New-York tribune., 1909-03-07
MRS. TAFTpS SOCIAL AIDS.
Women Who WM Act as Cabinet
HOst9SSeS.
HOStPSSeS.
from The Tribune Bureau-1

and IN the social NOFlO dS III IilO bOiA'-o 49,
"court" circle undergoes radical changes.
In Mrs Taft's following will come an interest
| ing set of women. both IN and out OF the CAD
met" most of whom stand for some great ana
earnest purpose or aim in life in addition 10 theF
domestic careers. The Cabinet hostesses are
especially women Of great ability In thelr par
| ticuiar line and have devoted themselves 10
| achieving, and not merely to pleasant exist
| ence
| Nc Sherman wife of the President, and
Mrs Knox are perhaps the most domestic of any
| in Mrs Taft's train and both already her
/ fast friends. Mrs Sherman, with whom sne
must be most closely allied. is perhaps greater
stranger to her than is Mrs Knox. with Whon
she for several years was Cabinet hostesS
Mrs Sherman will. however. fall right into Inc
with the First Lady," and it can be counted on
| that at least the feminine portion of the IaIl-
Sherman alliance will be wholly without TIC
tion Mrs Sherman is sweet woman, who asks
| ones advice about thngS-she may use her own
Judgment afterward-and who appreciates and
| returns social favors.
| Mrs PhfIander Knox who will come next in
| line at the White House receptions. and VINO
stands close in Mrs Tafts affections, is prepar-
| ing to re-enter the charmed circle with renewed
and redoubled interest She and Mrs. Taft sat
| through all of Mrs. Roosevelts Tuesday morning
| cabinet meetings together when Mr.. Knox
was Attorney General, and both, living In b
! street, short distance apart, usually went 10
! and from the White House together. 1t Will 1all
! to Mrs Knox's lot to meet all of the foreign rep
resentatives in the diplomatic corps, and her
diplomatic breakfast on New Years morning Is
the crowning event of her social season. and her
series of midwinter dinner parties for the dlplo-
| mats will be distinctive
! The Knox home at Valley Forge serves as the
rendezvous of the entire Knox family in sum-
rner and an aII-the-year- ar-round home for their
son in-Iaw and only daughter. Mr.. and Mrs
James Tinde. There will be lesser circle
added to the official family through the Secre-
tary Of State and Mrs. Knox. in Mr.. and Mrs
TindIe. their elder son. Reed Knox. and his Wife,
and their two younger sons, Hugh Knox and
Philander Knox the latter a close chum OF
Charlie Taft.
Mrs Franklin Macveagh, who will occupy the
next highest place. is not at all unknown in
! Washington, having frequently visited Mr.. and
Mrs. Wayne MacVeagh in their home at NS
1719 Massachusetts avenue. She has met large
| numbers of people IN official society at the elab-
crate dinner parties given in honor of her hus-
band and herself when here and Mrs, MacVeagh
has figured behind the line IN the Blue Room
at a number Of White House entertainments.
Mrs. MacVeagh was before her marriage Miss
| Emily Eames. OF New England. and her
| bears the family name Eames MacVeagh- They
have charming summer home. KnoIIwood at
DuDiIn IL, ana II Is t1eTP Jndl Iley nave met
many people prominent in society here
Mrs Jacob McGavock Dickinson whose hus-
band is Secretary of War. is a of great
social experience, and has travelled well
the globe, She accompanied her husband to
China when he was of the commission to
settle the Boxer troubles. and she has mastered
several foreign languages. Mrs Dickinson is
gentle Southern woman. whose pleasant accent
| and soft speech have not been marred by her
wears Of absence from the Southland. In Mem
phis she was much esteemed socially. and she
will be welcomed here The Secretary Of War
and Mrs Dickinson frequently came here to
visit the late Norwegian Minister. Christian
Hauge. whose widow is related to them. and
they have also been the guests Of General and
Mrs John w. Foster.
| II is almost like returning home for Mrs.
George w. Wickershan. wife of the Attorney
General to come to Washington, for she has
spent many years Of her life here. The only
| really novel feature will be in figuring as the
wife Of Cabinet" officer. She will be identi-
fed with the judiciary and the most dignifed
branch of society She a schoolgirl here,
attending a fashionable school for young women,
numbering among its pupils daughters of rich
and prominent families. and she has ever since
kept in close touch with her friends, so that to-
dav she returns to the homes and hearts of
dozens Of families who cherish her.