Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-14
THE CAPITAL.
Only a Society Question After
y ~ All.

uclois py toua- sisAts,
and Dinners.
From the Louisville Commercial.
Those who advocated and defended
the Congressional salary law, which, on
the demand of the people, was so
promptly repealed, did so on the ground
mainly that the expenses Of living In
Washington city were so great that no
Congressman could live there in decent
style on less than seven thousand five
hundred dollars q year; Of; In other
worlds, that nobody who was anybody
could possibly appear as one who was
somebody should, on less money than
that. 1t is undoubtedly true that some
conditions exist In Washington, as in
all capitals, that are not exactly as they
should be-eyen the District investiga-
ton now In progress shows that@and
the condition of what is known as soci-
ETY., which is the charmed atmosphere
In which people who are somebody live,
is probably not in all respects as it
should be. The cheapest and most
permanent adjustment of the relations
between the needs of Congressman and
the demands of society viii be found,
however, we believe, rather in the re-
form and reorganization of society than
in the increase Of pay of members of
Congress to meet requirements which
must be continually increasing as long
as society basesits rules on the notions
which prevail now.
A recent writer in the Netc York
Times, who seems 10 mite the intimate
knowledge of social life which harae-
teriEes the esteemed Jenkins with a
familiarity with prices and figures which
mark a mind drilled to accuracy by
close p~erusal of currency and tariff de-
bates, assumes the role of Asmodeus
toward the housekeeping of Washing
ton and tells us what, and why, and
how it costs. A careful study of his
revelations will show why members of
Congress thought they ought to take
more of the money, with the care of
which they have been intrusted, for
their own use, while at the same time it
will serve to convince the people how
mistaken they were about the necessity
of doing so.
Washington society is composed of
the permanent and the transitory ele-
ments. The permanent element is
made up of the remnants of the re-
spectacle old Virginia and Maryland
families, whose competency survived
the downfall of slave property, mixed
with "the sediment of former admins
trations, contractors, superannuated
army and navy officers" and the va
rious debris of the past times. During
the season" however, this part of So
ciety is entirely subordinate. Then
the transitory element bears sway and
gives tone in all society transactions.
This transitory element consists Of the
high officials of the administration, the
Congressional bodies, and the families
who, In mixed pursuit of business and
pleasure, make Washington their
abiding place for the winter. To GER
tain individuals In this element what
are called "social duties" are held to
attach. These social duties grew into
prescription partly through the agency
of the diplomatic corps, which some
people believe to be the most useless
body in the world, and partly through
the agency Of women whose arbitrary
diction in this sphere, so wholly given
up TO their influence, makes us con-
template With some anxiety their
coming assumption of full political
rights, and the fact that they impose
most exacting and wearisome duties
upon themselves does not lessen our
apprehensions. If they have so little
consideration for themselves, how much
can we expect them to have for others?
Let us see what the "social duties"
are and what they cost. 1t is optional
with Senator's and Representatives, as
with private individuals, whether they
shall entertain, and so it is with all
officials except the President and men,
bers of the Cabinet. The Vice Presi-
dent and Speaker of the House are, by
custom, relieved of the necessity Of
feeding a hungry public at their re-
ceptions. Experience has shown that
refreshments cannot safely be offered
to his fellow-sovereigns who call on the
President on his public reception days.
For his other social duties, the salary
and allowances of the President give
hun means enough. 1t Is on members
of the Cabinet that the burden chiefly
falls. Let us see how heavy it is. The
ladies of a Cabinet officer must receive
every Wednesday afternoon during the
session, and refreshments are ruled to
be indispensable on these occa-
sions; at least a few flowers are
also indispensable. In these re-
ceptions the favor is considered to
be done by the visitor, and it is the
edict that it must be acknowledged in
each casein two different ways:irst, by a
call from the ladies of the family, who
also leave the minister's official card;
next by an invitation to at least one
evening reception. A Cabinet officer
must also give a few dinners. The la
dies of his family must attend other
receptions and return IN person calls
made on them. This seems a simple
enough list of "social duties" but let
us see what it involves. Six at least of
the Wednesday receptions are given
during the season, besides the New
Years reception, for which more cost
ly provision is expected. The plainest
refreshments, the two extra walters
needed, and the few flowers essential,
make the cost Of the series aggregate
about $1,000. The evening receptions
are more elaborate and expensive af-
fairs. As everybody who has attended
a Wednesday reception must have an
invitation, a crowd is inevita-
bic, and, to prevent the crowd
from being too great, there must be at
least two evening receptions. One
Cabinet lady this winter found that for
her first evening she must issue 2,200in-
vitations. The cost of 1900 invitations,
such as the wife of a Cabinet officer
may issue, is of no slight consequence.
The plate costs about Sl2, thecards and
envelopes and the engraving about four
cents for each invitation, or in all S88,
making the invitations cost 500. Ex-
ira servants are of coursereqnired, and
the character of the refreshment, al
ways of course more costly than those
for Wednesdays, must depend, after
certain limit that is essential, on the
pecuniary ability of the host. Of course
these receptions are hideous jams, at
which pleasure and even comfort are
u~nattainable. They are the occasions
on which the devotees of fashion let
the Juggernaut of society crush them.
In order to give these receptions the
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