The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-22
LAUDS mrs. REYHJRN
New York Editor Says Her
Contention Is Just
BEGINS AN ACTIVE CRUSADE
Wife of PhiIadelphia's Mayor, Snub-
bed by Social Set, VIII Seek 10 Set
Up an OmeiaI One in Opposition.
Opera Episode BEGINNING Of the
Struggle Tor Supremacy.

Philadelphia, Dec. N.-MrS. John e
ReybUrn's declaration that as the wife
of the cfty's chief executive she should
be entitled to a seat at the opera has
called forth words OF praise, from the
editor OF New York weekly publication.
which aims to chronicle the doings Of the
fashionable world.
II the current issue of the journal the
editor Iauds Mrs. Reyburn for her in
dependence and her frankness in assert
ing, as the wife OF the man of highest
official rank in the city, she should be
recognized at the opera and other i'm
portant social functions The article
says:
Mrs. John Reyburn. the wife Of the
present mayor of Philadelphia, is almost
buried in the avalanche Of adverse criti-
clsm through her public declaration that
she will not GO TO the opera because she
cannot have a box which she considers
the only vantage suitable to the dignity
Of her Official position. and I am quite
inclined TO hold out a succoring hand.
There is no reason why the wife of the
chief executive Of a great city should
not be accorded social recognition here
as she is in all foreign countries. Aside
from the purely social end OF such asso-
Citations. Il is not improbable that they
would have a distinct and possibly
benehcent effect politically.
of course. 1 cannot blame Philadelphia
society women for hesitating to accept
the wives of some Of the former heads OF
the Quaker City government Mrs. John
Thompson Spencer. who has the right
idea about everything she does. did the
proper thing when she was entertaining
Prince Henry Of Prussia. and II my
memory serves. earlier. when she enter
tanned the Duke d'Abruzzi by inviting
Mayor Warwick and Mrs. Warwick Mrs
Warwick. however, was a woman with
out much individuality and could not
grasp the possibilities Of an osicial-social
position such as she might have had with
so eminent a sponsor as Mrs Spencer
Presented to British Royalty.
But here is woman of an entirely
different stamp. Aggressive and indie
pendent. she started right in at the be-
ginning OF the season with a series OF
official receptions. She spent last spring
and summer in Europe and was presented
at the Court Of St James. where her
position as the wife OF the chief executive
OF one Of Americas biggest cities was
recognized and she was treated accord
ifngly.
NO doubt her IDEAS have been much
Influenced by the respect paid 10 the
mayors OF English and Continental cities.
who even II they do eventually sink
back into 0bscurlty. are some pumpkins
while their tenure OF office continues.
Certainly, il is an honor 10 be mayor OF a
city Ike Philadelphia. and the shippers
never forgot 10 tell you that their an
cestor held that post. The pity OF II is
/ that more honorable men have not always
hr 4 it."
Mrs. Reyburn has opened a campaign
against the Guys social set. She declares
that she will storm the citadel Of the
/ smart set until she has broken up the
snObbishness which denies the wife of the
/ city's chief magistrate box at the opera.
/ Mrs Reyburn held another AT home"
yesterday at the ReybUrn residence. ISL
/ Spring Garden street. As on the previous
/ occasions, the callers were rather few
But Mrs. Reyburn is undismayed. She is
4 determined 10 continue the AT homes. "
/ and build UP. II possible, a social organi-
zation from official circles. much like
I that in Washington in which Mrs. Rey-
/ burn moved before her husbands election
as mayor necessitated their coming 10
/ this city
/ Begins Active Crusade.
Il have embarked on a crusade against
snobbishness. Mrs. Reyburn is quoted as
saying, and during the four years my
husband is in Office 4 will not yield a jot
in maintaining my position.
4 have no personal grievance against
any one in this city" she continued
Personally, have been well received
and graciously treated by the people
whom l have met, but I started out with
the firm determination that l will devote
all my time while here to raising The
social standard of official life. and infust
into it some of the dignity that should
accompany the comforting of position by
the people
4 viii not finch from this self-imposec
task because OF criticism My position
here is perfectly independent and un.
sought My husband shrank from as
suming the responsibilities Of so high al
| Office. and We naturally We're loath Il
break up our Washington home. where
we had established so many pleasant con
nections. But as long as he accepted, anc
l am here as his wife, 1 can see no rea-
son why l should not make this struggle
not for any personal purpose. but because
] Of the principle involved
My point - that in this democracy
Of ours social pretensions are absurd
Family and wealth are not the only
thing that counts. Brains. charm, and
! adaptability go far ahead of them. The
titled American women who rule in
/ foreign courts are nearly all OF lowly
/ extraction. They have simply deTel-
oped in sympathetic surroundings The
adaptability Of the American woman 1.
proverbial abroad. She is given Z
chance there. but here in our OWL
| country. especially in this city of socia
selections, prejudices keep her down.
shown Proper Consideration.
When I was abroad. even in small
towns. the fact that l was the wife OF
the mayor Of great American city
was sufficient to bring me attention!
often almost embarrassing. No publ,
entertainments we're given to which
was not invited Boxes at the theatel
and seats in grand stands at fetes wer,
offered me. and other attentions wer,
/ showered upon me-
In speaking of the opera episode. il
which it was limited that the Reyburni
had been unable to procure an Acade
my box because of social distinction.
drawn by the committee. Mrs. ReyburI
said she considered it due 10 the cityt
chief magistrate to give him a chanc'
At least to pay for a box, and be rep
resented at the city's musical affairs.
1t is not true that we considered /
| beneath or1r dinnEf.t m na1ur.x-