The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

Women who aspire to have their
husbands become presidents Of the
United States or vice presidents or
members of the presidents cabinet
would do well to consider the social
responsibilities which would fall to
them as well as to prepare themselves
to give up their husbands to the pub
lie service. The life of these women
in Washington largely is public in it.
self. There are heavy demands on
their time for social duties which
are to many distasteful. Nevertheless
these duties cannot be thrust aside un-
less by serious illness. One winters
social campaign in Washington has
wrecked more than one woman's
nerves.
Mrs. Fairbanks Broke Down.
1t is no secret that Mrs. Charles W.
Fairbanks, wife of the former vice
president, broke down under the pres
sure of her social position. In addt-
ton to the various official social az
fairs which she was called upon to
perform because Of her husbands high
position in the government, the Fair
banks family continued in Washington
| the custom begun at their home In In
ianapolis-namely, that Of rarely sit
| ting down at their own table without
guests. At the same time Mrs. Fair
banks endured a constant social de-
mand by reason Of her own promt-
nence in connection with club and So
| cial affairs of women. AS a result she
was unable during a portion Of her
last winter in Washington to partdci-
pate In many of the social events.
Mrs. Taft Felt the Strain.
Still more recently Mrs. William b.
/ Taft. the wife of the president, passed
1 through a serious illness, which, while
i not due TO winters social campaign
| in the White House. is believed to be
| the consequence of the long strain she
| endured during her husbands cam
| paign for the presidency.
During all this time both the presi-
| dent and his wife were subject to
| much entertainment by their friends
and had to map out for themselves q
considerable change in their mode OF
| living. However, this change was not
| as great as would have been made By
\ others owing to the long public career
enjoyed by Mr.. Taft and his wife and
their experience in the social affairs OF
| washington, Manila and elsewhere.
Music In the Blue Room.
| One of the most marked changes
made in the state drawing rooms at
/ the White House since its occupancy
| by the president and Mrs. Taft is the
Introduction of baby grand piano In
the blue room, which has formerly
i been furnished In the most conven.
| tional way and without suggestion
| of daily habitatien Mrs. Taft has
much of her music on the stand ne9I
the piano and in the room in which
President and Mrs. Cleveland were
married passes many hours In practice
and entertaining her family and inti'
mate friends.
/ Secretary Meyers Quarters.
The big room at the navy depart
ment between the offices Of the secre
Il
for years has been reserved as sort
Of museum, has been pre-empted by
Secretary Meyer This Is as it should
/ be. The only thing in the way OF rel.
les in the room is the sword present
ed to John Paul Jones by the king Of
France. For years this room had been
neglected The furniture was SCARED
and battered, the leather chair and
sofa coverings hung to the floor In
/ chunks, and a coating of CRIME Gov.
cred one of the best samples of par
i Quetry flooring in the whole town.
Nowadays the room looks like DIFF
ferent place. The furniture is OF the
finest wood and upholstery. the walls
have been touched up, the floor hRs
been scraped and waxed until any
careless person can break his neck on
4 it without half trying, and altogetheE
II the whole place has different air
Anyhow. this big room will be Mr.
Meyers private Office in the future
He is the first secretary in many year,
who has had decent or adequate quar-
tiers.
Historic Race Course Gone.
The Brightwood race track is a thing
OF the past. The force of District EN-
ployees who are doing the work of ex
tending Sixteenth street have knocked
down the fences ON both sides Of tbs
historic old course and have crossed
the Brightwood plant. The street cut
| the track in two.
In the destruction of Brightwood on,
of the oldest and most famous RAGS
tracks In America has gone by tn
board Probably no other track on thil
continent has had more checkere(
career The stories told of happening
there in years long gone would I'LL !
volume. And some of these stories
would rival even the ones that gav'
the old Gutenberg track in New Jer
sey the renown it had throughout tn
world a few years ago.
Noted Horses on Track.
At one time or another some Of tn
/ ~