Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-11
VICE Al WASHINGTON.
A Defense OF the Society at the Capltal

private letter To TREND from the accu-
satiens OF vulgaritv and immortality
made against it in various newspapers,
She writes in frank and spirited
fashion that does her honor. "At the
/ time your little note came to ME en-
I closed with the newspaper slip. was
unable to answer it, do not know
that feel much like answering il now,
but NJ the time il came WAS boiling
over, IL is 81 easy to make aCcusa.
I tons or assertions, and the ordinary
correspondent seems 10 be utterly I'M
scrupulouS 50 that he fills the required
number of columns, There are so
many misrepresentation in the article
sent that 90 not know whore 10 COM
mcnoc. 1t hkethem all l think you viii
weary OF tho subject There Is much
( III the letter Of which | have no knowl,
edge, and can find no one who has.
Bat even admitting that great part Of
tits true, il ought not 10 be "hid on"
/ Washington. Ii is not Washington So
ciety. II ia the strangers and politicians
who come here, So many OF them leav-
ing all social ties nj home, and
au restraining influences. So
long rs every town IN the Union
pours upon MS all its filth in the way OF
political vagahonds, waiting for some
thing to turn mp, and so long Ms we
have all these correspondents who
make It their business to nose around
and stir up the mud. what will, what
else can he the rosult' SO far rs |
know, in all this tale of scandal there is
rarely one genuine Nashmgtonian,
rhorcis ne greater set of gos-
sips about than the diplomats. They
have nothing else to do, and much of
this scandal originates with them.
Many of our innocent girls suffer be-
cause they treat nm agreeable foreigner
as they would one other own gentle.
man friends, The Young attaches, ac-
customed TO the Arictness with which
European girls arc watched, are nj
once suspicious of our free md easy
manner, Aud it takes longer resi-
dcnce among III thNn most OF thom
have to understand our society. There
may he aristoeratic gambling houses
here; if so, | donot know of it, or whore
they are. a man came here three or
four years ago and bought ono OF the
finest houses III town, with all its hand
some furniture, opened n gambling
house, with private rooms and public
rooms, II superior cook providing the
best table in town; and failed tho first
year, and never made n second pay
mont, lie now keeps restaurant, and
there may bc gambling rooms, but we
hear nothing OF it. There arc some
plumbers, gas-iitters and grocers who
have got rich, and built largo houses
know and visit some such, But they
are, aside from their want ofbluo blood,
some Of our best people. They have
some way managed 10 educate them
selves SO as To appear well, and have
given their children every advantages,
In Washington society there arc rings
outside and inside, hut 1t is generally
said that any one cnn get into society
here. So fur as going to official rccep.
tons is concerned, that il true, but we
do not consider that our society. A
stranger must bring good recommends
tons with him or her to get inside OF
any but the outside ring" tho free to
everybody receptions" This inner
circle is one uf the most exacting circles
on the point Of morals ! over knew.
Persons with soiled reputation may be
tolerated 80 long rs they hold high
position; bat let them lose the respect
paid TO the position, and they are loft
out in the cold nj once.
Mrs. Bolknap came back horo to spend
the winter, and tried TO brave IL out,
but had 10 retire from tho field We
labor under the misfortune Of being too
attractive. Washington is no pleasant
to hive in that, after few years resi-
dence here, people get 10 infatuated
with il that they are not content any.
where else. A man comes to congress
for four or six years, then loses
his election: his business il broken
up III home, and 80 he follows
his inclination, end drifts back here,
hoping for a government appoint
ment, or practice in the many courts
perhaps TO pick mp something as u lob.
byist. So we have n great many disap-
pointed, broken-down men here, but, 30
far M ! know, they are not immoral.
Many of them are our most active
church workers. read in country
papers about our female lobbyists
women with no visible means OF sup.
port, who 20 everywhere and dress ele-
gantIy, and who arc TO be seen about
the reception rooms and corridors Of
the capitol. | have looked for them,
but cannot hear Of them from any one
who knows. see plenty Of women in
those rooms, but they do not look as II
they would tempt any one astray--
poor old broken-down bodies in rusty
black who want 10 see a congressman To
get their boy or girl a place or have
them promoted. or clearinghouse
keeper who may be angling for
boarder, but more likely Is trying 70
collect her bills out Of some dishonest,
cheating member. have lived here
several years, and am ready to assert
that this Ii, with all liz advantages, the
most moral town | ever lived in, and
that there il here the most respect paid
TO the Sabbath and 20 church services.
feel strongly upon this subject, for
there il 70 much injustice done 10 us.
People take these newspaper letters ~
all gospel truth, and there il no contra.
dieting them. II is quite true that
Ia Ill froval a iauUtia whila frllth Ia