Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-09
Society in Washington City.

tOntDleFclut, In recent letter from w ASH
ington City, writes as follows:
Our Capital is peculiar in its social life.
1t is yet, as it ever has been, so isolated that
the elements incident to ordinary American
life are not much felt here. The power of
wealth, for example, SO potent elsewhere,
dies out this side of Baltimore, and official
influences take its place. When the atmos-
pherc here was purely Southern, this official
supremacy was more positive than now. Yet
it exists. The highest order, socially, is the
Foreign Diplomatic Corps. This is given,
or arrogates TO itself the first position Then
we have the Senators, and Supreme Court
and members of the Cabinet, nearly on a
level-or so near that it is doubtful, or rath
er in dispute, as to whichhas the preference.
Then we have members of the House, and
the multitude of minor officials.
One has to be amused when looking at
the little diplomatic corps that takes upon
itself such an air of exclusiveness, and is
looked up to with such awe and respect.
Washington being regarded in European
C urts as place for honorable banishment,
it being socially undesirable, and possessed
of no field for a display of diplomatic ability,
the more influential and able men of the
profession shirk in dismay from residence
in our beloved Capital The consequence is
that we get only the lesser lights. They are
rather nice sort of men, but rot the sort
to worship socially, or in any other way
And in any of our larger cities this enti e
corps would slip through small holes, and
disappear forever from public gaze. But
here it is omnipotent, and rules its little
world in a way that would be aggravating
were it not so lud;crous.
To see the corps in all its glory, one must
attend, on opera night, at the National The
ater. He will find the diplomats out In full
force, and all clustered together in the chairs
of the orchestra, with a few, perhaps, ,percl :
ed ike crows in one of the stage boxes. Be-
tween the acts the corps rise up and face the
audience. And then they appear in all
their awful glory. Taken separately, one
would not be seriously oppressed, but to be
attacked in diplomatic platoon is OVERFLOW
ering If one draws near, he hears chat
tering in French, like unto so many jays in
mass meeting.
The gods Of the galleries have lately taken
to resenting this facing about of the little
corps, and when this diplomatic and dramat-
ic move occurs, general shout of derision
goes up, and cries of Down in front, ="
Amt we handsome p and limitations of
the croakiug Of crows are heard; for owing
to their somber dress, these subtle represen-
tativcs of effete despotlsns are called crows
by the gods of the gallery. The corps took
this assault calmly and with superior indif
ference, until a few decayed oranges and ap-
pies came with indications of eggs in re-
serve, when the corps gracefully subSided.
The gods of the gallery have 40 response
for anything less than Forrest or Booth, and
they treat with scOrn all others. Not SO,
however, with society here. was at a re-
ception, for example, one night last winter,
and was attracted by a lovely girl, all grace
and intelligence-th daughter of distin-
guished member Of Congress.
''She must be quite BELLE said, to a
fair lady near me.
Oh! dear me, no, was the response,
''shc is not ih society at all. T"
Why not ?"
The diplomatic corps has not called on
her."
SIS it possible? You don't say so
Poor thing And why does not this erudite
body countenance the poor grip
why, you see, where they to do so they
would have to recognize the family and the
father, you know.
"Nc, don't know him, but see. Well,
well, it is wonder she survives and looks
SO healthy. / should expect decline.
Cou'dnt they visit her under prote,t-say,
sign a protocol with an assortment of ulti-
matums, recognizing the belle and, giving
the disreputable old father only biligerent
rights? You shake your lovely little head.
It can't be done 1t is hopeless. Poor
gIrl -
Any one visiting Washington, possessed
of VIII l. coat, a clean shirt, and a member
of Congress, can go into society at once His
power to remain depends upon his wit IT
he is clever, he is acceptable The latest
conner, unofficial, [ mean, makes the first
call. All officials, from the President to
Syfax,se set back and expect TO be called upon
There is lively dispute raging between
members of the Cabinet and Senator's as to
which should have precedence 1t is a
small matter, but gives rise to some lively
disputes, each party being satisfied that he
or she is in the right.
This sort of social life goes far toward
making Washington 50 facinating. 1t is
more of an intellectual social formation than
in Boston where an iron bound state OF caste,
hard as the coast sung of by Hemans, is
based on money and family; or that of New
York, where money is mixed with some
brain; or in Philadelphia, where hard cash
reigns without any alloy. One breathcs east
er in Washington, as if one had escaped
from the suffocation of money vaults to the
pure air of heaven. 1t is true that tie in
tellect prevailing is of political sort But
that is better than none.
A WAC TALE-A certain judge having