The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-04

an admirer of Americans, their ways,
manners and institutions.
While at Del Monte he met an Eng
lishman whose nephew formerly a ma
jor in the British army has been an
official in Persia for several years and
| has written one of the accurate Eng
lish books on that country. with the
people and language of which he is
thoroughly conversant. Mira Ali
Kuii is familiar with the name of Ma
ior Sykes and promised himself the
pleasure of reading his books and
those of Major sykes sister, who has
also written on Persia.
There viii be a few musical affairs
to Tighten the monotony of August, the
month that lags after the early sum-
mer days with peculiar dizziness. The
best things that have been spoken of
in musical way thus far are the two
concerts that Miss Grace Freeman Will
give before her departure for Europe.
One of these violin recitals, the pro-
gram and details of which are to be
announced later will take place in
town, and another will probably be
given in San Rafael
Has it occurred to the local critics of
the presidents wife that she has a So
eial secretary who is really responsible
for many of the acceptances and regrets
of the wife of the chief executive?
There is some gossip about her that
may enlighten those who have won
dered how the volume of correspond
ence received by the presidents wife
was disposed of to the eminent salts
faction of every one in general.
When Mrs. Roosevelt created the.
position of social secretary" for the
White House, during her husbands ad-
ministration, she set a precedent which
doubtless will be followed by all sue
ceeding wives OF presidents. Before the
Inauguration of President Taft Mrs.
Taft selected a young woman to be her
secretary, choosing for the position
Miss Alice Blech of the bureau of
American republics.
For two moDths Miss Blech has filed
difficult role most successfully and
has made herself a favorite, not only
at the White House, but in official cir
cles generally, by her efficiency, tact
and diplomacy. 1t is doubtful If she
ever occupies in the public eye the
place held by Miss Belle Hagner, who
was social secretary under Mrs Roose-
Welt. Although Miss Blech is social
secretary, her position is quite a bit
different from that of Miss Hagner.
The duties of Miss Blech, on the con-
trary, are almost entirely clerical She,
as Mrs. Taft's secretary and stenog-
rapher attends to the correspondence
which comes to the wife of the presi-
dent in great volume. and relieves her
of all routine work in replying to let
ters, preparing invitations, etc. Hun
dreds of letters come to the wife of the
president of the United States making
a great variety of requests. These the
secretary answers, frequently relieving
Mrs. Taft of the entire burden and ask
Ing her advice>about only the most i'm
portant. 1t would be manifestly impos-
sible for the wife of the president to
attend personally to correspondence of
this kind, which is constantly on the in
crease.
There has been some criticism in
Washington of Mrs. Taft because she
did not appoint an American girl to the
position of social secretary. Miss Blech
I is a German, born IN Dresden. She
lived abroad until four years ago. She
came to Washington and secured a
position in the bureau of American re-
publics, where her skill as stenog-
rapher and her ability as a linguist
made her a valuable assistant. She
speaks, French, German and Spanish
| fiuently. an accomplishment which
makes Her especially valuable to the
new mistress of the White House.
Tail, slender, quiet and reserved. Miss
Blech has a charming manner and de-
Ightful personality which have won
for her host of friends. She is we'll
known to Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs Will
liam S. Cowles. both of whom have
shown an interest in her. She has lived
much of her time on the continent and
at Alexandria, Egypt, and has the poise
and reserve of the travelled woman of
culture She does not appear in society
and lives quietly with her mother in an
uptown apartment.
Tho 0nfSsdar