Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Impending Inauguration of President-Elect Re-
wives Story of President Madison, Dating
Back to His Inauguration.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.
The PreSident-elact is the subject OF
reams of writing and viii continue to
be before and after his Inauguration
but nothing to compare with a para
graph about James Madison, fourth
President, will adorn a paper in these
changed times. March S, 1909 said
the National Intelligencer in connec-
ton with other items about the events
of the previous day, Mr.. Madison was
dressed in fun suit Of cloth Of Amert-
can manufacture and spun Of wool OF
merinoS raised in this country; his
Humphreys in Virginia and his waist
coat and small clothes from that OF
Chancellor Livingston of New York,
these clothes being personally presented
by these friends for his use on taking
The oath of Office" Nowadays. although
the reputation Of the press is to spare
no detail no matter of what intimate
nature, few descriptions of masculine
raiment ever get into print, and GER
tainly if Mr. Hoover had friends who
felt privileged to present him with
wearing APPAREL, they would die of hui
initiation if notice Of such gifts were
DUOllSTEQ. 6uL dltAROllSh ASolNVSAiN
Madison's appearance was 100 years
ago. described in such detail, not a
word appeared as to the festive gar
ments of his Sprightly lady, either at
the Capitol or at the ball. She Is
called winsorne in her bali gown and
smiable TO all, bat the advent OF the
feminine reporter who could oaScribi
such morse,s Of gossip as the costume
of the First Lady was more than half
century distant.
y X X y
Lord Birkenhead who, with his
family. has taken a villa in MADEIRA
and intends to remain in that sunny
languid island until he is fully rested,
has been making pertinent remarks
about the remuneration given puplc
men. not only in Great Britain and this
republic. but as a general rule. As
secretary of state for India in Mr.,
stanley Baldwin's cabinet his salary was
$500 annually. and little as cabinet
officials are paid in this land, a good
IS 1000 could be added to this stipend.
His lordship made a fair fortune with
his pen, In fact as a journalist and
newspaper publisher in his New BrenS-
wick days, he was known as "Gaiiop-
ing Smith" What he had laid by soon
dwindled with the vanishing prosperity
of all kinds of finances in English pre-
war DAYS, and in his position he was
not expected to make money on the
side, and by precedent he was deprived
of any opportunity to write other tnan
his official reports. Born FreoerlcK
Edwin Smith and entirely self-made, he
Is remembered as chancellor OF the
excheuuer in war times, after he had
been raised to the peerage. AS pEesl-
dent of what is called the billion dollar
combination of Imperial ChemiStrieS
Ltd. Lord Birkenhead receives a salary
Yariously estimated at for $250,00O TO
half a million. His son, Viscount Furn-
eaux. has accompanied his parents. He
has acted as his fathers confidential
secretary for several years and Will con-
tinue in this role.
y x x
The lamented President Mckinley,
during his long service in the House,
was said to have derived an unusual
amount of pleasure and comfort in lis
tening to the Marine Band concerts.
It was therefore quite in keeping with
his character that when he became
President he had bill in their behalf,
which long had languished in legisla-
tive pigeon holes, brought forth and
finally made 4aw. This bill was passed
In January, 1899, which was almost
century to the day of the appointment
of the first leader Of this famous musl-
cal organization of which Washing
tcnians are so Justly proud. This
leader was William Farr and through
the influence of Benjamin Stoddart,
FIRST Secretary Of the Navy, he received
the appointment 70 train some SO young
men who knew something about the
new tangled instruments which were
getting quite q vogue-clarnets, baS-
soons and French hornS-whereas all
music used In martial events thereto
fore had been made by fife and drum.
President Mckinley in signing the Dill
doubled the strength of the band and
authorized the pay and emolumentS OF
first lieutenant in the Army to be
given to the leader and that an as
eistant leader be appointed.
The retired leader of the band, Mr..
William H. Santelmann, was the first
to enjoy the privileges provided through
the influence of this appreciative Presi-
dent and the first assistant leader, Capt.
TAYLOR Bronson, now has stepped up
into first place. Capt. Bronson Is the
twentieth leader, counting from the first
In 1899, which makes 81 in 100 years,
not a terrific rate of advancement
The Mckinley bill of 1899 provided
White House leveeS and on other Of
fcial occasions--scarlet coats, white
pantaloons. black CATERS, high crowned
hat% without brin with brass eagles,
he hat band with red plush plume
and tassels Of scarlet and gold.
n 4 y X
President and Mrs. Coolidge, after
the generally accepted tradition, doubt
less VIII leave Washington on the late
afternoon or evening of March 4. But
there have been occasions when after
the induction of the new Chief EXecu-
tive the retiring head of the Nation
fingered at the familiar scene. Wood
row Wilson, very sick and feeble, after
performing the necessary hospitable
duties, went to his own home on s
street, where less than two years later
he was to pass away. President Rocse-
Welt, according to contemporary writers
found the transfer Of authority to VIII
liam Howard Taft a poignant affair
and. his necessary duties performed, he
departed almost secretly before the
new President made his triumphan,
ride back to the White House. In early
years oftener than not the inclcmencJ
of the weather kept outgoing Presidents
chained in the Capital when they
longed to get away. Thus it NAV b.
read in The Evening Star Of March 5
1857, that ex-President Franklin Pierre
did not wish to make the rigorous
journey to Concord, N. H. until tht
weather moderated and decided M
would meantime occupy the residenc:
of Hon william Marcy who had de-
parted for New York City.
X X X
Mrs. Ruth Pratt, the Representative
elect from New York City who will tax.
her seat when the President calls th'
Seventy-first Congress in exratordinar,
session, will without doubt be one o.
the champions of the budget system II