Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
a Residence at the Federal City.-Within
the last five or six years considerable num-
Der Of families of means, taste and leisure
have come to this city or its vicinity to reside
There is sound philosophy and good taste in
this, and the wonder is tina. the federal me
tropolis did NOS become, quarter of a con-
tury ago, the retiring point of large number
Of persons who, having acquired means in
active business, desire to spend their time as
comfortably and agreeably as possible A
mistaken idea as to tho cost of living and the
comforts of life to be enjoyed in Washington
prevails extensively throughout the United
States, arising for the most part from the dis.
appointment of political spectators who com.
ing hither with extravsgant hopes and slen-
means, live " fast" while among us, and 20
away with empty purses and sick hearts, from
the failure of their personal expectations To
person OF means who exercises ordinary fore
thought in regulating his family expenses,
Washington is by no means as expensive a
city to reside in as either large city north of
US; because 1t is fashionable to expend far
less to keep up ones style here than at the
North. That's, unless ono makes up his mind
to obtain notoriety by lavish expenditures;
when living costs in Washington as much as
In New York. One thousand dollars per an.
mum will rent as comfortable dwelling as We
have in the city, while $500 is much as some
OF the very first public men (members of Con-
gress who keep house here,) pay for their
family residences among US.
The style of ones house or Of his living in
It, has nothing to do with his position in
washington society, which depends wholly on
his mind, manners and character. The man
with an income of 81, 200 per annum, If he is
person OF attachments, refinement and char.
actef, has as much difference paid to him in
the best society Of the Federal City, as the
millionaire Of similar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
more than the millionaire without them. The
reason for this anomaly in American soci.tv
Is plain. Ours is not a commercial eommp.
nifty. Brain, attachments and character send
public men here to reside for long Or short
periods They do not come to make money.
but to attend to public affairs. They give to
Washington society its tone, and a capital
tone for the true happiness Of all who enjoy its
pleasures, it is, too. We do not here refer to
the sort of society with which men mingls in
the hotel halls, at the faro banks, and around
the lobbies, wherein politics. CHAMPAGNE,
cards, and speculations on the Treasury en-.
hrely engross mems thoughts That is the
description of society which the world errone-
ously mistake fer life in Washington. 1t is
truly, life in Washington as seen-experi.
enced-by the majority Of our transient
visitors, who come hither without domestic az.
'ociations around them, or who fail to seek to
enjoy the pleasures of the Washington society
TO which We refer FIRST above
1t will be recollectsd that the predominant
traits Of the very large number of pubic man
"hs are always here, are superiority Of mind
and attachments, and it stands to reason that
Ihey must greatly impress all around them
with their influence or. in other words. rem.
Ter Washington society remarkable for the
NN AeAS, VIII SoOu TASTE true 70.
inement, and the absence of the too common
habit Of valuing its members by the weight
II their purses, which distinguish 1t. The
Inherent foreign embassies located here add
greatly to the charms Of a residence in this
'ity, those connected with them being for the
most part highly educated gentlsmenl who
moving the world thoroughly, are glad to
the blasss habits of court life in
europe, for the simplicity of the customs of the
'est American society. 1t is notorious that
most Of the persons Of that class who have re-
ided here for the last quarter of century are
lnostentstious, to fault, setting an example
that respect to our own people worthy of all
raise. We recollect we'll the FIRST time We
aw the late Mr.. BOdi SEQ, one of the mcst nc.
omplished and deservedly beloved gentle
men who have graced Washington society.
It was at Piney Point, many years since,
'here he was as happy IS the summers day
vas long, surrounded by party of simple
hearted folks from the neighboring country,
= unPrstending in their manners as himself.
MOI one OF them enjoyed the crabb ing, bowl.
ing, ana the shilling. ants'' game of bluff
Win Keener relish than did Mr. Bodisco, the
lm Immediate representative of the late imperial
We may instance another oen;sl
hearted gentleman of or>ot .xn>.;.,