The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-07-04

OUR critical contemporary, the Capital,
lately devoted three columns OF leading editorial TO
deviscerating new attempt at novel of Washington
life and society. Three columns could scarcely have
been devoted 10 better purpose, both morally and
artiscally speaking, but does the Capital remember
Its serial tales Of Washington manners, called, We
think, "onr Boarding House ~ and by other similar
names. How would they have stood similar process
of analysis? II we remember, they We're filled with
the most alarming sensations and Munchausenisms,
I'm which this small and rather quiet town was made
outrival great cities like London and Paris In dark
iniquity, (rather pinrienly descrbed,) mysterious
pit falls for the unwaTy, unhallowed luxury and pro-
fusion. dark unknowns and incogntos and all the
claptrap dealt In by Reynolds or AN Ouda-all ex-
cessvely absurd not to speak of Its mschievous and
demoralizng aspect, to one familiar with the people
and tine place. Washington has all the circumstances
of provincialsm, except the cosmopolite quality Of
the people who come or are sent here. Everybody,
high and low is familiarly known and necessarily
talked about. Even great public affairs, seen near
hand do not take OFF the zest of personal gossip
they elsewhere Like those who live at the foot Of
the light house, out the glare OF the great po
Htical achievements Of the day. As result of this,
and partly, glad to believe. ont Of their
self respect persons of any real consequence here
In the great majority OF cases more than ordinarily
circumspec Vice when 1t creeps In, as 1t Is ap. to
do anywhere, Is either mean and sneaking, very
sordd and shabby that all the romance Is fortunately
taken out Of 1t. Even Z0la wonld recO from II as
hopeles sly commonplace. Gorge0nsness IL sludicrousy
uncalled for Ia any description attempted There Is
not wealth enough here, there may he In New York
other large cities, to throw away on mcretrieous
gliding, 10 afford temptation large, sumptuous,
alluring scale The prevailing tone OF the place.
though there many wealthy Is poverty, and gem
orally Of honest, respectable and refined type
.rhe syren adventures who figures much In fiction
Is visible at the Capitol only gaunt pale misery Ia
female shape haunting Congressman In hopeless suit
for place, pushing disregar,ed 'claims, ~ with
sprinkng OF course Of the usual yulgariy disreputa
bile who 20 To display their charms. We would be
glad 10 SEQ the whole business OF Tayestying WASH
ington life unsparngy put down. and hope the Capi-
tai Will stick 10 the work, while VIII endeayor to
kindly watch the Capifai Itself. ~ Washington
'novel'' is not thing we especially eager for,
or ever expect To Human nature, the novelist S
material, Is much the same here everywhere. so
there Is necessity for coming out Of the way for
that, while all the actual facts together with much
OF the wit humOr and fancy of the Federal city, Is
caught up and sent the broad Union every week
by the Keen pens Of an unnumbered host Of regular
and occasional newspaper correspondents, who leave
the toing novelist fan behind both In point Of time
and thoroughness. These skim OF the cream Of the
WHOLE and leave nothing but the sleerest skn-milk
or the dregs OF those who after them. Tales aud
sketches Of Washington life there may very well aud
agTeeaby be- but they should he written by those moi
only familiar with their material but not disposed
| tamper with II In the presentation