The Washington herald., 1909-03-04
Farewells to All But Two
of the Circle.
MRS. TAFT IS NEW LEADER
Wei Qualified for New Position "a
FIRST Lady Of the Land, Which
Now Awaits Her Believes In q
High Standard of CuIture-Mrs.
sherman Is Very Popular.

eSSeS u TIE 0liclal clrcie-the gra-
cious presiding Lady OF the White
House. The beloved Mrs. Fairbanks, and
seven Of the nine mistresses OF the pres
ent Cabinet homes. The Capital wiz bid
them farewell regTetfuIly. for they al
hsve filed their high positions admirably,
and they viii leave behind them hosts q
friends
Mrs. Roosevelt has introduced many IN
novations which have added Infinitely 70
the social life Of the White House, and
brought about innumerable Improvements
in the historic old mansion for which sIl
Of her successors win have reason TO rise
Up and call her blessed
The popularity OF Mrs Fairbanks
Wednesday receptions often made them
suggestive OF the French salons OF the
Nine. de stael period. and had marked
effect IN restoring the Cabinet receptions
TO the public favor they enjoyed in earlier
ADMINISTRATIONS.
Mrs. Taft New Leader.
The Presidents Official family is the
determining factor OF the social pace OF
an administration, and as il Is entirely
within the volition OF the Presidents wife
10 make as much or as little OF her social
duties as she sees 1T. it Is often an IN
certain equation how much OF a factor
the rev mistress OF the White House
viii become II her past is any criterion.
there win be no such question concern
ing Mrs Taft She has qualified for the
high position which awaits her.
she learned 10 care more for books and
study than she did for society In the
superficial sense Of that term. As the
wife Of judge Of the Supreme Court
O. Ohio, and later that OF the Solicitor
General OF The United States. Mrs. Taft
won her first spurs IS a hostess in Official
circles When the judge, at his countrv-s :
call eft the bench and went ont 10 the
anttpodes 10 become governor general OF
the Philippines. she BY her cordial hos
piiality and intelligent helpful interest in
the work IN which he vas engaged. con
Tiou1ed materially 90 the success thar
was ultimately achieved by him. When
new honors came and AIr. Taft was made
war Secretary. Washington learned n
know Mrs Taft as an Intellectual. keen
ciesT-headed. tsctful woman. As sucb
she made herself a popuar Cabinet
hostess, and she vii carry the ssma
qualities in her administration AZ the
White House.
i II could De said that Mrs. Taft has
any hobby. II would be music for bar
devotion 10 it is wei known. and there
Is nothing from which she derives more
pleasure II her busy life OF reoan,
years however. music has been but one
OF ner many interests She believes n
-tish StdnQard OF culture for woman.
ana She holds herselS 70 her own sraD5-
ard. but she spares the f,rea - -,
toward the world : betterrnent- THROUGH
her friend. Mss Boardman. she Lreers 3
touch with the work OF the Res Cs-ovs
hhe IS also affiliated with the PubIio ~
pioyes Welfare Committee. and rnarv
CHARITIES nave had her help. In an tba+
pertains 70 the army she has a vital ints--
est ana sne and the Presi6ent-ejecr co7ln.
eI--Ong Inelr WarTnest friends soma OF fbs
oIllcers and their fsmilies-a fact which
Ass led 70 the general belief that fhA
amy ana navy VIII be more prominent
N the incoming administration thsn fflsv
nave tor 2 good many years past.
Ars- sherman yer~ Popular.
Mr- Sherman's long service n thu Eo-..
O Representatives has given both him
ana Mrs Sherman a wide acquaintsa.a in
washington, snI they are especially ~
ular among the families Of the r,s7,he.-s
o. that body Mrs. Sherman Is a very
IoVaole lady. bit so much has been SAID
IN TIE public print on that score that bs-
Vlher admirable qualities are ant n he
C'eliookeo- She is sweet and IovabIe- b1ye
oenealh Il she has tremendously big
VIII OF her own, especially Il the rnatte-
hsPpens 70 involve q question ~ yrba4
sne deems IS principle.
Her friends learned this long epo and
the wife Of a Cabinet minister learned n
more recently. They were discussing a
matter:
You viii do thus and 50, won't YOU
Mrs Sherman2 am going TO do n and
everybody VIII the minister's wife $50
DeIsuasively TO the future second LADY.
MIS- Shernan's expressive eyes bIaze5
for moment, but then after the moment
she said quietly, with decisive hnaHty:
NO, my dear Not II every other
woman In Washington does It. for I DO
net consider it right"
And yet Il was this same determined
little woman who. after the nomination
last June, wrote 10 the wife OF one OF
her husbands colleagues
I hate 70 think OF severing the -ela-
tionship we, the women Of the House.
have maintained toward each other. I
think Of you al often. and when Co
find no dif1ouity IN obeying the preeept.
in honor p7eferring one another for :
wish with al ny heart that every one Of
you could share the honors that VIII come
TO Us with tie Vice Presidency"
AFbiter OF Social Calendar.
Next TO the wife OF the President the
wife Of the Secretary Of State is tbs ar
bitter OF the Official social calendar at
Washington.
She stands next to the wife OF the Vice
President IN the receiving line a, the
White House functions. and Il is she who
comes In closer contact with the diplo-
matte corp than any other hostess Of
the Cabinet This gives her a prestige
not attained by the others and plsoss
more responsibility on her Usually wiling
shoulders.
Il IS most fortunate that under 4hs
Taft administration the duties OF this
exacting position VIII fan 10 the lot Of
woman OF Mrs PhHander c. Kaox's
experience and grace Of character. SIZE
ceme first into the Cabinet circle when
President Mckinley made 5fr. Knox his
Attorney General in 1861 They were
strangers IN Washington then. but t vas
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