National Republican., 1881-02-19

principle that they perfectly adore their hideous
pug dogs. Ifthey knew that he owes money to
half the low whisky-shop keepers in Washington,
that he is barely tolerated by the very and
| inconsequential representative of the puny State
whose mserably paid servant he is, it is possible
that their feelings toward him might be slightly
changed.
AT THE SANE EMBARRASSMENT
which boased the presence of his person, together
with a number of men whose names are best
known in the Nation, and not 1nconslderapie
company of Washington swindlers OF Doth sexes
who had doubtless been at some difficulty TO beg,
borrow, or steal the white gloves which they wore,
was also a lady of character which deserves
notice She is the wife of a man who was, but
who is no longer, rich. She is young and very
agreeable in her manner. conversation, and ad-
dress. He is no longer young nor agreeable, but,
after worldly fashion, he is very sensible. He
has q claim against the Government. Hesees that
he is not able to secure its payment unaided, and
he never stands in the way when his beautiful
wife tries TO make herself and the claim find favor
in the eyes of Congressman and Senator'S She
and number of Others like her find ample oppor-
unity for the exercise of their talents for 1t is one
of the most dcplorabIe facts in the life of the Capt.
tal that comparatively few Representatives IN
either House of Congress bring their wives OF
other women folk with them to Washington.
That so many of them fail to do SO must, i'll the
majority of cases be taken as evidence that these
same
"YIvES AND WOMEN FOLK "
have not kept pace with their husbands and male
relatives in the race OF life. It Is hardly necessary
in this connection TO refer to the fact that good
half of our members of Congress and Senators
have sprung from the very humblest origin. This
to their credit At the time it is only too true
that many of them could not earn 81 900 year in
any other business save that of politics. Yet they
have the faculty, peculiarly American. of making
themselves in a degree preSentable. Even their
rudcnesS-and many of them are very rudc-isper-
mited. for the sake of their positions, to pass for
eccenricity Far different the position of wives of
men of this class who come to Washington. With
out mercy or pty their upstart sisters who may not
have half their goodness OF heart but who have
money and sense enough to hire good dresslnaker,
pick their clothes to pieces, and ridicue their lack
of impudent assurance, which very frequently
passes current here for an easy manner and the
best of breeding.
AT THE EMBARRASSMENT
already referred to as type Of many others OF the
same sort one of these asserting milliner made
women, who, by the way, happened to be the wife
of a gentleman who is as prominent in not very
Brain -exhausting business he is in the low walks
of tricky politics, approached quiet young New
England lady whom she happened to know, and,
referring TO the unfortunate wife of country Con-
gresham who was also present, said, with sneer:
"'For heavens sake, Miss Blank, did you oversee
such fright of a dress that Mrs Dash has on?'
"To which the younger lady sensibly replied:
"'I havcalways been taught, madam, that it was
very rude to criticise people whom met at social
gathering of this Sort The elder woman turned
her heel much put out but not at all the gamer
by the unusual lesson which had been read her.
Half an hour later, when the party broke up, she
went Of in triumph in the carriage of Cabinet
Minister, q carriage driven, most of the 'Cabi-
net carriages are, by man who appears on lhc
civil service rolls rs a clerk messenger in one
or other ofthC Departments It may be added that
the lady III question is leader in Washington's
very much mixed official society. Happily, she is
not from New York. 1t is only just to say that the
wives, daughters, and families Of the Empire State
now here honor themselves and
the section from which they come by having moth
ing in common with the rude and vulgar people
by whom they are frequently surrounded at an
ordinary Washington reception"