Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-09
Fault.Finding With Washington.

IL is one OF the mlSfOrtuneS of Washington
(our city having many misfOrtunes) that while
all citizens of the United States feel that they
have vested rights of ownership here, that
many of them who pay brief visits at long in
tervalS to the national capital think the most
prlZed privilege resulting from such owner
ship is that of 1ault-inding with the city and
all its inhabitants. The latter, whether be-
munity. are regarded as public property by
the visiting censOrs as much as the govern
ment buildings, parks, and works of art, and
as such are thought legitimate themes for cen
sure. A writer who came hither last month
and remained fOrty-eight hours, and was
through unfortunate circumstances, prevent
than two or three Of cur ladies the official po-
SltlOES OF whose husbands makes them con
SpicuOus IN our community, in a letter pub
llshed in The STAR of February lst, and in
many other cities, takes our city and its WO
men as a theme for severe reflections. 1t is
asserted that "WashingtOn fashion and So
ciety'' have lost the prestige they once en-
ioyed. because the highest places have lately
been filled bya different class of men and We
men from those of the earlier years of the
republic, when it is said that the Influence ex-
erted by Washington society was mainly Ow-
ing to the superior character and culture of
the the women who occupied the post of honor
The The letter cont continues TO point to the wives of
the early Presidents, and says: ''Such women
as Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Madison, Mrs. Washing
ton and others, must have made mark in any
community, and when called to fill the highest
in this country, were naturally looked up to
as examples for other women to follow" AS
the direct allusiOn, the accusation against all
our ladies in official life of inferiority to others
who once held their places, is made to wives of
Presidents only it is proper in refuting the
charge to refer no only to the lady now the mis-
truth to assert that the wife of no President
since the foundation of the government has
be been 1,, the superior rio, Of Mrs Hayes in character
parents connected with the most honOred
families Of Kentucky, herself the graduate of
college, Mrs: Hayes, by early association,
throughout her life, is the peer of any of the
respected ladies named. Her husband was,
when She married him, already a rising law:
known, many times by his own elevation to
high position in his own state placed his wife
where she was only less the observed of all
and in every station in which she has found
herself those who have known Mrs. Hayes
longest and best assert that she has always
He odesf pen ofer mS
schOelmate, has told me of how her teachers
always pointed to her studious habits as
She was only ffteen years old The same friend
also mentioned that even then Lucy Webb
preferred quiet cOlors in dress.
AL All W VINO 10 haye @ seen MIS-: Hayes as the mis-
lt0rS whom she receives informally every eve
ming are unanimous in their expressions of
unqualified duIllldClOn OF nef TACT ana reaQl-
ness in adapting her conversation to each
conner, however great a stranger to her. There
Is nothing OF the grand dame about her at any
time to repel those she meets, but frank,
cordial manner, and an evident desire to
make every one feel at home in her presence.
She has the rare power of making every one
to appear at his or her best when talking with
her, and yet apparently she is conscious of
making no effort. Mrs. Hayes courtesy al
ways appears to me the result of a conscien-
tiOus Interpretation of the command, Love
thy neighbOr as thyself." This she never ex-
emplifeS more fOrcibly than when she gently
turns, as she invariably does without seeming
conscious Of it, conversation into new
channel, which, while praising herself, implies
reflection on any of her predecessors.
Thus much as regards one of the topics on
which the writer of the letter quoted was cen
serious. The same spirit of unjust criticisms
apparent as regards our society manners,
business houses, &c.
Respectfully, MISS GRUNDY.