The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-29
LEADING LADIES
OF ENGLISH CITIES


light Of publicity. If the light that IL
fierce than that which beats upon a
throne, it is. nevertheless, sufficiently
searching The most retiring of worship
/ ful consorts cannot help filling a posi-
ton in the municipality that is both
marked and closely criticised
/ Some are born great, some achieve
/ greatness. and some have greatness
| thrust upon them, writes the poet. Sub
stltute ''importance" for greatness"
and most mayoresses would range them
selves in the last category. For, gener-
/ ally speaking. the first citizenesses are
not of that order of society women used
/ to a leading role or anxious for one.
Least Of all are they drawn from a class
4 that makes any bid for notoriety So
/ onerous, indeed, are the duties a year
| OF Office involves that IN the time elaps-
ing between the expression Of the cor
/ poration's evident wish and the date of ac-
! tual election ne is a wise future MAYOR
/ who makes point OF consulting his wife
or IN some cases, the sister. daughter
I or niece who would act the part-as 10
]
I Fortunately for the more diffident Of
/ her kind, November is for the ordinary
mayoress fraught with no pomp of en-
/ try. She may, OF course, send out invi-
/ tauons for a reception at an early date
( Usually, though. her first definite social
and Official action is 10 call unon the
wives Of all aldermen and town coun-
cIlors- This is a sufficiently trying start
/ on new career. for quite properly tho
constituent members of the cOrDoratfon
/ belong 20 widely differing worldly strata.
some will already be well known 10 her.
others count themselves in q more ex-
elusive set. there will be worthy matrons
/ III at ease in gilt and alabaster drawing
rooms. add few. perhaps, doing the
honors of best parlors, and with some
difficulty refraining from busting the
/ best chair. But. rich or poor. smart or
homciyl the mayOress. by her tact ana
happy touching OF their common inter
/ ests. must lay then the foundation Of
tweiyemonth OF good viii
Two sorts Of duties stand out con-
spicuously on mayOress' list. one
has relation 70 her position as municipal
hostess; the other Is concerned with the
assistance expected Of her in a widely
diversified philanthropic sphere.
Regarding the first obligation the cues
ton, What entertainments shall / give o.,
must necessarily be modified by the funds
at command In leading towns il is Gus
! tomary for a mayoral allowance 10 be
voted annually. A well-to-d0 place OF
say, @,o@ inhabitants may grant 600
pounds. Rarely in fact hardly ever. does
this cover these Inequalities. subscrip-
ions and divers expenses directly in
CURED through holding Office fairly
wealthy man Will as rule. expend as
much again from private income and vet
make no dazzling show.
one grand ball. possibly two-for ju-
veniles and adults, respectively-are. as
a rule, IN the mayoress' own especial
charge-not counting the school children's
treats and old peoples teas, which she
may have both 10 provide and nresida
over When one ball only is given iu
venile fancy dress function is usually the
favorite. II interests the parents, be-
sides pleasing the Young people. and
the subsequent series Of the nayoress' "at
homes in the council chamber AFFORDS a
convenient opportunity for entertaining
the elders.
AMI here. IL NAV be remarked. that
fOllONfnE
or precedent. the Individuality OF the
hostess has plenty Of SCOPE. on the husi
ness side, ii is true that she must see
that the contracts are fairly distributed
To local firms that she gets value for
her money. while preserving a character
Tor munlncencc- But she can ensure by
ineessant attention that refinement and
elegance distinguish the arrangements OF
the caterers and florists who seek 10
enhance their regulations as well as to
make profit through the brilliancy OF the
town ball
The unavoidable herterogeneity of r7u-
nicipal gatherings must always require
careful treatment a tactful woman.
however, overcomes the stiffness apt
consequently 10 mar a civic reception by
many thoughtful devices Such for in
stance. as the suDplementing OF the con-
ventional buffet by numerous small tea
tables where acquaintances can chat n
thew VIII, and the enrolment Of a band
Of her young lady friends TO give those
little attentions which a much occunied
hostess and hired lelp can scarcely pro-
vide
Among the possibilities OF the mayoral
social horizon. royal visits usually loom
large The past civic year. overshadowed
as the last several months have been
by national bereavement. has naturally
not been prolific in these. When
Ireigning sovereign or an exalted person
age closely connected with the crown
thus honors a city or borough the actual
reception partially devolves on the nav
Dress, as the representative towns
woman. Under such circumstances. it
Is prudent 10 be coached concerning mat
ters Of etiquette and department In the
case Of royal or serene highnesses. less
in state than as charitable patrons, the
IEayoress IS merely the first lady intro
duced, though those present will prob
ably look, to take their cue from her
as to the depth of curtsey. general ris-
ing on entrance. and the plotting of the
distinguished party round the hall
Philanthropically. a mayoress' duties
are Still more exacting Nearly every
committee OF a flower show. baby show
hazaar or What-nOt. expects her 20 open
Especially the bsZaars. These last
are certainly in the nature of an ordeal
10 any one who has perhaps ne er been
the central figure on a platform and
never uttered the briefest public speech
Il have much pleasure Ia declaring this
bazaar open" is the minimum speech,
but she who desires to be popular and
To help the object in view can scarcely
stop there. Some sentences OF sympa-
thy and congratulation must be prepared,
and then with dozens Of people ensues-
accompanied by purchases-the tactful
chat.
A prfze-giVing is the greatest strain on
the physical strength. which the con-
stant journeying hither and thither. re-
sponsibility, anxiety, and an enormously
increased correspondence considerably
taxes.
In some ways the yoke gets easier as