The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-23
THE WEEKS TALK
IN NEW YORK CITY
Something About the Dear
Maria" of Diplomacy
THAT SLANG PHRASE "23"
Many Explanations of How 1t Orig
inated-Tunnel BuiIdins-lnsur-
ance Reforms-The Sea
Captains CoGe.
THAT SLANG PHRASE 1913"
(BY SEWELL HAGGARD0

(BY SEWELL HAGGARD)
New York December 22.-(special.) y
There are. of course, thousands of per
sons who had never heard of Mrs Bel
lamy Storer, the dear Maria" of presi-
dental correspondence until a few days
ago. But they are not the folks who
r keep up with what's going on in the in
! ner circle in Washington, for there the
woman who has just turned the diplo-
matte world upside down. is no stranger
Persons who count in public life know
Mrs. Maria, Longworth Storer as a wo-
man who has made a commercial western
city one of the musical centers of the
world, has promoted the political fortunes
Of men who have became famous and has
numbered a pope of the Roman Catholic
church among her associates. 1t has
even been said that she made President
Roosevelt by persuadng President Nc
Kinley to make him assistant secretary
of the navy. Whether this be true or not
1t is impossible to say, but there is ample
evidence that Mrs. Storer has always
been positive genius in politics.
Mrs. Storer was the daughter of Mich
ola7 Longworth. Congressman Long
worth, who married President Roosevelt's
daughter, is the son of Nicholas Long
worth Jr. a brother of Mrs. Storer and
for several years justice of the supreme
court of Ohio. The Longworths occupy
about the same social position in Cincin-
natl that the Astors occupy in New
York. Mrs. Storer's first husband was
George Ward Nichols. As Mrs. Nichols
she made a reputation as a woman who
does things. Aside from music and art
she took an active interest i'm municipal
affairs and often expressed her opinions
in the newspapers recent biography
of Mrs. Storer says
Cincinnati was about to become
great musical center of the country. In
directly, perhaps, but with powerful in
tuence Mrs. Nichols was largely nstru-
mental in making it So and her husband
was placed in touch with some of the
most prominent and influential people.
Among these was Reuben r.. Springer
a very rich old gentleman and devout
Catholic. The Archepiseopal Palace was
open to Mr. Springer and his friends. Mrs
Nichols and her husband were among
these. The lady was always ready to as
sist her husband I'm his already chosen
tasn of advancing the musical interests
of the city. While he and she together
were influencing Mr.. Springer and some
others In the cause of music. the lady had
already commenced to incline in the di-
rection of the faith of Rome. The seed
planted then grew into fruition until UNI
der Archbishop Elder, she went into the
church, taking Belamy Storer, her sec
ond husband, with her
Mr.. Springer was induced to give very
literally toward the building of the great
Cincinnati Music Hall and College of Mu-
sic, with Colonel Nichols as the chief
manager, and finally for several years
president. The country has not forgotten
how for many years Cincinnati was a
great attraction 10 music lovers in it's fall
festivals and magnificent seasons of OPP
era, attracting people from all parts of
the country and the musical critics from
everywhere
with her husband in command in the
musical world, the ambitious Mrs Mich
OILS soon drifted toward artistic pottery
1t was in 1915 that a pottery for porce-
lain decorations and overglaze was first
thought of in Cincinnati. The exhibitions
i'm limoges faience at Philadelphia in 1876
anC also the Japanese display of cera-
mics gave impetus to the movement
Mrs. Nichols with her fathers backing,
went into the work with great earnest
ness. In 1879 she opened up the first
lockwood pottery, ON. Eastern avenue
and in November, 1880. the first kiln was
fired. The fame of lockwood has gore
around the world"
George Ward Nichols died in 1855. and
in 1856 Mrs Nichols became Mrs Beilamv
Storer. Then she turned from art and
music to politics. She became acquainted
with Mr. Roosevelt while Storer was in
Congress, and when Mr.. Roosevelt be-
came President he promised to send her
husband to a foreign diplomatic post. The
President told Senator Foraker about his
plans.
Senator said the President. "haye
you any objection to my sending Bellamy
Storer upon foreign mission?"
Certainly not, Mr.. President" replied
the senator, 'the foreigner the betterv'
Storer was sent abroad. and the storm
broke soon afterward How Mrs Storer
became so Intimate with the President
that he addressed her as Dear Maria"
and how the Storers tried to have Arch
bishop Ireland made a cardinal by repte-
sentlng that the President desired if is
too fresh in the public memory to need
repeating. Where the blame should rest
Tor the break between the President and
his friends of more than ten years stand
ing is not matter that should be dis
cussed here But the facts show that
Mrs. Storer is a mighty interesting wo.
man. Though, whether it is wise to en-
trust diplomatic secrets to politician in
petticoats. the President can answer bet
ter than anyone else