Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-01
Washington Society.

Il is very striking phenomenon to the cdr-
Gated European that the Law makers CT the
country play almost no part in society. Cno can
say truly that 10 general they have 10 social pc
| sitioD. Ono does not ever meet i've dozen
! members Of both Houses lie the circles into
! which he allows himself 10 be introduced and
where he finds pleasant intercourse. Only the
| smaller hall olthc mcmbcrs Of The Cabinet even
belong 10 this. The explanation Of this char
actcristic state OF things is particularly to bo
sought in the fact that Congress is composed
| for the most part of lawyers from the smaller
towns, who do not feel at home 10 gontec
society, and have Gs little taste lor it as desire
| to enter into it.
Moreover, a large percentage Of them have
risen from the rauis, and in that class the wo
men who wero married in their young years arc
not apt to be fitted for highly cultivated socl
cty. Official position 10 itself is not. however,
passport to social consideration One OF the
heaviest duties Of tho President Is the we'll
understood one Of shaking hands with every
ono whom fancy conducts thithcr; and the ladies
of tho members Of the cabinet must open their
doors o1c afternoon 10 the week to every ona
who waits upon them. 1t will be understood
from this that official and political life is com-
pIetely separated from social life. Money plays
in this as little rolo as official position.
WEoro the coarse Senator can never receive
an invitation the most subordinate writer
Of one If the departments is gladly
seen guest if ho can dress decenlly aud
is educated and entertaining. Mrs. A., VINO
receives at tea about o'clock every day. has
always half dozen or moro guests, and yet
her husband has neither any Oflclal position
nor does he keep up great establishment. va
the other hand Mrs. Il who has spent and
does spend great deal Ct money made some
calls upon ladies in society; they unanimously
declared it piece Of impudence and did net
| return her calls because she hsd been conceded
with the lobby, Whether, as the older gentle
men often maintained, Washington has lost
socially sioc, the time when the slave baroc1
we're dominant here, cannot say from my o|n
inspection. | only know that Washington
society is really much smaler, but much plea,
santer, than expected, and that, 10 social
aspect, democracy appears 10 an extremely Ia
yorable light.
It easy to oblaiu entrance to tho White
House. Some one, who certainly is well in
formed, said to me- "lf you 60 lust as you aro'
| Il was 10 simple house tootte) you will get
10. Only send your card up aud Mrs. Hayes
with talk with with you with much pleasure
| fer an hour or two" Socially, however, the
White Houss has thus far played really nc
part, partly because the we'll mcaniog and very
respectable Mrs. Hayes is, il general, an cx'
! tremey plain woman, and partly because she
offers her guests 20 wi1e ss she belongs to o
| temperate, sccs!y This western primitive
| ness whioh c,nnot understand that Mr. Hayes
| is 10 the Wiite House not as Mr.. Hayes. but
only as President Of the United States. as ;hc
representative Of the natioD, aud that private
whius have 90 warrant where one acts IS a
| representative capacity, gives cc!ason na'u'a!
~ to 1nuch gossip and to all sorts OF little sal
| lies es-AKeganlcine Zettung.