The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-02
Bright Women at the National Capital

Springfield (Mass.) Republicans writes
from Washington:
1t has been suggested in a recent
clever study of Washington life, a. 1t
appears to the casual visitor, that the
women here are not equal to the men.
This may be true sometimes-where is.
it notp-but the instances are quite as
conspicuous, some of them made so by
the light falling on very high place,
where all the success of the man has
been due to the prominent power of the
woman. 1t is probably notin Washing
ton alone, either, that invitations are an
swered after this fashion: 81 and Mr..
Jones accept with pleasure" etc.; and
elsewhere as well as here one meets
women whose acquaintance are spoken
of as "those parties" but l suppose
this city only would furnish an official
leader of society who would offer this
excuse for lack of civility: swell,
you know they haint of the same poll
tics we bel" Stories quite as bad, how
ever, are current of the distinguished
gentlemen themselves, and these things
do not properly represent the ladies Of
Washington society. Women of &C.
quirement, of wit, of social charm, are
so common that would be hostess has
often an embarrassment of riches.
There is no better bonDaot in literature
than the reply of a girl who heard her
father criticised severely across q din
ner-table. The careless critic paused a
moment to say. az hope he is no rela-
tive of yours Miss L." and quick as
thought she replied with the utmost nom
chalance, "Only q connection of my
mothers by marriage" 1t can hardly
be true that the women are generally
inferior where you may meet at any
turn those famous women, Grace Green
wood, Jean Davenport Lander, Gail
Hamilton, Harriet Prescott Spofford
and Frances Hodgson Burnett; where,
less public characters could be named
by the score, equally brilliant, and some
more charming; where every public Off
Ger 4 know, with possibly half dozen
exceptions, has wife fully his equal
and quite as attractive; to which The
scientific men continually gathering
here have brought wives bearing names
already distinguished and themselves
honoring those names. One, the young
wife of perhaps the greatest discoverer
of modern times, is said to not only
keep abreast of her husband, but to
make many suggestions to him of great
value. And whatever lack there may
be of sterling virtues, the society can not
DO stupid that contains in single de-
cade women of such political power as
Mrs. Sprague and Mrs. Williams, social
queens like Mrs. Belknap, Nine. Hege-
man and Mrs. Robson; leaders in Off
cialflife like Mrs. Blaine or Mrs. Fish;
where the bellies even match brilliancy
to beauty like Miss Stanton, Miss Bryan,
Miss Beck, Miss Edith Fish, Miss Page
or Miss Frelinghuysen. The list is too
long for patience or propriety, and it
stretches on with no diminution unto
this present time. ....
To-day, as In past years, the repartee
of one woman, the bonmots of another,
are more than equal those of profession
al wits; the tact and diplomacy of a
third deserves the celebrity of Reca-
mier. Some of these women have the
grace and beauty of youth. One, a
Senator'S daughter, of a family for many
generations distinguished in political
life, adds to the many accom- plishments
of civilization brilliancy and clever
ness which is almost sharpness, that
makes her most coveted partner at the
dinners she chiefly affects. Another
young woman of striking face and figure
Is so brilliant and unusual that she is
suspected of sitting for the portrait of
every heroine that appears in successive
novels of this society, and clever men
seek her acquaintance for the piquancy
If her talk and originality of her action.
Another, in the bloom and beauty of
20, has the unerring instinct which
makes no mistakes and omits no atten-
ton, with the sweet graciousness that
seems personal compliment to all re.
cipients. Washington rejoices that she
is fastened here for many years to pre-
side over one of the most elegant and
profuse households. Still another,
matron, bears name honored especi-
ally in our State, and wears the digni-
ties it has repeatedly brought to her
own. Dispensinga prodigal hospitality,
the tact and discrimination with which
it is done are matter of general COM
ment, and lesson to the debutante.
Her unfailing graciousness makes no
discrimia nations, but guests are without
knowing it most fifty grouped together.
Strangers from other lands, as well as
this, meet under her roof the distin-
guished names of the nation; clever men
are presented to appreciative women;
the hobby rider finds himself seated by
his kind the shy woman falls into the
hands of kindly friend; acapaintances
are gathered together and new relations
formed by the apparently casual phrase
of Introduction bringing two people en-
rapport; here the uninteresting and neg
lected catch their only glimpse of the
coveted Society" and find themselves
under the skillul treatment become so
interesting as to surprise even them
selves; the books, Christmas cards, pho
tographs and bric-a-brac lying about are
skilfally selected to suggest topics of
conversation to tardy minds; an uner-
ring instinct of society places each guest
at once, and afterward he is never OUT
side the plan of the hostess, who, though
working by means of many clever and
well-trained and attractive girls, still
keeps her own guiding hand every
where. Beauty and wit and fashion are
eager to be bid by this famous hostess,
who may boast, if she likes, of being