors of Mayor
Fagan's office were thrown open the street
J in front OF the City Hall was quivering
with the eager emancipated. When the
doors went back they poured in with such
tempestuosity that the six foot doorman
was engulfed and swept aside in the rush
of skirts.
Mayor Pagan stood smilngly at his
desk. 1t was piled high with pin cushions,
and to every pincushion was tied with
baby ribbon little Japaneee doll The
chorus Of Obs and Abs went straight to
the Mayors heart. He was deeply affected
he said afterward. But he took the proper
precautions. He had prescienoe enough,
even in the deep emotion OF the moment
10 realize that 1t wouldn't do TO permit
his charming adherents TO help them
selves. Certain wise maxinls pertaining
10 women fitted across his brain and he
tipped on his private secretary to form
the women into line. one at time
AZ they came forward, tripping joy
fully. saying Happy New Year, Mayor
Pagan Mark handed each one a pin
cushion With it's doll attachment and said:
THE same TO yourself, and a hundred Of
them. Have a pinoushon With me"
That went on until 1:30 in the afternoon,
when the pincushions we're all gone. After
that the gallant Mayor stripped bare the
many floral emblems that had been sent
him and handed out the flowers as grace
mi acknowledgements TO his callers. The
floral horseshoe was reduced to immodest
pastoboard and the giant cross Of roses
was stripped Of poses.
very pretty girl. whose red silk waist
and black walking skirt made her more
charming than any flower in the room.
expressed the sentiment OF the callers when
she bowed to Mark and said, prettily:
The ladies' OF jersey City are for you,
Mayor Pagan. at any time and for any
thing Put your trust in us and you will
wear diamonds
All in all. New Years Day in the Mayors
office was a strenuous affair There we're
about 5000 callers, 1000 Of whom were
women Mayor Pagan looked tagged out
brt very happy when he babe good year
T. the last Of Them and went home, wishing.
the ladies said. thai he had a wife Of his
own TO say 10;
Happy New Year, my dear, and have
n pincushion with me-.
nRLEEL Al.ERS IN EOR 4 EIGHT.