The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-18

queen? If you do, read this story OF
the exacting duties and terrible ex-
hausting life of one of the worlds
greatest social leaders and cast out
you envy. The author of this re-
markable article telling of the daily
routine of Mrs. Potter Palmer Of
Chicago was written by her former
secretary especially for this news
paper.-Editor Press.)
BY MISS MARY BRUSH.
Until Recently Social Secretary to
Mrs. Potter Palmer Of Chicago.
The common impression that
society queens life is one Of pleas
ure, leisure and luxury, unalloyed
with care and WEAKNESS, Is one of
the most erroneous ideas. l believe
that Mrs. Potter, Palmer, social
leader today in Chicago, tomorrow
in New York and maybe next week
In Paris or London, Is the hardest
worked woman in all the world.
From observation would say that
the social profession is one Of great
difficulties that increase in dimen-
sions with each succeeding triumph.
1t requires diplomacy and tact, tire
less nerves and a continual stream
of bright, original ideas. Every
achievement requires that the next
be little bit greater.
An idea of the requirements Of
the social profession-the duties Of
a social queen, if you please-can
be obtained by glance at this rec
ord of a typical day in the Castle
on the Drive
Monday morning Mrs. Palmer
arose at $50, her customary
hour. She was hurried to the
bath by her maid, massaged, man.
toured and dressed. She descend
ed from her boudoir to the dainty
breakfast room on the right of the
! big dining salon. Her breakfast
consisted Of one half a cup of black
coffee.
| At $3.50 Mrs. Palmer received
| three reporters and the agent for
an art magazine who wanted her
to float the enterprise. AS soon
as they were dismissed she was
hurried into a waiting motor car
by her maids and whirled away
on her regular morning visit to
her grandchildren. She never
neglected this. A few minutes
later she was paying off a few so
cial obligations by acting as host
ess at a morning musicale.
From there she was whisked to
Pow 1,,n xxyha Sh hi
was the guest of honor. Escap-
ing from this Immediately after
the serving of the white mint
cordial, she spent Is feverish,
frenzied minutes In the shopping
district. She superintendent the
making Of baby lambskin coat.
When the automobile returned to
the iron-grated entrance of the
castle its queen was 10 minutes be-
hind her schedule. Monday is
reception day. Maids rushed her
to her blue boudoir, snatched off
her chinchilla coat and toque, her
gray silk dress, and thrust her
again into the bath
Then for Is minutes this busy
society queen rested. She pleaded
for a minute or more on that bill
lowy couch. but the French maid
almost dragged her into the dress
ing room, where she put on the IA
nous Paquin black velvet gown.
Radiant with smiles and perfest-
ly composed, Mrs. Potter Palmer
descended the stairway in time to
greet the first of her arriving
guests. The reception lasted from
3 to 6.
Mrs. Palmer was to dine out,
Another attempt to rest-this
time In her blue crepe dressing
robe, with hair lossened-was in
terrupted by the entrance of a
girl Mrs. Palmer is helping in her
studies. The call was broken in
upon by the French maid, who
took Mrs. Palmer away reluctant
| ly In half an hour she reap
peared in dinner gown of gray
chiffon over yellow, and the dia-
monds and pearls that have be-
come noted.
After dinner and theater party
Mrs Palmer returned home. For
the first time in the day she was
mistress of the castle. Her schedule
complete. she ordered the maid to
bed and sat down to read and think
think OF social duties to come
And hers Is the last light out in
the great house.