The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-03
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1873

WASHINGTON Jan. 81, 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Poor much-abused capital Everybody owns
it-ergo, everybody abuses it 1--WE explain 1t in
no other way. Your fair Tor very unfair, we
think) correspondent OF last week was only In
fashion when she deliberately looked through
green glasses at social life and departed scold-
ing. 1t is peculiarly OF guests which Is be-
coming altogether chronic. They come among us
with smile that 'child-like and bland partake
of our good things, then go away and blackba US
whenever they can. We have "seventy times
seven" forgiven them and said nothing. Now
permit lady resident to 'rise and eXplain.n
Society here Is manifold; there are circles within
circles and we cannot penetrate 1t all at glance.
We do not assume that our fashionable life here is
all good Human nature is about the same thing
the world over, and the saints OF Washington are
not found generally among its "drst families" more
than in other cities Necessarily the official soci-
ETY. Is most accessible, and it Is that which comes
to the surface. Strangers come here they would
go to Il Summer watering place for a few weeks OF
dissipation, and give themselves, with much aban-
don, to the round OF receptions and party-gOing of
which your correspondent complains. 1t is pleas
ant Tor Them and altogether proper, think, that
the houses OF the men they have sent here and hon.
ored with high places should be open to them and
1t is morally impossible Tor the hostess to dscrim
mate between Mrs. TOM "Dick" and "Harry"
in this matter, her hospitality is sometimes tres
passed upon.
1t is noticeable, however, that this COM
plant comes oltenest IRON those who have
made most effort to attract the crowd,
and we secretly opne that they rather
ENJOY their suffering: me season" IN Washing
aud ending at the commencement Oi Lent con-
densing all the visiting OF the year within few
their Paris hnery IN readiness have chance to
display 1t during this timer Isn't the driving
about and exchanging visits as profitable, pray,
as worsted work or light reading ut home which,
ten to one, those same ladies' would indulge in
We strongly suspect the indignant lady who
"packed her Saratogas for home" so speedily
found the contents thereof eclipsed in some way,
aid thought the grapes tasted very sour"
We know false men and frivolous women are here;
many OF them are sent here (mores tue PITY, but
Washington Is not to blame Tor 1t. Back OF all
its surface lfe which is some times very rothy the
city has scores and hundreds OF quiet, cultured
homes whose inmates are not discussed In the
papers and whose hospitality is not trespassed
upon by the coarse or vulgar The west end OF
the city Is occupied in great part, by army and
navy people, who are here, as elsewhere genial and
mont avenue. MT. Thomas Bryan's and Others
must prove graceful and attractive TO any who
have the good fortune to enter them.
The resident citizens always more or less cX-
elusive, and as they do not attempt to call gener-
ally upon strangers or minge much in the official
whrl, one might unless properly introduced, run
about at receptions ana parties all Winter without
knowing them. Many OF these families are notice.
ably active IN all benevolent associations and
IN their respective churches Mrs. Stickney
daughter Of Amos kcndalD Is one among
ton do not tempt to lead frivolous or useless
life. Washington society should not be Judged by
its newspaper gossip We do not wonder strangers
pronounce that altogether stale. hat and unproGt-
able. Society is served up to us for sunday read
ing in the most startling manner by that Bohe-
milan, the capitol, and ditto the other papers,
without the spice but IL Is about as lair to Judge
from this as OF New York from your column OF per-
.sonals. For these ana sundry other reasons we
enter our protest to your correspondents hasty
conclusions and beg that next time she will leave
half her Saratogas at home and come quietly
among MS Tor as many months as she did days. We
reel assured at the end Of this time she will decide
70 send for the remainder aud abide with us per-
rlanenty. f. N W.