Evening star., 1932-06-19

home. Mrs. Garner now has hand
some suite of Offices in the Capitol
Building, with a secretary and three
helpers, and she keeps right on as her
husbands secretary. despite the fact
that as the wife of the Speaker she
could take a good many social airs and
graceS unto herself.
Instead she has achieved good deal
of fame for her skill in cutting yards
and yards of social red tape.
Every one remembers, for instance,
with what dispatch Mrs. Garner settled
the famous LongWorth-Gan Squabble
When the mantle of Alice Longworth
as wife of the Speaker fell upon Mrs.
Garner every one wondered what the
new Speakers wife would do about the
matter of precedence.
What she did was Just plain nothing
Just Plain Folks.
We're plain people from Texas" she
said to some ore. What do We care
about precedence?'
But the Garners never had to fight
that through TO a finish. because they
seldom go out to formal affairs.
I'VE accept two invitations a year"
said Mrs. Garner. and that's all. One
of them is the Presidents dinner for
the Speaker; the other is the Congress
sional Club reception. Those are Off
cial, and we go to them. The rest of
the time we dine informally with our
friends, play few hands Of cards. or
take walk in the evening and often
end up at a movie. But we're up early
and We can't stay up late. too
When you ask Mrs Garner about
things like social precedence she has a
way Of looking at a loss for a moment.
as if she didn't know what on earth you
were talking about
To tell the truth. that Is exactly the
way she looked when l asked her what
she would do If she were in the White
House as the First Lady of the Land.
At first she looked perplexed, as il
she thought 1 must have got her mixed
with some one else. Then 1t seemed to
dawn on her that her husband had
been talked about as a presidential pos
sibility and she gave a little shrug
"Oh, that" she said, sort of impa-
tiently. That's the least of my wor-
ries. I don't even think about it
haven't time-too much to do.
What would I do if 1 were in the
White House9' she repeated as if I had
asked her what she would do il Sle
missed street car why. go right on
living. of course, just as We do now.
We wouldn't either Of us be any diff
ferent.
"Of course, naturally" she added.
"the demands of social custom must be
met. and I certainly believe in observ-
ing the usages custom has established.
Work More Important.
"You mustn't think despise social
customs because find this work more
important" she explained. Il would
like to do more socially. and I really
miss not seeing more of the women here.
1t is only that this work seems more
important.
When l was a young woman and
first came to Washington I made the
round of calls and teas as custom die
tated. But I haven't the time now.
And, besides. I've been here so long
that the younger women are supposed
to call on me"
Up at in the morning, the Carers
usually walk the mile from their hotel
to the Capitol. or at least to the foot Of
the hill, where they take car or taxi.
The handsome limousine and the chauf-
feur the Speaker of the House rates
from the Government they declined
with thanks.
besides, why waste $4,000 a year?"
Mrs. Garner seldom eats breakfast,
but she is up in time to sit down with
Mr.. Garner and sip a cup of black
coffee while he eats.
And do you know" she eonfided as
If she had made a kind of discovery,
II think he likes it,
why of course he likes it,"
thought to myself. Who wouldn't like
so loyal and sensible and cheerful
woman for a comrade and friend, as
we'll as wife," I didn't say that. be-
cause Mrs. Garner would probably have
looked disnAyed If I had gone senti-
mental.
I remembered what she had said
about having been brought up with
boys.
II don't think it is bad thing at
all for girl to be brought up with
boys" she explained. Il was so used
to boys that I was never boy-crazy To
me boys were just as common as dirt.
and I never did get excited about them"
Perhaps that is why, when young
John Garner came along, she knew bow
to build their romance on the solid
foundation of friendship and loyalty.
So if the Speaker of the House should
be the next President he will have
working partner in the White House
who will look after things with eff
cheney and dispatch. There will be
very few frills and no nonsense. But
things will be done with order and
decorum and common sense will reign.
(Copyright. 1892. by the North American