New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-28
VICES AND VIRTUES OF WASHINGTON
A DEFENCE OF ITS SOCIETY.

4 DLFENCE Of I1S SOClEll'
WHAT THE WIFE OF HIGH OPTICAL SAYS ABOUT
1.-THE GOSSIP OF DIPLoMATs-THE BXCLU-
sIvENEss OF THE BEST SOCIETY.
matron among the few most highly placed III
Washington society defends that society in pri-
vate letter to friend from the accusations of vul
garty and immortality made against it i'll various
newspapers. She writes in frank and spillteu
fashion that does her honOri
At the tune your little came to me enclosed with
the newspaper Slip was unable to answer IT, DO not
know that feel much like answering 1t noW' Uu' az
the time IL 1 boiling over. IL Is so easy 10
make accusations or assertions and the ordinary news
paper correspondent seems 70 be utterly Inscriptions
so that he nils the required number of columns There
are SO many Misrepresentation in the article sent that
/ do not know where 10 commence. II L take them ali
l think you will weary Of the subject.
There is much III the letter of which have no know-
edge and can find no one who has. But admit
ting that part OF ii Is true, II ought not TO be
laid to Washington not Washington society. 1t is
the strangers and politicians who here many Of
them leaving all social ties home, and all restraining
Influences So long every town in the Union pOurs
upon us all It's filth in the OF political vaSabonds
waiting for something 10 turn mp and so long as we
have all these correspondents who make 1t their bust
ness 10 nose around up the mud, what WILL what
else can the RESULT so far "a know, III all this tale
Of scandal there is rarely genuine Washtngtonian
There is No greater set OF gOsSips about than the
diplomats They have nothing else TO do, aud much Of
this scandal originates with them Many Of our limo
cent GIRLS suffer because they treat agreeable for
egner az they would OF their gentleman friends
The young attaches accustomed to the stfctness with
which European girls watched, at once suspi-
cous of our and manner And takes longer
residence among than most of them have 10 under
stand our society.
There NAV be aristOcratic gambling houses here II
so do know oft, or where they are man came
here three four years and bought one OF the nes
houses IN town. with all Its handsome furniture; opened
gambling house, with private rooms and public rooms
superior cook providing the best table in town and
failed the FIRST year. aud never made second payment
He now keeps restaurant, aud there may be gambling
rooms but we nothing Of It, There some plumb
ers gasftters and grOcers who have got rch and built
largo housesI know and visit some such But they are
aside from their want Of blue blood some OF best
people They have some way managed TO educate
themselves so as appear well aud have given their
children every advantage. In Washington society
tbera ara rings outside and inside and it Is generally
sad that any get into society here. So far "a
going 10 Official receptions concerned that Is true, but
we do not consider that society. stranger must
hiring good recommendations with him or her 10 get
inside of any the outside rng-the " free TO every
body receptions" This inner circle is of the most
exactine circles on the point of morlld ever knew
Parsons with sOiled reputation may be tolerated so
long "a they hold high position but let them lose that
they lose the respect paid 70 the position, and they are
left out IN the cold at Mrs Belknap came back
here 10 spend the Winter aud tined 10 brave II out but
had TO retire from the field
We labor under misfortune OF being too attractive
Washington 10 so pleasant 10 live in that, after few
v,ars residence here people get infatuated with II
that they are not content anywhere else man comes
TO four six thon loses his election
his pusuess is broken up at home, and he follows
hts inclination and drifts back here, hoping for a
Government appointment, or practice in the many
cours-perhaps TO pick up something as lobbyist So
we have a great many disappointed broken-down men
here but SO far as know, they are not immoral.
Many OF them are our most active church workers.
Tread in country papers about our female lobbyists-
women with no visible of support who go every
where and dress elegantly, and who are TO be seen
about the reception and corridors OF the Capitol
have looked for them but cannot hnd them. inquire
after Them but cannot hear of them from any who
pnowk see plenty OF women In those rooms but they
o not look rs II they would tempt any one asray-poor
Ola broken-down bodies IN rusty black who want TO see
Co,gressman TO get their boy their girl place
ave them promOtcd or clearinghouse keeper who
NAV, ne angling for boarder but more likely is trying
=, collect her bills out OF dishonest cheating mem
Der
haye lived several years. aud am ready to assert
hat this IS with all It's disadvantages. the most moral
,, ever lived IN and that there Is hers the most re-
.,.c, maid 10 the Sabbath aud to church services.
seeI strongly upon this subject for there lie so much
nee done TO People take these ne wspapet letters
ms all gospel truth. and there Is no contradcthg them
r. - mite true that lie viii travel league whle truth
,,,t,o an his boots Most newspapers viii repeat a
nbed lie but few them take the trouble to repeat
the contradiction
u,vrSG THE pun OF HIM.-Old salt !:
~ nd 10 manage boat, am can SIN row and
Too Viu ia sSt TIA Sails and scull aud -" Doctor !:
steer steer " aatom 30 could do ~ that believe man