The Washington times., 1913-11-17
MRS. mitchell JUST
HOME SUFFRAG|ST"
Wife of New York Mayor-EIect
Attractive and of Athletic
Turn of Mind.

NEW YORK, Nov. lit may be due
to the votes-for-women movement or
to the increasing desire for bizarre in
formation, or perhaps, more likely, 10
our ever-increasng curiosity. What
ever the cause, the fact remains that
the New York public wants to know
more and more about the men they
elect to public office, and the spotlight
Of publicity now turns even TO a mans
family. John Purroy Mitchell, in the
tremendous political upheaval that
brought about the complete defeat of
Tammany and left the Tigers hide dry
ing on the fence, was elected mayor of
Greater New York. and Immediately the
people want to know about Mrs. John
Purroy Mitchell
Well. she is suffragist. The curios-
ity seekers learned that right off the
reel. Mrs. Mitchell believes In woman
suffrage. She even believes in women
taking the stump to get the ballot-that
IS. other women. Mrs. Mitchell herself
will never take the stump, though she
believes in the principle as she puts
n
Is "Home Body"
II guess am a home body she said
L believe in women working for the
ballot. but 1 could never bring myself
to stump. / always expect to dust the
piano and do other things Ike that. l
believe in suffrage, though. I go on
record now as a suffragist. AS long as
mi rhn
frage Franchise Society, but L have
never been active for the cause. Nor
will my new position as wife of the
mayor affect my attitude, though, as
has been suggested, / might now be
valuable acquisition to the cause
am content to let more aggressive wom-
en- do the stumping.
Mrs John Purroy Mitchell is an ex-
ceedingly pleasing woman to look at,
but her face is more to be described as
attractive than beautiful Her charm
is of the kind that leaves its describer
cropping for words. She has great,
steady brown eyes, almost disconcert-
ing in their frank gaze, a wealth of
chestnut hair, always simply coifed,
and a face of an oval to charm the
artist Her mouth is ever willing to
while her complexion is seemingly coun
try-given, due to outdoor exercise and
athletics. Mrs. Mitchell is twenty-four
years old, eleven years her husbands
junior. and before her marriage in 1903
was Miss Olive Child OF New York
She is, as she herself admits, just a
home body. a womanly woman, with
cut any fads or fancies and advanced"
ideas. She is not even romantic.
No Romance In Wedding.
mo. oh no. there was no romance
Mr.. Mitchell at a dance while he was
commissioner of accounts. We were
married after being engaged eight
months: That is all there was to it"
Such sane. unvarnished view of
Cupid's work naturally suggested that
Mrs. Mitchell has a head for business
and politics and is her husbands ad-
wiser. But she dashed that idea quickly.
Naturally Mr. Mitchell tells me of
asks my advice and never volunteer
It His business is his affair, not mine
attend to the home She confidei
naively that she is very fond of dogs
and cats, but is not allowed to harbor
them in the fashionable Peter Stuyve-
SAINT apartments on Riverside where
the Mitchels live. The wife of the
mayor-elect is of an athletic turn. She
IL an expert swimmer. is fond of canoe
ing and plays tennis all summer. That's
Oil lliS ilISd lidDlG pubic mas D6en able
to learn of the new first LADY, and
She herself says, perhaps with 4 trace
OF regret. that IT is all there is to know
Characteristics of Mitchell.
AS for the new mayor, here are some
Of his chara cteristics:
John Purry Mitchell is thirty-four
years old and has been in politics all
his life. He was elected mayor of New
York by one OF the greatest pluralities
on record, 121, ,7O9. He dresses well but
without flashiness. He takes a drink
when he is thirsty and can nut down
a glass of Scotch and soda with relish.
He smokes cigars, good ones but does
not use tobacco in excess. He likes a
good dinner, and can order one without
looking at the bill-of-fare to see how
much il costs. He does not sport an
automobile, but rides in the subway to
and from his office. He is a flat dwell
Ter in winter. and in summer spends as
much time as he can in the country.
He does not make a practice OF swear
ing, but he can rip out some eXplctives
that would make pirate envious, when
occasion demands. He is handy with
his fists, on occasion. and quick on his
feet, and is a baseball fan. never
missing a game when business viii! al
low.
He goes to the theater. enjoys a good
play, laughs heartily at comedy. and
likes a good supper afterward. in con-
genial company. He SAYS Hello TO his
acquaintances, speaks TO anv one he
knows. is always approachable, and
calls friends by their first names. He
has tko weaknesses. He affect big loose
fitting overcoats and has a prediction
for big, soft felt hats. of the states
man" variety. He wears a silk hat
when ceremony demands. but is notice
ably awkward in its manipulation. He
hunts the Tiger in Manhattan during
the business part of the year, and
hunts big game in the Northern woods
On his vacations.