davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

confronts the present day wife ana
mother This, of course, means the cost
OF living, the problems paramount "heh-
ever women talk about a home NO"
nothing seems to me absorbing as
the proper of the home and the
conservation of ones resources whether
they be ample or whether one mas 10
ponder the expenditure OF every dollar.
IL have been led to consider the IN
creased cost OF living in the light of our
ourselves to blame through the shiftless
WAYS in which the home expenses are
managed
There is no denying that some of this
criticism is well founded. think that
the habit which American women have
acquired of ordering food through serN-
ants or over the phone has depleted the
family exchequer. For instance, rev
women ordering food over the phone
pause to ask the price, or stop TO CON
slider whether the price suggested rs thr
and according TO the market quotations.
Yet this makes the bills much larger
when the end of the month comes. Ihen
how few homekeepers examine the food
which comes into their kitchens. lhey
pay the highest price, but often they Se'
an in g rior quality, or at the best MIX
ture Of good and bad. ] think that no
occupation is more exalted for a woman
than "A personal supervision of her home.
To go to market or. at least, to order
necessities herself and then to examine
them on delivery and TO give Intelligent,
faithful supervision of every detail is a
mission worthy OF every woman be she
queen or peasant
II am deeply concerned in all that af-
fectS the welfare of women and in all
the movements which look to the inn
provement of present conditions. At pres
ent women in my home country vote on
the school question and they have proven
themselves worthy of higher responsible
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

Sharp Il must confess that [ have al
ways been devoted to the study OF botany,
and that to study the trees about my
home Is a joy which is indescribabe. We
have glorious forest trees, some or my
neiehbors have on their lawns the in
digenous forest trees, and they are mon
archs of the woods indeed one tree
the gingke so feathery and gra eful.
which is on our place is worth visit 10
northern Ohio Elyria is one of the most
picturesque cities In our country. The
Black river winds in and out and makes
elongated SIS and loops and VS., and near
~ all our back gardens end on the river
bank But they are high and well pro-
tected, and we do not dread floods and
such disasters. There are countless
bridges of the sandstone which is part of
our local wealth.
I'VE are always asked If Elyria is named
to honor the beautiful and most fascinat-
ing country of II yria which we have all
read about in our ancient history. Re
Gently this seems to have been de-
termined, though the idea prevailed for
wears that our beloved city was called
for one of our leading pioneers. Ely, who
had d wife named Maria, and the two
names were euphoniously combined. Mr..
Ely a direct descendant OF our founder,
recently denied this, and said that his
forefather had a sort OF Roosevelt1an way
of simplifed spelling. and wrote Elyria,
and likewise he called the county Lo-
rain after the famous country on the
Rhine, but he left off the e as useless.
I'VE are club women in Elyria, but we
can defy the most critical to point out a
township where love Of home fiourishes
more strongly. We believe in a simple
mode of life and we follow our bent.
tellectual development after home duties
are fulfilled. 1 have belonged for several
years to the Fortnightly Club, one Of the
oldest ana most highly revered organiza-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
William Graves SHARP Wife Of Congress From the 18th District Ohio

tons in northern Ohio. IT is IA study
club, of literature principally. and TO be
a member means that one is willing To
perform laborious research and critical
work and to be ready with several OrlSi-
nal papers in the course of the year. An
other club in which ! have always taken
great interest and to miss its winter
meetings means real privatton, IS the
'Kosy Club. which Is social as well as
literary organization composed OF gentle
men and their wives We really have de-
lishtfu times, the sort which on" re
members and always describes as the real
good old times.
Mrs. Sharp, who is the daughter of MT
and Mrs Henry Hale Clough was before
her marriage Miss Halle Hale CIouSh.
and was educated first in the schools oi
her home city and then took the courSc
at the college in Elmlra \. ]. hei
grandfather, Baxter Clough. was Plo-
neer of the county and her father Is
among the representative citizens me
family is a connection of that patheuC
patriot of the war of the revolution "a
than Hale, and the name Hale aiNas
figures in every generation w men vi,
Sharp's father Henry Hale Clough. was
married To his wife, then MARI aret bdl
ney. the ceremony was performed py the
father Of Postmaster General Hitchcoch,
d congregational minister, then IesiueH III
in Amherst, Lorain county. ONO. a ueep
and lasting friendship existed netWsei'
the CIough family and the Rev ana MIS-.
Hitchcock, and this continued long aitei
they had departed from Amherst, ohio'
To a mission in Massachusetts.
Miss Margaret Sharp. the Oldest or the
five children of Representative and MIS-
Sharp. is studying at a priNaie st,uUi.
ing the love of serious things which chaf-
acterizes both her parents The eldest
son George, IL at Central High School.
ana the three young children, William
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
wMyW

much at ease as though They bad their
knees under their own mahoGany. i'e-
spite the fact that water howed IKE
champagne" at his total-abstincnce ban
uuets Hayes made the reputation of he
ing the most lavish dinner host who up
to his time had occupied the WHIT"
HOUSE
The most notable dinners given at the
National Capital in antc-bcilum days
wcr. the two state bauuuots which Pres
ident Buchanan gave To las house Guest.
the Prince of Males. later King Edward
VII. in 1860 and the notable banquet
given Ia Lafayette during M"nr"" al
ministratiou The diplomatic corps WaS
hidden To one of the dinners given To
the prince and th" cabinet To TIA" other
The Lafayette dinner, which Wa follow
cd by grand hall. WAS attended by Two
former Presidents. Madison and Jefferson
The mcrriest dinner host who ever oc
cupied the White House was Andrew
Jackson. who at one Of his state dinners
astonished his guests by suddenly burst
ing into thc old refrain. Aud Lang
s;ync"
In spite of all that. has been uttered
about "Jeferspnian simplicity II il a
fact that tho father Of democracy"
caused considerable iuttcr by hringing
"a French chef to the White Nous. 81
his generous hosptalitg il has been writ
ten
state dinners were served al : O'Clock
in the afternoon. At them was supplied
ample port and madeira At the state
dinner i'm lsl2 the dessert was ice creams.
preserves. mararoons. fruits, nuts and
raiSinS. when, II having Reached candle
light time, the ladies loft the table.
Ills steward is quoted having said
that the daES provisions often cost
much as So one al his desserts served
at the White House was described by a
Congressman GUEST as like apple pie I'm
tho form Of half = musk melon, tho fiat
side down. top ,rcased deep. the color a
dark brown. Daniel Webster who had
dined with jefferson many times. wrote
of him: He has strong preference for
the wines ot the continent, Of which be
has many sorts Of excellent quality
Although the country s. father dispensed
hospitality on generous .,t.s. he oh
acted economy In detaii ono dag -
dinner. when his steward set an exquis
itely garniSted shad before hm, tho
first President asked the price
Three dollars, replied the steward.
Take il away. STR. Take il away eK-
claimed the general II shall never be
said that my table sets such an example
of luxury and eNtrava2ance
And the crestfallen steward carried It
out, to be eaten by the servants.
Copyright 1911, by John Elfreth wstknsJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

ties. As for bestowing the ballot on
women, | cannot say that beiieVe IN
such an innovation In all It's aspects.
Still | am strongly impressed by the
logic of the saying that women can
never prepare themselves for the paiiot
until they get il. Responsibility makes
a person conservative ! think that once
such a burden as d right to vote ON an
questions We're placed on women d.
once would they become worthy or II
least at once would they endeaVor TO
understand the solemn Importance ol
doing this duty well.
Take the majority of women, married
women, for instance. They permit their
may be included in the elastic word pol
itics They usually Eve unbounded fa'th
in the judgment and integrity or men
of their blood, and they easily place all
responsibility in their hands. But II they
had to vote themselves it would be a
different matter. They would discuss such
subjects compare the verdict at home
with the opinion OF outsiders In whom
they have confidence and with the In
quisitiveness for which the sex Is re-
nowned they would get at the very DOT
tom of facts | do not say that women
are more conscientious than men. but
certainly they are equally so, and by ma
ture and training are especially htted 10
solve the problems that pertain to the
home, to children and the schools.
"A phase Of the question involved In
votes for women in which / take a deep
interest, is that with the bestowal of the
ballot those women who perform the
work of men will get equal compensation.
It is q fact and l think no one can prove
the contrary, that the proportion OF wom-
en- teaching in the national schools or
private ones. in the elementary divisions
at least, is larger than that of men, and
the feminine teachers are on the whole
more finely grained, more Intellectual ana
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

Effee aud Baxter, are at tho Force
School Mrs. sharp viii remain in Wash
fnGton amir The session Of Congress closes
and H. prepared 10 Withstand the heat
and fatI-u" OF an unusually prolonged
season. AS "A member of the Congress
siGnal club she is chairman of the press
which has ia cnara. tiu. prep
aration OF a Year book y hicu VIII he
record OF the club and a part ot It's his
tory.
MrS. Sharp is AN earnest advocate of a
MORE simplItled mode of living and OF
clltivating the literary and intellectual
side OF lT" as aSSiiuaEaIE H- tue merely
social She delights ia the companion
snip ot Interesting people. and j. more de-
SlrOuS To know those VINO have added
something To the sum total oil know ledge
and usefulness than thp~" whose sole
accomplishment has been the aHcunula-
ton OF money. She viii entertain after
the season begins ia the u-lal naunel,
but her residence on 18TH street VIII draw
her into plea and active Htn- OF So
Getty IN which official. resident. dIplpmat-
fc and literary people are comming 81.
MIS- Sharp, though never literary worl-
an IN the strict sense. Is entirely sNmp4-
thet-c to everything which means culture,
and she will affiliate herself With num-
Der of local organizations wh-ch have in
teilectuallty as an objective point. She Is
Interested in the establish
ment Of u. \. II. chapter In Lp-
rain county, county which has been one
of the last IN the Buckeye state TO or
eanize division OF the great nat1olc
society. She is likewise in sympathy with
the state historical societies ana she
gives both moral and active support IL
the branch in her home city. Elyrla -
contemplating floating "A bond TO erect
a historical museum. This viii be great
which viii Toe used by al pa
triotic as well historical and literary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

special express cars. Place cards painted
by artists of note designated the seats OF
the guests, who ate off solid gold plates,
while an orchestra brought from New
York discoursed grand opera airs through
lattice screen covered with American
beauty roses.
At each plate was placed u jewelers.
box containing a watch. a ring, a brace
let. a gold purse scarfpin or watch
fob. When the last cordial had been
drank great, luminous tlower-balioon
above the table opened TO release a show
er of song birds. which now made the hall
vlbrate with their choral melody.
But no Washington establishment en-
joys a longer record for magnificent Hin
ners than that of Mrs. l.. Il. Letter,
widow of the Chicago merchant prince
and mother of the late Nicereine of India.
Her cuisine Is arranged upon the scale OF
a hotels, and her scullery is apart from
her house. The domestic force Of her
Washington mansion has been stated at
eighteen persons. including three in the
kitchen and three housemen besides her
chief butler. According to the backdoor
gossips. forty nine and half gallons OF
ice cream were served In the Letter man
sion during single function.
The most exclusive dinners served III
the Federal Capital are those of the
foreign ambassadors and ministers The
dining rooms OF these ENJOYS are always
picturesque, as they reproduce the native
styles of decoration of the countries rep
resented Thus that dignity for which
John Bull is world-famous Is depicted
I'm the appointments of the British am
bassy's dining room. The walls are I'M
papered but handsomely paneled with
molding Above the long serving table
is stretched an exquisite tapestry large
enough to carpet a room Of ordinary size.
Above each of the side tables IS quaint
tr.y while lpop the mantelpicCe, over
hung by a single picture, are but three
ornaments a clock and two roses
The most picturesque embassy dinner In
washington's recollection was that given
nv the Countess Cassini daughter OF the
former Russian ambassador. 1t proceed
ed costume ball, and each guest at the
table wore a different style of headdress
Of at least a century ago. The countess
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

woman? When women get the right to
vote this question will be an :wered and
this Injustice reformed. Now have
heard 1t said again and again in schC
that the directors have the salary to pay
a man and therefore they must get a
man They take one perhaps not we'll
euuipped nor fitted by nature and train
ing to be preceptor OF youth, ra her than
a woman who has every qualification AID
whose only handicap Is her sex.
I'm Ohio. and especially in my home.
the picturesque city of Elyria, We women
take our responsibilities seriously. We
know we shall get the vote some day-if
not this year next year or the year after.
So we are preparing for the work, when
it is given into our hands. There is u
political study club in which women study
the problems like an UNDERGRADUATE
probing for a promotion. We have
studied the political history of our coun-
try and we have studied contemporary
problems, and we have weighed men and
their motives. This club naturally is
tending toward becoming a genuine suf
fragiSt club, for it follows that when
politics is studied and the real truths of
our individual liberty are revealed through
a study of the const tuition women will
arise in a body and demand their rights )"
Mrs Sharp is among the younger
matrons in official society, and is most
attractive in personal characteristics as
well as In appearance. She Is native or
the pretty little city of Elyria. on the Black
river a stream of water which flows into
Lake Erie after many tortuous Windings
through Elyria and its vicinity. Her
home is one of the most charming in that
city of homes, and her one regret in
coming to Washington is that it means
long absences from her own hearth
stone. She takes unbounded pride in her
garden and in the flora of her vicinity
In saying that home furnishes an oc-
cupation and fad combined" said Mrs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

opatre ban4ueted Antony, and it is at the
capitals OF nations that dining attans its
chief import. In Washington ii is recog
nized a q governmental function, and
thus W. have annually the state dinners
at the White House. where the represen-
natives Of The people of the sovereign
states and 81 the foreign powers meet the
president more intimately than elsewhere.
President TAFT has extended this form
ri hospitality by the addition Of one more
state dinner for the season. which now
includes -four such state functions instead
o. three Heretofore the White House
schedule included separate banquets in
honor of the diplomatic corps. the SUI
Irome Court and the binet especially
favored congress men being scattered IN
among the guests of honor. but attending
no function at which they themselves
were honor guests
Mr. Taft, however. decided that the leg
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

dows and doorways. In this fairyland the
President and his royal guest sat down
at a great crescent-shaped table curving
about a great pyramid of rare plants
Tho ice cream was eaten from candy
sea shells upon which We're emblazoned
the American and German coats-of-arms,
and the punch was served in tiny boats,
each flying the flag of the kaser's yacht,
whose launching in this country was the
occasion of the princes visit.
President Mckinley also dined a royal
parsonage, since become "A king-Albert
OF Belgium-and although this banquet
had to he held in the corridor of the
White House because the state dining
room would not hold the seventy-two
guests the state apartments of the man
sion were converted into a fairyiand OF
vari-colored flowers and twinkling lights
Mckinley was generous provider at
these functions, and denied his guests
but one luxury-lobster, the odor Oh
which sickened him, and which he Wouid
not permit in the White House.
One Of the famous dinner hosts OF these
times was Sir Julian Pauncefote. then
British ambassador, who nearly every
Sunday evening during social seasons IN
vited the home and foreign officials to a
sumptuous repast De brought with MN
ia Washington n German woman, VINO
smoke also French and English. and VINO
besides serving him a. head COOK, uld his
marketing She and two other COOKS
,n.,le oven the candy and ornamental Ia
hle nieres used at his banquets. and MS
kitchen was equipped with every conNen
ianrc known to the highest culinary art
Including hundreds of molds for JciileS
ices and cuStardS. ~,
4 homo official who We'd with SIT Jui'ai
during the Mckinley days was the mt
lionaire Representative Hit of Illinois
whose son is now reported to be u rlNa
of the Duke Of the Ahruzzi for the ran
hand Of Miss Katherine Elkins.
The Hit dinners were served at many
tables, arranged i'm the drawing room ano
hallway, as well as the dining room
about twenty, sometimes, each seating slh
guests and each provided with separate
waiter.
The Sunday night dinner in Washington
was invented during the last CLEVELAND
administration by the Secretary of state
Mr.. Olney who in the Belamy Storel
mansion later leased-though never oc-
cupied-by Vice President Roosevelt. usec
TO delight the official and millionaire SET
of that day with the choicest luxuries Of
Washington's unsurpassed markets Tn
Ill these dinners were held by the las
democratic premier, the dress suit wa:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
Mrs..

asst spring she spent rev weeks d.
Congress HAL. bat the care or group
Of children ranging from six to ntteeh
and flye IN number rendered her pres
enc, in F-yri1 imperative and she re-
manned just long enough to -iscoVer no"
attractive f. in Washington may be.
This Year Representative and Mrs sharp
have established a home at l4li 10Th
street. a house well known in social an
mails a. the res .denCe OF the former
Governor Of Minnesota and Mrs. william
il Merriam and the scene OF many no.
tabl, gatherings. The five children are
here IN various schools, and official So
cicty rece YES a valuable recruit TO the
Increasing number of householders in the
legislative set.
Il think every one feels. some strong
tendency which predominateS all other
feelings" remarked Mrs. Sharp, and
for me home answers both for a fad
and AN occupation. When / decided TO
take my children from the schools which
they have attended since their baby hood
I also resolved 10 get temporary home
and settle down to the problem which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

never seen in Washington on Sabbath
evenings.
The most lavish dinner-giver of these
DAYS was Calvin Brice, the millionaire
democratic senator from Ohio, who
bought the historic mansion of w. w.
Corcoran. He gave about three dinner
parties r. week during each season. ana
paid Nordica. MeIba, Jean de Reszke'
Ysaye, the kneisel Quartet and olhcr
famous stars several thousands OF doliirS
apiece to sing to his after-dinner guests.
one of these dinners given in torroran
House is said to have cost him Sl-"p
which would have paid his senatorial sal
airy for two years and I'VE months. re
Duke of Neragua, descendant of thrlsto-
uher Columbus, was one of his dinner
guests. Sometimes, like Representative
Hit he seated his guests At small fableS
scattered all over the house.
one of the unique dinners of the second
Cleveland regime was that given to the
President by his Secretary of Agriculture.
J. Sterling Morton. the scope of whose
department was represented IN the laDIe
decorations and viands. notably the ices,
which in the form of garden vegetables.
were served from hay wagon made OF
spun sugar
The dinner host par excellence during
the Harrison regime was Vice President
Levi F. Morton. To the mansion which
he purchased Scott ttr"le-and 10
which he will return. by the way, TINS
winter-he added Il inagnifiCent new d n
ing room at "A cost of $4,000. lie brought
to Washington a corps OF about TWO
dozen servants During the most preten
tious of his official dinners the Marine
Band led by Sousa. played in the crcu-
lar room at the bottom of the tower
which forms one of the front corners of
the mansion II was published at the me
that his establishment consumed, with
other big items. fifty dozen eggs A week.
No one ever disputed William {. Whit
neys supremacy as dinner host during
the first CIev Gland regime. when lac WAS
the Secretary of the Navy. His menage
was the most costly one maintained hy
an official, and it is said that he would
spend as much as St2J for the terrapin
used at a single dinner. The premier of
that same cabinet, Thomas F. Bayard,
was another lover of the toothsome da
mondback which he used to prepare in
the White House chatting dish for Presi-
dent Cleveland
OF all the Presidents Arthur is said to
have been the most successful dinner
host and the only chief executive since
the DAYS of Andrew jackson who could
make his state banquet guests feel as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
BY MARGARET r. DOWNING

William
Graves 5 h arp,
member from the
fourteenth district
of Ohio. is serving
his second term in
6 o n grcss. Mrs.
Sharp may be con-
Sidered among the
newcome rs 10 Off
ciaI life. since she
has lived here only
at brief intervals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

NV ASHlNGIONS Ban
p" quets a Factor in His
tory Making-Taft Has In
troduced Innovations-Lav-
ish Dinner Hosts and Some
of Their Wondrous Repasts
Many Are Arabian Nights
Visions-Present Reigning
Kings Who Have Had Their
Knees Beneath Washington
Mahogany-Famous Dinner
Givers of Past Administra-
CONSIDERATIONS Sums Ex-
pended by Multi Millionaires.