The Washington herald., 1910-06-19


daughter of the Secretary Of Agriculture,
was absent the greater part Of the season
filing professional engagements. The
Postmaster General is unmarried. hence
the work expected OF Cabinet women fell
on the capable shoulders OF the wives OF
the Secretaries Of the Treasury, War,
Navy, Interior, and the Attorney Gem
eral.
Mrs. Macveagh. in the retirement OF
Mrs Knox was, of course, the ranking
woman OF the Cabinet. and no criticism
could be made Of her administration of
what is often a delicate and difficult
post: but then Mrs. MRcVeagh is one OF
the most accomplished hostesses, one Of
the most cultivated women IN the coun-
try to-day. but even this equipment.
without the tact which is an essential
to the success OF a woman in public life
would have awaited nothing. for society
at the Capital is widely different from
that In other large cities. and to be with
out tact is TO have an insurmountable
handicap.
MIS-. Dickinson only "csme back to
Washington when her husband accepted
the portfolio of War, for Secretary Dick
inson had been Assistant Attorney Gen
eral In President MeKinIeys administra-
ton, so that Mrs Dickinson had served
her social apprenticeship at the Capital
She took hold of her duties as a Cabinet
woman, therefore. with experienced
hands, and has made the home of the
Secretary Of War what IL should be, the
center OF the army set.
Had Social Experience.
Mrs Meyer had abundant social expert
ence at the Hub, before her husband
entered the diplomatic service. and as
ambassadress at the courts OF Russia
and Italy, but Washington Is different.
entirely different from every one OF these
eenters, and 1t does not follow that
woman who has gained popularity in
Boston, Rome, and 81, Petersburg VIII
find IT at the Capital. for there is no other
official position in any court Of any coun-
try exactly analogous TO that Of the wife
OF a Cabinet officer.
A long residence at q European court
is apt In truth TO make one Indifferent
to the exigencies of the people OF re-
public, and needless of the demands they
make upon their public servants. but this
was not so with Mrs. Meyer. II tho
democratic customs Of Washington were
unfamiliar and unpleasant to her, she
had the tact TO conceal 1t and to adjust
herself 10 her new environment, with
the result that she has constantly grown
in popularity.
Shortly after Mr.. Meyer accepted the
naval portfolio he leased the big house
In Scott circle which was built by Don
Cameron and which has. from the time
he first Installed his bride there been a
center of hospitality no matter who
tenanted it. The Meyers have kept up
the tradition of the place, and since the
inauguration Of President Taft, have
been constant and assiduous hosts. not
only to those in the service OF which
Secretary Meyer Is the head. but to so
ciety td general. and they have done
much 10 add TO the brilliancy OF the first
season Of the Taft administration.
1t is more than a quarter OF a century
since Mrs. Wickersham, who was born
Mildred Wendell. left Washington, but
her old friends and her new friends. too
for that matter, still delight in speaking
OF her as a Washington girl, for she is
such credit 20 the place where she grew
up. and Washington people Ike to feel
that her early environment had some
thing TO do with forming the splendid
woman OF to-day.
Like "COminK Home"
And 1t doubtless had. for we have the
word OF noted anthropOdists that environ
ment plays a great role IN the formation
OF types. and surely it is every ones
own experience. AT any rate, Mrs.
Wickersham had the amiability to say
that her return 70 Washington was like
coming home" and the readiness and
grace with which she fitted into her new
position and assumed her new duties
abuudauflv rlrov-ed her assertion
The first move OF the Wickershams
when they came TO the Capital was 10
establish themselves in a real home. and
they at once purchased a house in Six
teenth street, where they Installed their
household goods. and at Mrs. Wicker
shams first reception her guests were
ushered into an interior that made one
OF her delighted callers say, How l wish
I had been the artist to have arranged
these beautiful roomsl"
We have made wonderful strides in
house decoration since the centennial of
1876 taught us how indubitably ugly was
our machine turned black walnut, our
marble topped tables, our flaming red
plush, and the interior OF the Attorney
Generals home is one Of the best express
sions OF individual taste to be found
among all the beautiful interiors that
grace the Capital.
Comes Up to Expectations.
But this is not a panygeric on Mrs.
Wickersham's taste In home making or
her amiable personal qualities; IL only
aims 10 show the place she holds in the
social constellation. which 1t will read
lily be seen is a brilliant one. as It should
be, for one expects brilliancy In the home
OF the judicial member Of the Presidents
official family. an expectation established
by precedent for, from the time CT Ed
mund Randolph. who held this portfolio
in Washiagton's Cabinet, the Attorneys
General have. with few exceptions, been
possessed not only Of profound intel
lects, but OF nimbie wit and schooled in
repartee.
The Vice President and Mrs. Sherman
and the Speaker of the House and Miss
Cannon. are also reckoned as members
OF the Presidents official family, but
as both Miss Cannon and Mrs. Sherman
have already been discussed in these col
umns, IL remains only TO be said, there
fore, that they have borne their part. a
generous part, OF the official entertain
ing. The several embassies and legations,
members of the Senate and House. the
military contingent, and the wealthy
strangers within our gates have all con-
tributed in a greater or less measure to
make the first social season OF the Taft
administration a notable one. which, fifty
years hence, the bellies of to-day viii re-
call as one OF the most successful and