THE CABINET: Seigneur and Chatelaine

When Ailsa, that was Mellon, sailed for Rome in company with young U. S. Vice Consul Bruce (TIME, June 7), the ménage of the Secretary of the Treasury was left without an official mistress. Social Washington has been speculating as to where Mr. Mellon would find another chatelaine. Last week correspondent Robert Barry, who gets about much, disclosed a story which he had picked up among the guests at the Mellon wedding:

There is a certain wealthy widow residing in Washington who had conceived that Mr. Mellon might not inappropriately marry her. Recently she had a birthday and was greeted by a great box of American Beauty roses and a card bearing the name of A. W. Mellon. The rich widow promptly sat down and penned what, it was intimated, was a rather fulsome note to the Secretary of the Treasury.

The reply in toto was as follows:

“My Dear Madam: There must be some mistake. I sent you no flowers.

“Very truly yours,

“A. W. Mellon.”