Evening star., 1922-02-19
WOMEN
In the
Public Eye
Mrs. Frederick H. Cillett.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

The Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives possesses far-reaching
power and many. historic privileges,
yet so lacking is the office in the
trappings Of state that those from
the older world mingling in offi1' Al
society are filled with astonishment.
1t is certain that in the history OF
the nation seldom has a less preten-
tious person than the incumbent, MIR.
Gillett of Massachusetts, been elected tc
the high office nor a lady more unob-
trusive than his wife, who has presided
over the amenities.
The speaker OF the British house of
commons is n tremendous individual,
sitting apart from his fellows on a
high dais. and his wife seems to take
rank in power and prestige immedi
ately after royalty and the exalted
council of ministers and the lord chlef
justice. But precedence ana such sA :
fairs mean much more in London imam
they do in Washington. though 1t Is
within the memory of this generation
| when a speaker could make some en-
barrassing claims in the social way
The Speaker and Mrs. Gillett have
taken their places in the social life
of the capital quietly and with Dig
nifty of demeanor which lends i'm
pressiveness even to the simplicity OF
a republican court. 1t would take d
wide stretch of the Imagination to
see either of. them engaged in a strug-
gle about where they should sit and
what company should be selected
when they are guests of honor.
Possessing a comfortable fortune
and u wide social experience, Mrs
Gillett could readily overshadow the
memory of some predecessors as
third lady" but she has not changed
per procedure since she was rated
as the wife of the member from the
second district of the Bay state, or
previous to that. when she was the
wife of the late Representative Sher-
man Hoar in the same delegation
She performs every duty with pune
tiiiousness which betrays her New
England origin and conscience. and
she accepts all courtesy which must
according to prevailing etiquette be
paid her with dignity and a gracious
air of pleasure. One of the best
things which could be said of any
public official and his wife is said OF
them-that they are always punctual
in arriving at feteS and never become
so engroSsed in conversation as to
hold fellow guests who want to leave
The Speaker and Mrs. Gillett have
an interesting family circle, and then
home is a magnet for the younger set
dS =" eli iOI ilit inner con
tingent. Mrs. GillettS older daugh-
ter by her first marriage, who was
Miss Frances Hoar. is with her hus-
band, Reginald Foster, visiting Wash
ington, after wedding journey
which almost encircled the globe
Miss Louise Hoar has recently come
from Boston, where she was visiting
her fathers relatives, and will re
main in Washington for the fragment
of the social season. Eoth these
young women are renowned for their
marvellous interpretative dancing and
are much in demand at the balls and
after dinner dances which are Sc
popular this winter.
Mrs. Gillett was Miss Christine Rice
of Boston. a member of well estab-
lished family and connected with the
celebrities of the Bay state and along
the north shore. She married first
Sherman. the eldest son of the late
Senator Hoar of Massachusetts,. and
about ten years after his death she
became the wife of Mr.. GiIlett, a vet.
eran bachelor of the, House and one
of a trio of bachelors who had become
famous hosts, the others being the
| late Justice Moody and Gen. Crozier
, These three friends maintained 4
| comfortable home. and their dinners
] were quite celebrated, especially dur.
| ing the administration of Roosevelt
who was the close personal friend OF
all three.