Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-12-18
, S.aso, in washington, ID. c,

4
ssISe Of IL. as they go nowhere else
Through the system of calling just des-
cribeJ official society is accessible TO all,
and the iutrOductions obtained there to
the people of the more select circles,
when fortified by wealth and pertlnac-.
ity, open the whole charmed round Oh
pleasure. Society in other cities Is To-
tally unlike society in Washington.
There it is an interchange OF kindness
between households of friends; 1t is the
festivity of happy anniversaries, the
union of families in new ties, the cher
isbing of long acquaintance. But in
Washington-exce far as the small
number of residents is concerned-its
whole purpose and meaning are anom-
aIous. Each Administration brings a
new following; each Congress has new
rabble at its heels; friendships are acci-
dents of the day; diplomacy is carried
on by dining; every party has a polit-
ical purpose, every ciyility double
meaning. Nevertheless, the sparkle
Of wit, the kindling of enthusiasm, are
not absent from it: Cd the contrary,
there is more of that than elsewhere,
for it is sustained by the chosen intel
lect and beauty Of the continent. You
NAV meet admirers there who have
sailed round the world, Generals who
have fought mighty battles, priests
who may yet be Popes, men and wo-
men who are figures of the century;
they will tell you the romance of their
travel, the heartbeat of their successes,
and you will contrive to hear it for all
the accompanying roar aDd sweep in
which they are the lay figures for aspi-
rants to measure, and the property ol
reporters. In such society of course
ali asperities are softeied; this mans
daughter dances with the son of his
arch-enemy; Difference is accorded to
the opinion of a woman on public mat.
tiers as if she already possessed her right
of suffrage; there is an eXhilaration in
meeting and avoiding ana overlooking
in the light and skillful skating over
dangerous surfaces, while a rare free
dom unites with gentle, even if poll
tic, courtesy, which it is delightful tC
meet tonight, and which allureS you
to seek it tomorrow. Society without
conscience it is, possibly, but for al
that sufficiently fascinating.
1t is like an Aztec reyel for its flow
ers; the great stairwayS, leading up anC
down between the rooms that glow
with light and reSound with the tone
of flute and violin, are wound witt
shrubs where art conceals everything
but the branch and blossom; doors are
arched with palms and long banan;
leaves; flowers swing from Intel anC
window and bracket, stream from th'
pictures, crown the statues; sprays o
II 1na la 6nl ~
that shed the soft brilliance of wax
lights around them; mantelS covered
with moss; tables are bedded with vic
lets; tall vases overflow with roses ant
heliothropes, with cold camilias ant
burning geraniuIns; the orchestra i
hidden with latticed bloom and bud
the yellow acacias and scarlet passion
flowers and a great white orchid witt
a honeyed breath encircle the fern-iiil
ed basin where fountain plays. Th
murmur Of music, the wealth of per
fume, make the atmosphere an en-
chantment. A crowd of gorgeous hue
and tissues, bare bosoms, aud biazin:
levels, ascend and descend the stairs
here are women the fame Of Who's
beauty is worldwide, wearing lac'
whose intricate design, over the palt
simmer of some perfectly tinted sill
beneath, represents the labor OF q life
time, wearing necklaces and tiaras O
diamonds, where the great stones, SO
in frosty floral splendor, seem to throt
with spirit OF their own. There, o
course, is the President; yOnder is tht
Chief Justice; here again the Genera
| of all our armies; here fash the glitter
| ing Insignia of soldiers, here the f,ntas
tic array of diplomats; down one visit;
the dancers float through the maZes
down another shines the crystal ant
gold and silver Of the tables, red viii
Burgundy and Bordeaux, tempting
with terrapin and truffie, with spiceo
meats and salads, pastries, coniectio!i;
aud fruits; and clo-e by is the punch
room. Ecu have your choice of thi
frozen article, or of that ciaEet cuneoc
/. Zion to hold whose glowing ruby ;
Fbowl iias been followed ii The ice il
IS;lf, or ofthe champagne punch, Wheft
10 every l:tre OF the champagne Il litrt
iOf brandy, attire Of red rum, a litre O
green Tea are given, and where you SET
a flushed and leVere1 dalnsel lippin:
'the iedie and tossing of her ioruIn a
lcooHy as though She had not had he
three wines at dinner that day, and ha,
not, in half the houses of her dozen
! morning calls, slipped her sherry or Sc
|, down her little punch glass empty {
its delicious mixture Of old spirits an
fernenting fruit.juices. Perhaps tha
: sight sets you 20 thinking. You ma
: have been attracted earlier in the nigh
by her delicate toilette and her fac
t Ipure as pearl; you saw her later, warn
, from the dance, eating and drinking i
the supper-roo,n; then her partner
arm was round her waist, her head Wa
on his shoulder, and she was psnngin
into the German, whirling TO madden
= ing measures, presently caught in
new embrace. flying from that man
! armst to another's, growing wild wit
the abandon Of tie figure, hair flying
] dress disorderet!, powder-caked fac
u burning, till, pausing an instant for III
chaInpagne in servants hands, yGu
igirl with the face as pure as a pea
I, seemed nothing but a hsechante.-i.i
I piRc0tt's Magazaae for December.