The Hartford herald., 1910-11-16
WHY It WAS FIRST
WOMAN PRESIDENT
Missed the inauguration
Ceremonie...
uEATION At CRITICAL HOUR
Because the Very Necessary
Paraphernalia Was Not
Forthcoming.
TREASON IN COURT CIRCLES

newly enfranchised sex, had nomi-
mated women for President and Vice
President.
Miss Angelina Sinclair had been
elected. Her defeated rival, burying
partisan feelings in the rejoicings
over the choice of woman as Pres
ident, was to be at her side during
all the ceremonies. That is to say,
Miss Eulalia Conroy asserted that
she had buried all partisan and pri-
vate feelings. But General Erastus
Doncaster, Commander-in-chief of
the army and in charge of the in
augural ceremonies, expressed
doubt of the fair words of the fair
candidate.
"There1l be some trouble!" he
declaTe ed, darkiy.
What kind of trouble?" asked
those who clustered about the re-
doubtable warrior.
--~--. ,"What kind Great Scott. What
man is smart enough to predict the
kind of trouble a woman will raise,
and what man is fool enouGh to
doubt that she can raise plenty? l
rovo ccub'ed the city garrison"
Washington was full OF women.
In fact, there wasn't any room for
men. All accommodations had
been engaged long in advance by
the women.
Miss Angelina Sinclair foated into
her boudoir from the bath, redolent
of exquisite perfumes. Hanging
upon a frame was the most magnif-
icent dress ever fabricated in Amer
lea. The ten greatest dressmakers
in the country had met in daily con-
clave for two months, planning a
dress that should be the supreme
achievement of its kind. In its quiet
elegance, in its restrained richness,
in the dignified opulence of its col
ors, in the distinction of its cut and
certain proud sweep of its lines, it
was the greatest garment ever pro-
duced in this country. 1t was wor-
thy of the high Office of her who was
to wear it-worthy of the nation
whose greatness it typiHed.
Miss Sinclair decided to begin
dressing with the shoes. But there
were no shoes in the room except a
pair of villainous yellow tans. Then
she encountered a new shock. The
hat on the bed was not the magnlf-
icent one she had tried ON last night.
It was a fright of a hat! And the
belt that lay with the dress was not
the belt that had been there last
night. It was a fright of a belt!
Apprehension clutched her heart.
Heavens! The switches on the bu-
reau were not the dark-brown braids
she had but lately left there! And
there was no rat!
She rang for her maid. The maid
came, her check blanching as Miss
Sinclair pointed at the substitutions.
Treason! Treason!" cried the
President-elect. ."Quick, call up
some store, some hairdresser, the po-
lice, the Secret Service! Why, l
should have had barely time to
dress, even If things hadn't been
tampered with"
But the stores were all closed. No
bairdresser could be found. Cap
tain Durand, military aid to the new
President, came to apprise her that
1t was time to go to the inaugura-
tion.
"Oh, can't go in that haiti wall
ed Miss Sinclair. 81 won't go with
outaa rat! can't stand up there
with all those women of the opposi-
ton looking at those shoes! l just
won't go!"
Captain Durand reported to Cen
eral Doncaster the amazing news
that the President-elect refused to
serve. They sent for the Vice Pres
ident-elect She, too, was in state
of hysteria. She refused to come.
"The old President is out" said
Doncaster. There is no Cabinet, of
course, since there is no President.
The Speaker of the House must
aallfy."
A terrible shrek went up. "A
ma-an, a ma-an!" The whole multi
tude of women Joined In.
Miss Conroy sprang upon the plat
form. SISTER. will qualify. In
the craven desertion by these other
women, will leap into the breach.
n declare myself PRESIDENT"
At that moment, when the we'll
laid plans of Euladia Conroy seemed
about to be successful, the voice OF
a jealous associte in the conspiracy