The evening times., 1911-08-24
MRS. OSCAR UNDERWOOD
REAL HELP TO HUSBAND

thing of France was concerned
registered a VOW that when once
had read that paper 1 was forever
done with women's clubs. have
never felt the smallest inclination to
join one since"
Never had q Hobby.
Mrs. Underwood says that she has
never been able to make any one Of
her tastes and inclinations harden
into a hobby, but her admirers say
that her devotion to her husband
amounts to hobby, and they also
say that her interest in and compre-
hension Of politics is for a woman
positively awe-inspiring.
Politics and all concerned with it
has the same attraction for Mrs. Un-
derwood that the prospect of a new
hat has for the rest of her sex. She
loves it and admits the affection.
From my earliest girlhood had the
craze" she says. my unconquerable
zeal for public affairs is taste that
have not always the moral courage
to avow. This may be. because we
are so conservative down south, and
men and women rarely accept wo-
man in good faith when she confesses
that the consuming interest of her
life is national politics. She is as
sumed to be either silly or affected,
and no one credits her with really
comprehending national issues. In
my case have found that the fact
that have always had mans love
Of everything political has helped me
to understand my husbands work and
to follow it with intelligence, and
that this has added to our happiness.
Even the tariff, to most persons dry
and tedious subject, is Of absorbing
interest to me-"
Old.Fashioned View of Life.
Despits this enthusiasm for public
affairs, Mrs. Underwood has views of
family life which might seem to many
women of the present day old fash
ioned. She shows noticeable lack
OF enthusiasm when careers" for
Nine. Schumann-Heink more than any
other woman now before the public
because the diva has children as we'll
as genius.
Mrs. Underwood is much loved in
Washington, and her gift Of sympathy
is perhaps her greatest charm. She
"just loves people," and declares that
it docs her good" Just to look at a
crowd. ITO me there is something
inspiring about throng," she says
because in it are represented &C
many joys and heartaches. SO many
ambitions and so many disappoint.
ments. After all. what can compare
in interest to people, just people;
ests compared to the great heart ol
humanity"
Well Read and Sings.
1t may be mentioned that Mrs I'm
derwood is uncommonly we'll read
Psychology and philosophy are hel
favorite subjects, but she also has {
wholesome feminine fondness for {
good novel. She is widely Travelled
and has peculiar culture that /,
characteristic of the cosmopolite com
bined with the traditional charm O
the southern woman. There is :
frank, open-hearted friendlines
timid people to sidle closer to her q
receptions and thaws the reserve o
persons who are commonly reputed t
be glacial.
One Of Mrs. Underwood's pleasan
accomplishments is her singing. Sh
possesses a mezSo-soprano voice q
unusual range and sweetness. whic
has been cultivated with care. Oh
has continued the study of must
every winter in Washington. Mr.,
Underwood IL Of medium height an
dresses smArtly. She 10 attractiv
without pretensions to beauty Of th
classical kind.
Mr.. and Mrs. Underwood receiy
far more social invitations than fa
to the lot Of the average poiitici
family In Washington. They o.
splendid hosts and equally pleasa1
guests. Both are fond of the theatA
but care comparatively little for atl
letics.
Mrs. Underwood has spent most z
her life IN Alabama. but claims We
| Virginia - her native state. She VI
married seven years ago.