Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-10-25
A Polite Era In the White House.

We cordially agree with our respected
Eastern contemporary, the New Yori
Sua, in its expressed hope that Mr.. AR
THUR will bring to the White House
some social habits which have long been
strangers therein. We trust, too, that
Washington will feel their influences and
respond in kind. Wehave had a surfeit
Of Western Presidents, and even the
one who was set up in the White House
to do Presidential duties could not sup
ply in the novelty of his relationship
with authority the want which was so
evidently felt.
since BUCHANAN drove away from
the White House steps the centre of So
cial attractions in Washington has been
presided over by Western people, with
their crudities and peculiarities of man.
ners which have made memory of ear
lier times about the only relief from
positive ennui.
Western man in education. associations,
and manners. Honest and true heart
ed, yet lacking painfully in that degree
of culture and a knowledge of the anne.
mites of social life which mark the chill
dren of new and thinIy settled section
of country. JOHNSON followed, with
but little Improvement on the ways of
his predecessor and yielded to GRANT,
who took into the Presidential Mansion
with him his love of dogs and horses,
his vulgar habits and notions, and even
failed to close its doors against his still
more vulgar associates. He could not
understand the differences between
show and taste, between display and re
finement. His example spread into
Washington society, and passion for
gaudy exhibition, vulgar wealth and
power took possession of that class of peo-
pie most nearly connected with him in
taste and affiliations, The leaders of
Washington society were those who
could make the greatest display of their
wealth, it mattered not by what means
it came into their possession; and it is
but truth to say that no period in the
history of society at the Capitol exhib
tied so low stage nor one where de-
praved tastes so crowded out the refine
ments of education and good breeding.
Mrs. HAYES, after trying to make
stand against the fashionable customs
demanded by her position, yielded to
the ways of Washington life and car
ried her fondness for costly toilets almost
to excess. But she could not compen-
safe for the want of polish in her hus-
band, who brought with him from Ohio
the ways of the politician of middle
rank, and his absurd attempts to make
himself teacher of manners were too
plainly hampered by his reflections con-
cerning his questionable right to dis
pense the hospitalities of the mansion.
His Ostentatious professions of religious
sentiment, in the light of the history of
the process which foisted him upon the
country as its Chief Magistrate and of
subsequent events, only served to rem
der him ridiculous and to bring dis
credit upon religious principles. Of
Mr. GARFIELD'S social characteristics it
is is not possible tr speak. owing to the
brief period of time and the distressing
circumstances of illness which prevent
ed their development; but he, too, was
Western man, though his amiable quail
tiles and higher education, coupled with
the unobtrusive, womanly character of
his wife, might have wrought change
in the social life at the Capitol so long
needed.
And now while we cannot echo the
egotism of our respected contemporary,
which makes it think that New York is
the only polite centre of American soci-
ETY., nor yet recognize New Yorker as
the only claimant to the title of gen.
tleman, we are free to say that feeling
of gladness attaches to the thought that
the crudities and peculiarities of the
Western plains are about to give place
to the refinement of education and con-
stant contact with polite society
Washington Post.