Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

chanted with the new White House and
with the reception to which President
and Mrs. TAFT sraciously asked the GOV
ernorS and their wives. | have followed
Washington in all it's changes from afar.
but things seen are mightler than Things
heard or read. | realize in the amenities
which l attended during my visit how
great the nation has grown and how the
American capital is now among the Gull
tured cities of the world, and its hos
FATALITIES to be counted with those or
the more ancient civilizations. l cannot
conceive anything more representative
than the White House receptions as they
are conducted by my illustrious fellow
citizens of the great state of Ohio, Pres
ident and Mrs Taft
The dignity yet the cordial intercourse,
the sweeping away of barriers, yet the
sense of the presence of the mighty ones
of the country, the utter absence OF
formal restrictions. yet the feeling which
impels the well bred not to obtrude too
obviously on the natural reserve when
hedges rulers. then the good fellowship
involved in the serving of refreshments
and in dancing all make up one of the
most delightful pictures which my mem
DRY can contain | was prepared for
MANY changes but the evolution from
the formal impersonal aspect, which the
official leveeS of fifteen years ago to the
sociable function of today, seemed impoS-
sible. l say this with the utmost loyalty
TO those who planned the amenities dur
gracious figure of Mrs. Cleveland must,
of course come before the mind, for
she is so indelibly associated with all
my ideas of hospitality at the White
House.
I'm my era almost all the interest of
living at the capital was contained in
meeting the representative men OF
ha
feminine half yield that nothing can
be more fascinating that to meet the
people who are on the top of the wave.
50 to speak, and those who are accom-
plishing results in national history. But
the delightful diversity which marks life
in Washington now is striking. Not only
the mighty men of the nation, but many
of those OF other nations are among the
throng whom one may get to know "a
milarly. Then the men who after
gaining wealth or fame desire rest from
their labors who make Washington their
home is now, l find. quite large. In
a word, the loyal American need not de-
sire to go to London Paris after he
dies. He may find ample material in the
capital of his country.
In my present home. Columbus, our
existence Is in miniature what it is in
the greater capital. Notwithstanding the
criticism of our British sisters, American
and are d power in them, though l
acknowledge in different way from
which the British are at present celebrat-
ed | belong to the old-fashioned school
who adhere to the principle that the men
can manage public affairs and that wom-
en- are infinitely useful in the ancient
avocations of housekeeping and rearing
their children. To every rule one may
bring the shining exception. but in my
experience | note that the most success
full men not only in public life but in
private enterprises are those with help
full wives and with happy homes. l have
always observed that a woman can ac-
complish excellent results for her hus-
bands ambitions by graciousness and
tact in the social relations and I de-
plore the decline of the social virtues in
favor of more masculine qualities. There
are men, great men, who conquer all
difficulties in spite of all obstacles, but
the average man needs the support which
comes from happy home environments.
\ woman find intellectual pleasure
and reward in studying politics from their
social end, and in shaping her life ac-
cordingly. What has proven the pltfall
for one may aid the onlooker in avoid
ing
Il may exasserate the intuition of the