The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-29
TWICE A WEEK. 80 A YEAR

Mrs. Tillman is one Of the notable
women in Washington society who
does not crave the distinction Of being
a social leader. She is devoted to her
home and her children and finds the
greatest source of her happiness in the
life and work Of her distinguished
husband. Senator Tillman has his
! enemies. Neither they nor he make
any secret Of this and the cordiality
with which he is disliked by some
members of both houses in congress
is rarely concealed by either party to
the pact. A writer once said that
such a man as Tillman is the despair
Of analysis because he draws to him
self the deepest affection and the most
bitter hatred There is no medium
with him. His big heart is the joy of
those who are near and dear to him
and his sharp and vitriolic tongue
have been his undoing with many
statesmen and with some of his con-
stituency. An opponent once said OF
him to a faithful Tillman servant:
"Joe, I'm afraid lightning Will
strike your master some day"
And Joe replied:
"Naw, sub. Marse Tillman is
lightnin' hisself.' -
Of this same old servant, Joe, Sen
ator Tillman once said, in attempting
to analyze the strong affection he felt
for him:
! "I don't know whether Joe be-
longs to me or I belong 70 joe
It is these traits throwing side
light on the character Of the senator
from South Carolina which have en-
deared his family to him. No social
obligation is sufficiently important to
take Mrs. Tillman away from his side
! in the evening or to leave vacant the
seat in the senate gallery which she
always occupies when her husband is
scheduled for a part in the debate.
She knows politics like book and is
a constant reader on all political and
economic subjects. The scope Of her
knowledge and understanding is al
most as great as that Of her husband
and not only does she continue her
study of these subjects, but it is her
actual enjoyment. One of the great
est bonds il the affection of men
bers of the Tillman family for eacn
other is their understanding Of the
great questions Of the day. Senator
Tillman is a man who cares absolute
ly nothing for society and any of its
functions would prove an insufferable
bore to him. He positively refuses to
take any part in the social program at
Washington and wherever his pleas
ure lies there also is the pleasure OF
his family. AS a result Of this, Mrs.
fTillman is to be found unfailingly IN
the smart apartment off Dupont Cir
Gle every evening throughout the ses-
sion Of congress, either reading to her
husband or discussing with him some OF
the political problems which are at
that time meeting with mis- attention
in the United States senate.
Interest in her husbands career,
however, is 'bv no means the only one
in Mrs. TilIman's life. She has gain
ed a reputation throughout her own
State and in many Others in the South
for her splendid success in raising as
paragus. Her asparagus beds cover
five acres on the Tillman farm in
Trenton, S. c.. and the family has not
only enjoyed its products but many of
their friends have been supplied with
the delicacy and showered praise on
its diligent sponsor. Mrs. Tillman is
so interested in this part of their fine
farm that when she is in Washington
she continues her instruction for its
care and reports are made regularly
to her of its progress. Mrs. Tillman
has one of the finest gardens in the
State of South Carolina. Indeed, sew
eral Of her South Carolina friends de-
clare it is quite the finest. Her chrys-
anthemums are said to rival those Of
Japan in the size and brilliancy of
their coloring and her roses are noteu
throughout the community.
| Mrs. Tillman is deeply devoted to
her grandchildren, those Of Benjamin
!Tillman, Jr., who is associated with
| his father in the latter's law practice.
The Youngsters spend much of the
winter time in Washington with the
senator's family and practically all Of
the summer at their grandparents
home in Trenton. The Ti4lmans have
another Sun and three daughters. The
oldest daughter, Miss Iona Tillman,