The Washington herald., 1907-03-13


The announcement THAI the Wilson
house on Connecticut avenue is for sale
brings toe mind many important events.
for while Mr.. Wilson was serving as
consul at Lyons it was occupied by tie
late Senator Miller. Of California, and
was the scene Of his daughters debut
and much subsequent entertaining. Every
year the MilIers gave a fancy dress bali,
TO which all The social world was bid
den, and at which the women, but not
the men. were allowed to go masked, su
that there were none of the offenses
against good breeding that have in later
years taken place at the homes Of some
OF those who gave receptions of this
character. Miss Miller who is now Mrs.
Richardson Clover. has an interesting
collection Of photographs Of all heE
guests at these festivals. covering many
years which she has arranged for the
entertainment and amusement Of society
This furnishes very good key 10 the
society Of that period. which included
the administrations Of President Arthur
and President Cleveland
side of Washington regard life here as
sort OF butterfly existence, and tha;
those who participated IN 1t are without
any knowledge Of the realities Of life; q
theory gained from reading the social
columns of the newspapers. Perhaps il
does not matter that few Of the visitors
at the Capital fail to realize that be
meath the froth and foam of life hers
there is a strenuous work and a bed
rock of intellectual doing There are here
TO be sure, the bellies and beaUX OF frivOl'
ity that have marked every epoch in his
tory. but there is also earnest intellectual
life, which gives a tone and atmosphere
to the life OF the whole country. Take
for instance. the circle connected will
the Smithsonian and Museum; there is No
frvoler among that great coterie. al
though all of them. without exception
dissipate in what We call society-bu'
t!'ere is little playtime at the capital.
To outsiders life may look very gay
but it is earnest work to those who par
picipate in it. Indeed, it is wonderful
Jhat a man receiving less than his hous,
rent would be ordinarily should give $,
much of his strength. time. and wisdom
20 settling national affairs His pay /.
mostly in glory and reputation TAX,
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, for instance. he mar
ried daughter of the late Zach Chan
dler, Of Michigan. At the time of his mar
riage he was a member of Congress. ant
fairly well 10 do His union with Mis-.
Chandler put him in control Of millions
and he has been regarded as one Of Tn,
plutocrajs Of the Senate ever since hi.
entrance there, yet he gives all of hi:
time TO the consideration Of nationa
questions and is the leading power o.
the Senate. Indeed a comparatively new
Senator said the other day that he re
garded Mr.. Hale as tae most intellectual
force that had ever graced the Senate
and he believed that history would Civ,
him a place equal To that of Webster
Morton, and Blaine
Apropos Of this exalted position. tai,
of Mr.. Hales early days may prov,
amusing. He was IA great wag and wi
as a boy. and rather bumptious and con
ceited, and ON one occasion. with a few
other passengers, among whom were Sena
tor and Mrs. Frye. Mr. Hale found him
self in a stage coach running on a certain
route in the backwoods of Maine Mex
TO Mr.. Hale WAS q large. fat Irish woman
wearing an enormous hoop skirt, a
whom, for the amusement OF the othe
passengers, Mr.. Hale had been castin.
sly and amorous glances and secretly
pretending 10 encircle her voluminou
waist with his arm. which Biddy did no
seem TO notice, though once or twice sh,
gave her shoulders shrug and settled
away from her pretended admrer
Finally, at one of the stations, the doOl
opened and a voice said:
rs there any room inside2"
No said Mr.. Hale, turning to tn,
Irish lady with the big hoop. with mocI
tenderness: There is no room here, {.
there. my dear?"
No said she, speaking loudly anC
distinctly enough for all to hear; my
hoops are pretty large. and l see you fee
pretty large, and there is no room here.
Great merriment. Of course. followed
this sally.