The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-30
THE FIRST THREE WOMEN IN OFFICIAL LIFE OF CAPITAL

Entirely unspoiled by official life. Mrs
Taft is the same simple. unaffected APP
proaehable woman that she was when
her husband was a struggling young law
yer and she the inspiration Of a large
musical and literary circle in Cincinnati
Those who meet her for the first time
are impressed by her deep knowledge OF
affairs and wide interests She is a cul-
tfvated conversationalist, fluent linguist
speaks several languages well. and has a
complete mastery Of Spanish. which she
learned when she lived in Manila when
she ambitiously tried TO master the native
dialects as well as the pure tongue.
II is pleasant 10 think OF the wife of
the President as able to converse with
her foreign guests in their own languages,
and few OF her predecessors possessed
this accomplishment. Mrs. Grant, for in
stance, knew no language but her own;
she was. however, a woman OF broad in
telligence and great common sense often
clever and adroit at repartee and quite
able TO give a Roland for every oliver
she received. A little snob attached 10
one of the legations once addressed Mrs.
Grant in French and when she explain
ed to him that she did not speak that
language said. rather impertinently, ''Oh
Madame your husband az the head OF
such a great nation and you do not speak
the diplomatic language Of the world. In
Europe II is imperative for a woman In
public life 10 speak several languages"
Yes" replied Mrs. Grant. in Europe.
which is divided up into many little
states, at war most Of the time, but in
America, while we are also divided into
many States. we have one aim. one pur-
pose, we all speak the same language;
no other is necessary, for we understand
each other. Would II not be we'll 10 IN
troduce a common language into Eu-
roper
Mrs SheFman's Duties.
The position OF Vice President is often
regarded as a sinecure. and less Is, per-
haps. required Of him in actual work than
any other high Official Of the government:
but the social side Of his Office is exact
ing. and his wife has as difficult a post
as any other woman in official life. She
must receive occasionally at the White
House: she must hold receptions Of her
own: she must entertain and be enter
tanned at official dinners, and she must
return hundreds of calls, and she must
do these things as though they were the
things in all the world that she likes
most TO do.
Mrs. Sherman, fortunately, has lived in
w. - aaah gfrna
her husband first came here as a young
member in 1857; long enough TO be count
ed a Washingtonian. If she could ever be
persuaded to give Up her allegiance 10
Utica, which would hardly be possible,
for her home with all its associations IS
the first place In the world 10 her, the
first md dearest, but Washington has sec
ond place in her regard, since she has
been happy here and has made a large
circle Of affectfonate friends; the word
affectionate is used advisedly. for one
cannot know well the sweet and gentle
wife Of the Vice President without feel
| ing an affection for her.
Mrs. Sherman is a tiny woman. extreme
| ly pretty with lovely gray eyes. and the
NDll- As4tAAbAA VI II hAAA NA-ANAA A1-~AAA- III
more radiant because Of the white hair
| that frames it. Her manners are pleas
ant and cordial, one Is impressed by her
| sincerity, and II she does not have real
| pleasure in greeting the hundreds Of peo-
pie who call on her during the season
she is wonderfully clever at hiding her
| feelings.
Every now and then the question is dis
cussed as 10 whether It Is incumbent on
| the women holding high official positions
who have thousands OF calls made upon
/ them in a season to return these visits
/ in person This is a question Mrs Sher-
man does not regard as debatable. Her
point of view Is that II people do her the
compliment TO call upon her she should
show her appreciation by returning the
call In person, and she does this promptly
and cordially and is immensely popular
| in consequence.
Occupy Large House.
Mrs. Sherman was Miss Cayrie Babcock.
/ Of East Orange. y. j.. and was married
to Mr.. Sherman in 1881 She has three
sons and two grandchildren. Her mother