The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. ID. G.. March tAtb 1877.

WASHINGTON, ID. O., March 14th, 1877.
Political excitement at an end, the pub
lie interest turns itself to even smaller mat
ters, personal gossip and spring fashion.
1t is only natural that people should be in
terested in triiles and details concerning
the family of our Chief Magistrate, and
these are now the all absorbing topics of
conversation and meditation, especially
among the fairer sex. President HAYES ia
for reform, SO is his wife. President Hayes
intends taking new stand and bringing
about an entirely new state of affairs. SO
apparently does his wife. Both fields
are certainly large enough, and while her
husband is exercising his influence and
power for the promotion of peace, good
feeling and unity between and among the
States, for better condition of civil af-
fairs, and for the protection of the rights
of all American citizens, Mrs. Hayes man.
ifestly intends to inaugurate new systems
and new ideas in the sphere through which
her influence extends. And this is not a
small one. Those who know the extreme
to which Washington society ladies carry
the matter of dress are aware that there is
great work of reform needed in that di-
rection, and who so gifted by position to
begin and carry on that work as the mis-
tress of the Executive Mansion. Has the
WHO VI buO vi OuE NdJlOu 1OLn-
ing to do but carry on her part of the giddy
butterfly life that wears out our Washing
ton ladies in SO short time? Has she no
part to perform besides that of entertain
ing and being entertained, dressing friz-
zing, flaming, and showing off generally?
She thinks there is better part for her to
take and at the very beginning of her liv-
ing among us she has taken her stand,
firmly but in so gentle and truly lady-lke
manner, that the most fastidious can find
no fault with her course. In the matter of
dress-she has already participated in the
most brilliant receptions, dinners ETC., and
her most elaborate toilet has been
plain black silk with folds faced with pale
blue for trimming, and a simple ruff of
point lace in the high neck and long sleeves
In fact, she has already worn this dress
twice in public. Of jewels and ornaments
she has absolutely none, and the only or
nament she has been seen to wear in her
hair has been a single white rose. Her
dresses are rich and good in material suit
able to her station, but there is nothing
snowy or gaudy, or superfluous about her.
just this first week that she has been among
shows the good that such a woman can and
will do.
AS long as the world rolls round people
must be amused, sometimes one thing
serves their purpose, sometimes another.
1t matters little to many whether they are
entertained with disgraceful scandal
about their nearest neighbor or by means
of ticket to Charity Ball, so the amuse-
ment comes. Washington usually has her
share of all kinds, and all classes can be ao-
commodated with whatever delectable
dishes they prefer. OF late series of
charitable entertainments have taken the
place of dancing parties and such gayer af-
fairs that proceeded Lent. These have
been exceedingly interesting and instruct
i've as well as beneficial to certain worthy
objects in pecuDiary sense. This week
we have fair and musicale combined, Civ
en- by the Israelites of the District in aid of
the Adas Israel Hebrew Congregation,
which promises to be right pleasant. There
are goodly number of Jews residing in
Washington, highly respected as class,
and well to do citizens. They have several
churches or synagogues as they are called
and of course corresponding number of
priests. We do wrong in calling them
priests suppose, for as Prof. Felix Adler
recently said in reference to the degeneracy
of the priesthood -
"The Jews are honorable excepting in
this regard. For 1900 years since their
Temple was destroyed they have had the
good sense never to tolerate priesthood
among them. Their Rabies have simply
been teachers-men distinguished for their
superior learning. But the same paths of
knowledge were open to all, and they were
thus exposed to constant criticism, retain
ing their influence only on the basis of &C
knowledged merit. 1t is only during the
past 70 years that jewish ministry has
been in being. The necessities of the times,
and the decadence of theological learning
which was once the province of every in
telligent Jew, leave the Rabies in posi-
tion which they never occupied before.'
M. M. w.