Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-17
society Notes.


of their agreeable informal receptions last eve
ming. Music was one of the delightful features
of the evening. Mr.. de Zamacona, and some OF
the ladies' who called. contributed by their mu-
sical selections to the pleasure of the other
guests.
Mrs. Prince the wife of Chief Justice Prince,
OF New Mexico, whose death was announced
some time ago, Is pleasantly remembered as hav-
ing visited Washington as a bride with her hus
band in December last. They were at the Riggs
House, and received much attention from prom
inent officials. The President and Mrs. Hayes
tary and Mrs. Sherman. Mrs Prince had pre-
viously visited Washington, when Miss Chflds
as the guest of Mrs. Pierce, Of New York.
She stayed with Mrs Pierce some weeks last
year. Judge Prince and bis bride were charm
ingly situated in New Mexico, and her sudden
death before she had been three months wife
parents reside in the state Of New York.
Vice President Wheeler is enjoying visit
from Mrs. Belcher, his late wifes sister, and
friend, Mrs. Thompson, who was a schoolmatp
American ladies. Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs Mahlon
Sands, were the bellies at Queen Yictortas last
drawing -roOm.-It is rumored that Miss Par
nell will be married at Newport in June to MIR.
Paget, whose brother married Mrs Paran Ste
venS' daughter.
ThatW usually make preparations when our
means permft for the reception OF expected
visitors, in accordance with their POSITIONS no
one will deny. hotel which desires the pa-
tronage of the upper-ten, makes its arrange
ments accordingly, and one which does not as
pire to do more than accommodate a class nm
used to luxurious surroundings and accustomed
TO little attendance from servants, prepares ac-
cordiDgly. Both styles OF hotels are justified
by the result; the latter does not draw fiiS-caSS
custom, nor is the former sought by those who
would feel themselves i'll at ease in refined sur
rOundingS. Arguing from these Self-evident facts
the House end OF the United States Capitol is
tors except those whose preference is to BE-
r1ade conspicuous, or who are not sensitive
about receiving rude stares from male passers-
by, or 1nsolent replies from door-keepers, mes
sengerS and pages. 1t is true that frreproach-
able women whose necessities compel them to
seek business interviews of perfectly correct
character, do and will continue to go to the
Capitol, and it Is shame that no other place is
provided for their reception except the public
hall, where they are made unnecessarily con-
c. to whom they have sent their cards, and sub
ject to suspicious looks and disrespectful COM
ments while transacting their business.
It is certainly time that some member Of
Congress ut would be wellif at least one in each
house would make it his special business) who
respects all women who have not proved them
selves unworthy thereon, should take measures
to ensure that every woman who comes to the
Capitol should be courteOusly treated until she
gives cause by her conduct for the reverse. At
present 1t is exactly the contrary. Not one but
them is the wife OF a Representative, herself
and husband both being above reproach. No
woman who respects herself can now 90 to the
Capitol alone, even in broad daylight, without
being wounded by being made to feel that SIM
ply because she Is woman she is an object OF
suspicion. The wife OF the Representative to
whom reference is made was thus wounded
when she attempted to f1nd her husbands COM
mittee room, where he had asked her to meet
him.. 1t is perfectly proper, OF course, as pre-
caution against female lobbyists and their flk
not to admit woman into the committee
rooms unless she is known to have some legit-
mate reason for so entering therein, but there
should be stringent rule that every emplOye
at the Capitol, under penalty of dismissal,
should make such inquiries as are neces-
sary courteously, and not reply to all ques-
tions put to him by woman as ii her
sex were pi'thaa .facie evidence OF her
being engaged In some nefarious transaction
Nor are the unpleasant features of visit to
the Capitol confined only to the rudeness OF the
lower grade OF employees. A clerk of a commit
spect to a lady when the spirit moves him. one
OF these last week, finding lady whom he had
reason TO believe had been invited by members
OF the committee TO hear an argument in open
session occupying his chair before the commit
tee met, was not content with rudely demand
Ing the seat before the lady had time to rise
out after possessing himself OF 1t left her to
stand instead OF handing her another chair as
he might readily have DONE She remained
standing, although several chairs in the room
were vacant and every man present was COM
fOrtably seated, until she grew faint and dizzy
All the chairs were placed around the table
used by the committee. and of course no lady
unasked would take one of these. Finally she
was told she might sit on a certain morocco
lounge tn the room on which no woman of ave-
rage height could sit with ker feet touching
the 1oor, unless she sat on the edge-a very un-
comfortable position Especially on slippery
ioungel for one who was already fatigued and
olzzy with long standing. She had been invited
In advance to attend the meeting and was told
aiter She arrived that she was welcome still in
the absence OF the chairman of the committee
and TWO or three OF its members who are unfail-
Ing IN courtesy TO ladies, no provision was made
for her comfort and she was forced to retire.
With such an example the rudeneSs OF some en-
ploy es Of the House is not surprising.
Like master like man"