A belle of the fifties; memoirs of MrsClay, of Alabama, covering social and political life in Washington and the South, 1853-66 . complacency were often as much a source of envyto his friends as of confusion to his enemies. I com-mented upon it to my husband on one occasion, wonderinginterrogatively at his composure, whereupon SenatorClay told me the following story: Some one as curious as I once asked the Secretaryhow he preserved his unvarying calmness. Well, heanswered, confidentially, Ill tell you. I have given mysecretary orders that whenever he sees an article eulo-gistic of me, praising
A belle of the fifties; memoirs of MrsClay, of Alabama, covering social and political life in Washington and the South, 1853-66 . complacency were often as much a source of envyto his friends as of confusion to his enemies. I com-mented upon it to my husband on one occasion, wonderinginterrogatively at his composure, whereupon SenatorClay told me the following story: Some one as curious as I once asked the Secretaryhow he preserved his unvarying calmness. Well, heanswered, confidentially, Ill tell you. I have given mysecretary orders that whenever he sees an article eulo-gistic of me, praising my astuteness, my far-seeingdiplomacy, my incomparable statesmanship, etc., heis to cut it out and place it conspicuously on my deskwhere I can see it first thing in the morning; everythingto the contrary he is to cut out and up and consign tothe waste-basket. By this means, hearing nothing butgood of myself, I have come naturally to regard myselfas a pretty good fellow ! Who wouldnt be serene undersuch circumstances? To add to his contentment thus philosophically as-sured, the Secretarys home surroundings were peculiarly. MRS. WILLIAM L. MARCYof New York THE CABINET CIRCLES 63 satisfactory to him. Mrs. Marcy was a demure andretiring woman, taking little part in the gayer happeningsof the city, but on Cabinet days her welcome was alwaysdiplomatically cordial and her full parlours gave evidenceof her personal popularity. A charming member of herfamily, Nellie, daughter of General R. B. Marcy, be-came the wife of General McClellan, whose son, namedfor that military hero, at this writing is Mayor ofAmericas metropolis. Between President and and Secretary and Mrs. Marcy a firm friendshipexisted. It was to the home of the Secretary thatPresident and Mrs. Pierce retired while the WhiteHouse was being rehabilitated for the occupancy of , who had just returned from his residenceabroad, where, as Mr. Pierces appointee, he served asMinister to the Court of St. Jame
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