Evening star., 1917-03-05
SOCIAL SECRETARY
HAS NO S|NECURE
Aid to Mistress of the White
House Has Many I'm
portant Duties.
SHE MUST BE A DIPLOMAT

the place of secretary to the first lady
of the land. Social secretary at the
White House" 10 her ofhcial designa-
ton and her duties are all the words
imply. As we'll known in Washington
as the famous Miss Knollys is at Lon
don. Miss Edith Benham. the present
incumbent Of tho once. both in work
ing hours and In play hours. is close
ly associated with the mistress of the
White House.
That her position 10 one of serious
responsibility is evident to the most
todian Of many things besides the en-
Ragement book Of the Presidents wife.
She knows the aspirations of many
men and women OF society. To her ls
intrusted tho difficult task of reject
ing as well as the pleasant one Of ac-
ceptine courtesies proffered the wife
Of the President 1t Is her business
to know something of every one with
whom the Presidents family comes ~
contact. The social register, 1T goes
without saying. she has at her finger
tips.
Diplomacy Her Watchword.
But that is not enough. Her knowl-
edge must be much further reaching.
Diplomacy must be her watchword.
for while many must be turned away
empty handed, it is we'll that every
semblance of bitterness be extracted
from their disappointment. She serves
the wife of the chief of a democracy,
and while the dignifed traditions of the
White House must be upheld she must
yet lend the ear of attention in many
quarters.
So many gifts and graces are essen
tial to the successful performance of
the multitudinous duties that go with
government to its occupant seems
scarcely adequate.
The relationship of Miss Benham to
tho present mistress of tho White
House 10 said to be closer than has
existed between any of Mrs. Wilson'S
since Mrs. Roosevelt selected her for
mer Sunday school pupil as the first
occupant of the position.
While it may be true that no man is
hero to his valet certainly some
mistresses Of tho White House have
been heroines to their social secre-
tariee. Mrs. Roosevelts secretary was
her devoted admirer, and no less Is
true Of Miss Benham's attitude toward
Mrs. Wilson.
Miss Hagner Created Role.
Miss Isabella Hasner, now Mrs. Norman
James OF Baltimore. may be said to have
created the role of social secretary at the
White House, for there had been no one
regularly employed there to perform such
duties as Mrs. Roosevelt intrusted her
. few weeks after her arrival in Wash
ington from Oyster Bay to take her posi-
ton as mistress Of the White House. In
the fourteen years that intervened be-
fylyA hat 10 n fha tntr ,or,f <nf
Miss Benham to the same office, about
six weeks before the marriage of the
President to the present Mrs. Wilson. the
work had been pretty well systematized.
so far as work Of its kind can be.
Miss Benham begins her day at the
White House at 9 o'clock in the morning
one OF the White House automobiles fire.
quently being sent to her home to fetch
her, especially y the weather be inclement
While Mrs. Wilson has sometimes started
for the golf links with the President
before her arrival. usually a confer
ence with her opens the day for her
secretary. Tho mail il the first i'm
portant work OF the morning. and the
Of the White House is no small task.
It brings communications Of every de-
scription from far and near, from the
polite note OF an ambassadors wife re-
Questing an audience at which she may
present the wife Of a new secretary or
attache. or pay her own respects to the
chatelaine Of the White House, to the
request from some bazaar committee
half way across the continent soliciting
an autographed photograph or a pocket
handkerchief to attract patronage to
a forthcoming benefit.
All Are Answered Promptly.
All must be answered, and answered
propmtly. II the Ambassadors wife
hne
reply must be dispatched in the same
tongue. Mrs. Wilson's engagement
book must be kept up. She must be
reminded of the Invitations she has ac-
cepted. A list of those who have
called upon her must be kept. and in
due time many must be notified by
cards OF Mrs. Wilson's desire to re-
ceive them at the White House. for the
Presidents wife makes no calls. Invi-
tatton lists for parties at the White
House must be carefully prepared. and
dent and Mrs. Wilson on the few occa-
sions when they are to be guests in
Others houses must be approved. Many
details of White House entertainments
devolve upon the social secretary.
While she has the assistance of experts
from the State Department to confer
with as to the proper seating of guests.
she must be an authority on questions
of precedence.
In addition to all these duties which
go on behind the scenes. Mrs Wilson's
secretary is her able assistant when
she entertains. At her afternoons at
home Miss Benham. ensconced at the
prettily laid tea table in the embrasure
of one Of the deep windows in the red
room, pours tea. She is we'll up in the
small talk Of the moment, and as she
paves a White House teacup with lemon
or sugar she accompanies the perform
ance with conversation light or serious.
according to the taste or inclination of
the man or woman she serves. While
she 10 much in demand socially. she has
always to be available should her pres
ence be requisitioned by Mrs. Wilson.
She II frequently among her guests in
her box at concerts and at charity balls.
Daughter Of an Admiral.
Miss Benham Is well equipped for the
various phases of her office. She is a
daughter Of the late Admiral z. K. Ben