davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

Nevada. Mr. Newlands is a native of
Mississippi. who when a young lawyer
went to San Francisco and there became
a trustee of the estate of his father-in-
law, the late Senator Sharon of Nevada
He was an, ardent bimetalist in the days
of Bryan and "16 to l." He now occupies
the great country seat. Woodley, which
was the Washington country home Of
President Cleveland during the latters
last administration.
Should Mr.. Tillman decide to relinquish
the craftsmanship of naval affairs. it's re-
sponsibility. involving the steering
through the Senate of the great bills
carrying appropriations for our future
warships. will fall to John Walter Smith
of Maryland who owns wealthy lumber
interests not only in his own state but in
Virginia and North Carolina. He served
in the House of Representatives during
the last two years of the Mckinley re-
Sime. and until elected governor of his
state. He has been in the Senate less
than five years.
Should Mr. Bacon decline the chairman
ship of foreign relations to head the
committee on rules, or OH the judiciary,
William J. Stone of Missouri would
succeed unless it should be decid-
ed to waive seniority and dethrone Mr..
Simmons from the head of the finance
committee and push Mr.. Stone up into his
place. Senator Stone. a native of Ken
lucky, climbed to the Senate by such
rungs of the political ladder county
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

liam l.. Scott of Erie. she was most care
fully educated at home under specially
selected teachers. Her childhood and girl
hood were passed here.
- x
Though it is popular TO count Levi T.
Letter as the pioneer millionaire TO select
washington as winter home and to
e1ect a mansion which at the time sur
passed all other private dwellings here,
Yet before the coming of the Letters
many others who had felt the charm of
Washington while in official life had Sc
lected it as a permanent home. Among
these were the late Richard A. Townsend
of Philadelphia and his wife. who is the
elder of the two daughters left by that
picturesque and we'll beloved railroad
magnate still lovingly dubbed bill Scott
of Erie" When her father served in
the lower house with distinguished sue
cess Mrs. Townsend recognized how de-
sdrable city Washington could be and
what varied interests one could find. She
moved here shortly after her maria ge
and for long time the home in Lafay-
cite Square was a noted center of hospi-
tally. Some years later the splendid site
at Massachusetts avenue and 10Th street
was purchased from the estate of the
late Judge Hilyer and the famous Italian
villa was erected over the old Hilyer
mansion. IL is traditional that neither
a perfeStly new house. Several sad CO.
medicines of deaths resulting within a
year after fate had been tempted in this
way led Mrs. Townsend to build around
the substantial house erected some fifty
years ago by Judge Hilyer rather than to
demolish 1t entirely.
This Italian mansion of Mrs Townsend
may be counted as the beginning of the
era of beautiful and elegant homes now
so frequently seen off the Washington
boulevards. 1t was classed and may still
be reckoned among the finest homes not
only in Washington, but in this country.
Nearly three years We're consumed in
the building, and Mrs. Townsend is still
identifying and rearranging the interior
and the wonderful gardens and terraces.
No home in Washington is SO spacious
and none presents more delightful
homelike appearance. Though every de-
tail is. perfect there is no museum-like
effect such as one finds in nearly all
great houses. where the owners indulge
the craze for collecting after every nook
and corner has been filed. With the first
glimpse of the marble stairway winding
from the entrance hall to the very top OF
the mansion the impression of constant
occupancy prevails.
Every spot available is gay with flow.
ers, while the deep recesses OF the win
dows aud Of the winnings OF the stairs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

Townsend house. which is constantly at
their disposal. Mrs. Townsend is partial
to foreign travel. and she sometimes
spends year or two abroad With her
daughter in Washington for the win
tiers, she has told friends that she now
occupies her home regularly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerry We're among those
who were regular attendants last June
at the Baltimore convention. They mo-
tored over from Washington every morn
ing except on those occasions when the
sessions lasted all night Fortified with
luncheon and hot coffee, Mr.. and Mrs.
Gerry withstood the all-night sessions and
were most hospitable to nearby friends.
They had merry little parties about them
and seemed SO interested in proceedings
that neither fatigue nor the enervating
heat affected their spirits.
::
Mrs. Gerry is one of those happy be-
ings whose history is contained in that
phrase that all " no know her love her and
wish her well. The fairy godmother has
been very lavish with her gifts. Besides
her beauty and splendid Inheritance, she
possesses an amiable disposition and an
independence of character which is quite
refreshing. Her friends she has always
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
UnWorIdIy Girls.

MRS. AUGUST BELMONT has formed
4VA among the shOpgisls of New York
a society called the Spugs. a society for
the prevention of useless giving. which, 1t
is hoped. will put stop to much foolish
and harmful Christmas extravaganza.
Praising this really admirable society,"
Mrs Belmont said the other day:
Girls are too generous, too unworldly.
They need such a society as this. In
their fine. unworldly way they are all
too much like girl who sells notions
in a big Broadway shop.
The girl was engaged. Her chum
said to her one day:
Are you sure Georges thoughts are
all of your
"A proud and happy smile irradiated
the engaged girls face as she replied:
II know it. Why, he has lost two
good jobs in the last month for writing
me love letters during business hours. "
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
REPRESENTATIVE. BURNETT, Ala.

seniority as he does for the Craftsmanship
ofsthe important committee on interstate
cOmmerce-which handles railway legisla-
tion-and that on naval affairs. But as
Mr.. Tillman is now a semi-invalid it is
uncertain whether he will choose to ac-
cept the responsibility of plotting any of
the great supply bills through the
troubled waters of the upper house. II
he abdicates the craftsmanship of appro-
priations it's great power will fall to SEN
ator CulbersOn of Texas, who has lad a
long legal training. commenced under his
father who represented the Lone Star
state in Congress for twenty-five years.
The younger Culberson has been attorney
of his county, attorney general and gov
ernor of his state and democratic leader
on the floor of the Senate. of which he
has been a member for thirteen years If
he does not head the appropriations COM
mttee he will have the first hereditary
right to Craftsmanship of the public build
ings committee, which handles the pork
barrel after 1t reaches the Senate. And
his choice will include the craftsmanship
of the judiciary committee, if Mr.. Bacon
valves his right to that.
If Mr. Tillman refuses the committee on
interstate commerce, which frames all
railway legisla ton. that responsibility
will fall upon, the shoulders of Francis G.
Newlands. the millionaire senator from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

prOSecutOrship, three terms in the ma
tional House of Representatives, in the
days of Cleveland and Harrison, and the
governorship of his state. He has been
in the Senate ten years.
Should Mr.. Bacon throw aside the chair
manship of the powerful committee on
rules, which was the place of power that
gave Murray Crane his present title. from
the muck rakers. of general manager of
the Senate" that important place at the
throttle will fall to Lee s. Overman Of
North Carolina, who is now rounding up
his tenth year in the house of our elder
statesmen Senator Overman, after leav-
ing college, served for a while as a
schoolmaster. then as a private secretary
to two governors of North Carolina, and
next as a LAWYER Then he entered his
state legislature. where at the end Of ten
years he became speaker. He has also
served his term a railway president
and bank president.
Or should the next President pro tenn
pore choose not to become chairman of
the judiciary committee. Culberson of
Texas unless he succeeded to the appro-
priations Craftsmanship. would head that
committee. which considers the legal
phases and the conStitutionality OF laws
The place at the head Of the commerce
committee, which handles the great rivers
Virginia unless he chooses to take the
craftsmanship of the committee on the
District of Columbia. to which he is en-
titled. But for his untimely death, Isador
Rayner of Maryland. would probably
have headed the committee on edu-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

the national annals and his friends pre-
dict that as a lawmaker he will add new
laurels to the name. He comes in direct
line from the signer. Elbridge Gerry OF
Marblehead, Mass, a member of the
Continental Congress from 10 to 17sO.
a commissioner sent by the infant re-
public to France in 1850, Governor of
Massachusetts and Vice President of the
United States from 1913 to 1914. Elbridge
Thomas Gerry the distinguished lawyer
and philanthropist. Is his grandfather. In
Mrs. Gerry, formerly Miss Mathiide
Townsend, centers much interesting po-
litical history connected with dawn of
the railroad importance Of the lake coun-
try Of Pennsylvania. Ohio and Illinois.
through her srandfather's connection
with the Pennsylvania system and later
as member of Congress.
Mrs. Gerry is by universal consent a
rarely beautiful woman and at the time
OF her presentation to society she created
furore here and abroad. She Is OF that
blonde spirituelle type, slender, graceful
with pure gold hair and the deepest OF
azure eyes. An only child and eventual
co-heir with her cousin. Mrs. Ronalds of
New York. Of the vast estate left BY Will
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

suggest the cool woodlands Mrs. Town
send has purchased Discriminatory of
art and bric-a-brac and each article with
an accurate comprehension of it's environ
ment One of the conspicuous ornaments
in the vast hall is that lovely portrait of
Mrs. Gerry by Sargent. The eminent mas
ter saw Miss Townsend as she was then
at one of the court ceremonials in con-
nection with the wedding Of King Alfonso
of Spain to Princess Ena Of Battenberg
and requested permission to paint her. AS
he was constantly refusing to permit
Americans to sit for him. this cOmpli-
Townsend, whose devotion to her daugh-
ter is proverbial. Mr.. Sargent selected
the pose of nymph, and in the portrait
Mrs. Gerry, clad in pale blue, with a
veil flying cloudlfke behind, is glancing
behind. where a shadowy woods is family
outlined. after the manner of all the Sar-
gent backgrounds. The soft. almost an
gelic, expression is particularly pleasing.
1t was in this sumptuous home that
Mrs. Gerry grew to girlhood. 1t was here
she made her debut the same winter
which saw many maidens since nation
ally and internationally famous make
their bow to society. Among these may
be mentioned Miss Alice Roosevelt, now
Mrs. Nicholas LongwOrth; Miss Rather
inc Elkins. whose romance with a royal
duke caused such a sensation some three
years ago. and Miss Isabel May, a beauty
of the brunette type. Mrs. Townsend
also an epoch making fete. 1t was a din
ner dance to which nearly 200 guests
were invited More than 100 guests were
seated in bower Of flowers, while tiny
fountains and myriads of electric bulbs
transformed her drawing rooms and dane
ing hall into a scene Of glory never sur
passed in the capital Like all well dow
cred Americans, Miss Townsend was ru-
mored engaged first to one foreign celeb
rity and then another, but these reports
never had another foundation than that
several impecunious noblemen would glad
ly have bestowed their titles on a girl
who had the additional attraction of vast
prospective wealth. She never considered
these Overtures, and one Of her principal
charms is her sturdy American loyalty
and her firm resolve to wed in her own
country a man who would add to the his
tory Of his times.
~ I:
Her selection seemed ideal, and no we'd
ding in recent times stands out against
the background Of contemporary events as
this one. 1t occurred In the spring of
1906. and was attended by the President
and Mrs. Taft and by smore than 200
guests from official and resident society
as well as by many eminent guests from
out of town. The Townsend mansion was
glorious by day and night for three days
preceding the wedding Mrs. Townsend
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

follows the English tradition. and her
guests felt her soicitude from the mo-
ment they reached the city until the last
shower of rice proclaimed the departure
of the happy pair. Commodious though
the Townsend home is, it could not re-
ceive all the out-Of-tOwn friends hidden
to the feast. Many were installed in no.
tells. But the Townsend servants, in gala
attire, met all at the station, and their
rooms We're filled with flowers. They
merely slept in the hostelry. All their
moments We're happily disposed at the
Massachusetts avenue home.
Mr.. and Mrs Gerry spent their honey
moon on the small but picturesque estate
of Mr.. Gerry. not far from Providence.
1t is a spot which is specially dear to
him, and where he had frequently spent
months studying and deviSng plans for
his future and where he fished, hunted
and entertained relays of bachelor
friends. Naturally. he could not bring
his fiancee here until after the wedding,
ana mere they spent delightful fort
night riding, hunting and taking long
strolls through the wonderful wood which
covers the estate. introduced to this
place under such ideal circumstances, it
Gerry also. and here they have eStab-
lished a permanent home. Mrs. Gerry,
though fond of society and athletics has
serious turn, and she has from first
acquaintance with her husband encour-
aged him to seek a useful career and to
enter politics. He established his citi-
Zenship in Rhode Island three years ago,
where he was already well and favoraby
known. This spring he entered the lists
for Congress and won with a good ma
jority. Had he been chosen for the high
est honor of the land his wife could not
feel more happy.
Mrs. Townsend naturally rejOices. be-
cause it will bring Mr.. and Mrs. Gerry
here for the best part of the year and
not for brief visits. such as they have
made since their marriage. They will
live in the Townsend home. and WASH
ington expects to realize the highest type
of political hostess in this highly gifted
young matron. Mr.. Gerry will not take
his seat until the extra session, IL there
be one. or next December failing that,
but they will spend part Of the winter
here and will be particularly active dur
ing the inauguration. Many friends from
Rhode Island and New York will be their
guests. and they will entertain both to
witness the pageant and at the ball. Last
winter Mr.. Gerry presented his wife with
a nome In New York city, and this has
been their place of residence when they
were not here or at the country estate
in Rhode Island. Both possess private
fortunes, and they already have three
distinct homes, besides the splendid
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
,SENgroR NARTlNNA.

and his successor will probably be called
on for counsel in regard to Great Britain's
protest against Panama canal tolls. II
MIR. Flood does not accept this chairman
ship. seniority would give it to John
Nance Garner of Cvalde Tex, whose
career before entering the House was
like Mr.. Floods. that of country lawyer
and state legislator.
The only other great committee which
will change its chairman is that on public
buildings and grounds, which handles the
annual pork barrel bill. out of which
each member seeks to get public build
ing for his constituents. The chairman
of this committee probably has more of
an opportunity to gain influence in re-
turn for favors than that of any other
except ways and means. The promotion
of Morris Sheppard of Texas to succeed
Joseph w. Bailey in the Senate will
leave John L. Burnett of Alabama in
line for the place. But to accept it Mr..
Burnett will have to give up his chair
manship of the less important immigra-
ton committee.
x x
Mr. Burnett had a picturesque strug-
gle in reaching leadership in the House.
His father having died during the civil
war when he was an infant of four, his
mother had to teach school to earn his
support until he was able to work.
school between crops. He also toiled for
awhile in the mines while working his
way into Vanderbilt University which
turned him out full-fiedged lawyer. Like
most southern members, he worked his
way through his state legislature before
coming to the House. He has been in
that body for thirteen years. If he de-
cides to retain his Craftsmanship of the
immigration committee Frank Clark of
Florida will be next in line to head the
committee on public buildings and
grounds.
Although it will hang on a very attentu-
ated thread, the democrats will now have
a majority of the Senate for the first
time in seventeen years. They will turn
out all of the long catalogue of republican
chairmen and republican officers of our
upper house and will be able to do what
the divided republicans have been unable
to do within the past year-elect a presi-
dent pro tempOre. an official who will
preside over them whenever Vice Presi-
dent Marshall is absent. The last presi-
dent pro tempore was William p Frye.
the little republican giant from Maine.
who died a year ago. The insurgents
who have since held a balance of power i'm
the Senate have refused to permit the
election of the republican caucus nominee
for this honor. Senator Gallinger of New
Hampshire, and the republicans have re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
Straight Irony.

WILLARD ID. STRAIGHT, the repre-
I" sentative in China OF a banking
house, was defending dollar diplomacy
at a dinner in New York.
There's too much accusation against
and too little investigation of dollar die
plomacy," he said. But i suppose L
must not complain about that. That is
all in harmony. you know. with the new
creed. the new demagogic creed. which
says:
The more a man is worth, the less
he is worth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
SENATOR CWBERSoN,T Tex

standing committees-thOse which frame
bills-greatest interest attaches to the Sc
lection of that senator who will succeed
to Senator Aldrich's former place and
Senator Penrose'S present place as chair
man of the committee On finance, th>
most important committee of the upper
house. which will frame the coming dem
ocratic tariff bills, upon which the an
ticipations Of the entire country are now
concentrated. This powerful berth would
have fallen to Senator Bailey OF Texas.
but his determination to resign from the
Senate leaves Senator Simmons Of North
Carolina next in line for the promotion.
This succession, however. seems destined
to embarrass the democratic party. for
Mr.. Simmons is probably the most pro-
nounced protection" democrat now in
Aldrich in all the critical stages of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff laws passage through
the Senate. Because of this attitude he
was bitterly, though futilely. fought for
reelection in his home state by Repre-
sentative Kitchin. one of the leading dem
ocratic members Of the ways and means
committee Of the House. He is regarded
as being out of sympathy in tariff mat
ters with the radical leaders Of his party
III both branches of Congress. 1t APP
pears certain that he will not be permit
ted to have the principal say in the prep
aration Of tariff legislation in the Senate
without bitter fight Talk of trying to
break the rule of seniority and of giving
the craftsmanship to Senator Stone of
Missouri. or Gore of Oklahoma the
next in line for the honor. Is rife in
but will probably prove
frultleSs. as such a revolutionary
action would result in reprisals and gem
eral confusion would result However.
this is an age in which precedents find
small respect among political leaders, and
no one can safely gamble on what will
happen.
Mr.. Simmons. whose first name is Furn-
fold, as was that of his father before
him. was born in the Tar Heel state
nearly ffty-nine years ago. After grad
uating at Trinity College he became a
lawyer and has since practiced at
Raleigh. Twenty-Five years ago he came
to the House of Representatives to serve
one term during the first administration
Of President Cleveland, who during his
second administration appointed Mr..
Simmons collector of internal revenue.
He has served in the Senate for eleven
years and Is now chairman of the COM
mittee on engrossed bills
For the Craftsmanship of the next most
important Senate committee that of ap-
Senator Tillman of South
Carolina ranks first in the order of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

fused to help elect the democratic nomi
nee. Senator Augustus Octavius Bacon OF
Bacon will again be his party's choice
and that he will now have enough votes
from his own party to elect him.
+
Falling heir to the magic Of the name
of that Roman emperor who was the
great Caesars nephew and successor, this
scholarly gentleman was born in the
parsonage of his reverend father. in
Bryan county. Georgia. seventy-three
years ago. After earning his sheepskin
at the University Of Georgia, he fought
for the Confederacy as adjutant and
blown away, he settled down at Macon to
the practice of law. Entering his state
legislature he became speaker of the
house.
vote of the nomination for governor Of
his state. which would have been equiv
alent to an election. For eighteen years
he has been member of the Senate.
where he has steadily mounted to the
leadership of his party. AS he Is now the
ranking democratic member of the COM
mittees on rules, foreign relations and the
judiciary he would have his choice of the
Craftsmanship of any Of these powerful
bodies Of senators.
Although he will be the titular head Of
his partys membership in the Senate.
there will be two members of that body
who will really have more responsibility
in shaping party destinies. One of these
probably Martin of Virginia-will
he the chairman of the. committee on
committees, which. subject to the party
caucus-or conference as they call it in
the Senate-makes all committee assign
ments. power lately borrowed from it by
the House committee on ways and means
The other of these great powers will be
the chairman of the steering committee.
which directs legislatiOn-says what bills
are to be considered and when Who this
power will be can only be conjectured.
These two committees will contain all
of the senior senator's of the democratic
side-Tillman of South Carolina, Culberson
of Texas. Simmons of North Carolina
Clarke of Arkansas. Newlands of Nevada,
Overman of North Carolina and Stone of
Missouri.
But the two senior senators at the head
of the democratic list are Bacon and Mar
tin. who entered the Senate together
March 4. 1895. They can have their pick
of the places of power on the two great
committees named
In the reorganization Of the Senate