Year: 1876

Writing from Washington, cor


respondent of the Detroit Free Press
says: Allusion was made but now


to those whom official position COM


pels to make labor Of what should


be pleasure, and in illustration


must give you some idea of what an
arduous business falls to the lot of
wife of member of the cabinet.
Every one, without limitation, is


privileged to call Oh these ladies on
their reception days, aud as custom


has made the returning of all these
calls obligatory, when three hundred


additions at least are made to their


visiting lists every Wednesday, the


labor involved in making proper ac-


acknowledgement is easily imagined.
From one thousand FIVE hundred to


two thousand five hundred names on


the visiting list is the ordinary num-


ber. Several years ago lovely lady,


since dead, who then occupied one


of these harrassing positions, gave


me some idea of her daily life, and


as her successors of the present Win
ter are no less taxed. | wlllrepeat her


words. 81 order my carriage" she


said. "for II O'Clock every day, no


matter what the weather may be,


and begin calling. Noon is a little


early to begin, but ] have no choice,
and continue on my rounds until
dark. On returning home l have no


tine to rest, but changing my visit
ing costume for an evening toilet, l
go to state dinner party and i'm
mediately on the conclusion of the
feast begin my round of gas-light
receptions and balls" SO many in
vitations are showered upon these
ladies that they are compelled to


keep book i'll which to register
their engagements, not daring to


trust the tultilllEeut of them to an
overtaxed memory. If any one is
amazed that ladies are willing to un-
dergo such fatigue, they must re-


member tina. unpopularity is the lot
OF those who are not rigorous in the
discharge of the duties long-estab-
iished usage has attached to the
places they hold IN society by virtue
of the official rank of their husbands.
And 1t is not matter concerning


which the wife of "Mr. Secretary
can afford to be independent, for the
unpopularity she provokes will in
ciude her husband-yes, and the po-
litical party he represents as well.
More than one of these victims to
society are martyrs to a principle.
and offer themselves up on the sacri-
ticial alter rather than make the
unpopular. The
mos: heroic Of those the Grant
administration has known is
the wife of the Secretary
of State, who fultills her every
social duty with cheerful courtesy
which is perpetual surprise even
to those who know her, State din
ners Monday, Tuesday and Wedues-
day OF last week, L crowded recep-
ton i'll the afternoon of the last
named day, and lunch for about a
dozen ladies on Thursday, were
few of her home engagements and
yet the ceaseless round of visiting
went on. Nor does Mrs. Fish EN-.
ploy honsekeeper, but superintends
all the details of her well-appointed
household. Nearly all our "leading
ladies'" as careless reporters are apt
to style them, are actively engaged
Ill some of the many charities city
the size of Washington is bound to
support. With such a diversity of
arduous duties how they find time
for even a portion of the rest exhaust
ed nature demands, is conundrum.
| for one give up promptly. That
they do fiud some moments for recu-
pcration is proved by the fact that
they do not die Or willingly resign.