The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
SOCIAL RULERS
 IN EARLY TIMES Recalled By Impending Change
 At White House SOME WHO MADE HISTORY Mrs. Alexander Hamilton Was One, Dolly Madison Another-How Peeyy o'NeiI Disrupted ccabinet.
 Later Social Leaders.
SOME WHO MADE HISTORY

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 The election of Mr. Taft in November
 will bring to the White House a new mis-
 tress, whose influence is more apt to be
 exerted strictly in the home circle than in
 the larger realm of politics. The success
 of MT. Bryan, on the other hand, would
 present a different situation with regard
 to the life of the President
 Mrs. Taft has, of course, always taken
 a profound interest in the public career
 of her husband. She has been ambitious for him, and it is understood, was one of those who persuaded him to forego a , position on the supreme court bench, which he could have had, in order to try for the presidency. Mrs. Taft, how 1 ever, has given chief interest to home af- l fairs, and has never attempted to wade ] deeply into tine uncertain waters of na- 1 tonal politics. She IS more or less con-
 versant with the larger subjects of legis- i laton and governmental adminlstrat
 but has never made any pretense of be-
 coming an authority on either. Mrs Bryan has been a tremendous help to her husband as public man. Some l time ago Bryan was accused of having l delivered a speech written by Mrs. Bryan. l He said: Mrs. Bryan did not write that speech, but she is qualified to write a 1 far better one" For many years the
 Nebraskan's large correspondence was l handled entirely by his wife She accom- 1 panied him on his trip around the world a couple of years since, and acted as his
 amanuensis. Bryan dictated to her all i the articles he wrote about his travels,
 which were long enough to form good
 sized volume.
 Women's Part In Politics. , Mrs. Bryan undoubtedly exerts a con
 siderable influence over MT Bryan, and l 1t is reasonable to suppose that if elected he would continue to seek her judgment in solving the problems that would con front him. From all accounts she is abundantly able to give competent ad vice. The records of old Washington tell many an interesting tale of the parts played by women in American politics
 From Martha Washingtons time down to the present women have figured more or less prominently In the ooing in high official circles at the capital.
 No matter who is elected. there will be no return to the ceremonial levees which were held in the Presidents home
 during the early days of the republic. The tendency is constantly growing to conduct White House life on democratic principles. A long step in this direction
 has been made under the Roosevelt ad-
 ministration, and will he continued whether Taft or Bryan is elected. The two candidates are simple in their habits
 of living, and neither possesses the money
 nor the inclination to make big social splurge.
 Splendors of Washington Court. Under Washington, first at New York and afterward at Philadelphia, which were in turn the capital, says a chroni- cler of the times. veritable republican
 court was instituted. He received every
 SdaU af xxrftb
 Mrs. Washington held levees every Fri
 day evening from s to 10 o'clock. Wash
 ington received in full dress-blacl vel
 vet brooches. silk stockings, silver knee and shoe buckles, black velvet coat, white
 or colored waistcoat of silk or satin, dress sword worn under the coat and carried a cockade hat in his hands. He
 did not shake hands, even with intimate friends. on these occasions.
 Mrs. Washington, dressed very richly,
 but more plainly than at her wedding in 1759, when she wore a white satin quilted petticoat, heavily corded white silk over
 dress, diamond buckles and head orna-
 ments. George was something of a dandy
 himself on that occasion. He wore a suit
 of blue cloth, the coat lined with red silk, silver trimmings, wastcoat of white satin,
 knee buckles of gold and his hair pow dered.
 Hamitons Brilliant Wife.
 At the republican court there shone some of the loveliest and most intelligent
 of women. In 17S4 that busy and enter prising genius Alexander Hamilton, had
 found time to woo, win and wed Eliza beth, daughter of Gen Philip Schuyler,
 and thus ally his rising fortunes to one
 of the wealthiest and most powerful fam flies of New York. This alliance was of marked advantage to him. She assisted him in his labors, counseled him in his 1~-. II 1nt. Clt.a
 was a beautiful, educated and accomp- lshed woman.
 Another cabinet lady of this period was
 the wife of Gen. Henry Knox, Secretary of War This happy couple seemed to fur nsh the good nature for the administra- tion He was a revolutionary hero and she a revolutionary heroine. They were enormously large, by far the largest couple at the court. General Knox was
 an able man. and Mrs Knox was an intel lgent, sensible woman of shrewd wit, and
 popular favorite. She was one of Mrs. Washingtons favorites as were Mrs.
 Hamilton and Mrs. Robert Morris.
 Bellies From New York. Mrs. Robert Morris was an elegant, accomplished, and rich woman. Robert Morris was the great financier Of the Revolution, and at this time was very wealthy and entertained with lavish hospitality. Later his fortune was swept from him by the failure of cer- tain ventures, He was cast into the debtors prison in 179S, and remained there until, in 1902, the national bank ruptcy law released him.
 Then there was Mrs. Rufus King, daughter of a New York merchant, a clear brunette and Mrs. John Jay (nec Lvingston), a very lively beauty, and q
 great favorite of Mrs. Lafayette Mrs. Izzard wife of the South Carolina sen ator, a famous beauty, and many more.
 The undisputed social queen of that period, however, was Mrs. William Bingham (nee Willing) of Philadelphia. When, at the age of 16, in 17S0, she married, John Jay wrote from Spain to congratulate MT. Bingham upon his
 nuptials with one of the most lovely of her sex. She went to Europe. and was presented at Paris and London, and by her beauty created furor. How Dolly Madison Got Husband. The next great queen was Dolly Madison, the bewitching Quakeress. She was a widow, young and beautiful. When she set her cap for Madison she got him. of course, to the great delight of Washington and his wife. for it oc- cured during Washingtons second term. current story is that once when Madison was going to Virginia l he left her some philosophical books to
 read Instead, she got Aaron Burr to read them, and write a critical letter | T