The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
WIFE OF PROSPECTIVE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WILL
PROVE FORCEFUL, BRILLIANT FIGURE IN SOCIETY

When the Hon. Champ Clark, veteran
OF many hard-fought parliamentary bat
ties, enters upon his office as Speaker
of the House of representatives, the
political achievement of the man from
Missouri will bring into still greater
prominence one of the most individual
and unique women in the diverse per-
scnneI of femininity which contributes
to the spice and verve of life at the
Capital The prospective Speakers wife,
Mrs. Champ Clark. is by many consid-
cred a feminine counterpart of her hus-
band. Woman she is to her fingers
ends, but none the less Is she forceful
for all her distinctively feminine type
Gifted with a fine mind, she is as avid
for knowledge to-day as she was when,
as young girl. she was graduated from
the University of Missouri
All her life Mrs. Clark has been de-
veloping a brain which in many ways
warrants the designation masculine. She
has the mans grasp Of affairs, and with
the woman's tenderness and intuitive-
ness she has a droIl mental quirk which
endows her with the ability to see fun
at many angles. She knows human ma
ture like a book, yet knowing. it refuses
to cater to its weaknesses. fOutspoken
to a degree which many less keen IN
their convictions would consider danger
Gus. Mrs. Clark says pretty much what
she thinks and does pretty much what
she pleases, the sting being drawn from
these traits as generally expressed by
an inherent and unaffected. kindliness
and a friendliness that is not limited to
place or position, to a person or a cir
cumstance
Mrs. Clark is pre-eminently unafraid.
Armed with the best of intentions and
gifted with a giant fund of common
sense, Mrs. Clark approaches every turn
in life with poise and balance that
is not to be shaken by a jostle with the
hifebound conventions which beset the
pathway of the average resident of
Washington. The codes OF caste and the
rules of precedence which Washington
worships as a fetch Mrs. Clark usually
passes by with nonchalance that shows
she places personality above rank or
position.
As between a dull notable" and a
brilliant unknown, ten chances to one the
unknown would engage Mrs. Clark's at
teution and enlist her sympathies, though
her quick appreciation of another's feel
puzzled great one and send him on his
way unhurt. Notwithstanding her indie
pendence, Mrs. Clark is a fairly good
politician, her salvation coming in her
deadly earnestness when she takes a
stand and her ability to see many sides
to 4 question.
Not Bound by Rules.
Those who know her best declare that
when Mrs Clark comes into a discus |
sion she always develops fresh phases |
10 the question at hand. for her inability |
10 do anything SY rote or rule is one OF |
her chief characteristics, and at the same |
lime one of her greatest charms
Anything that tends to cripple or
hwart development she resents.
The fewer the rules the better for US
Ill. Rules are merely guide posts-they
Should indicate a course; not bound it
IN all sides. We are too prone to tie
ourselves up with rules and regulations
10Th men and women, but especially is
his true of women. Live by rule and
lares Mrs. Clark.
Take society, as the term Is usually
ndCrstood. In society men and women
usy themselves doing things they them
elves do not wish to do and nobody
ares to have them do Confront the
verage person with set of rules and he
iill fall to the measure and step to the
eat automatically; release him, and he
will be overtaken with what We call
own in Pike County, buck ague.'
I'VE let everybody do our social think
lg for US, and we are at loss without
mentor or a code of rules. 1 don't be-