Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-25


description.
He is small man small, graceful, and
well formed. His hair, once black, but
now tinged with gray, is cut short, and
always brushed with great care. The
same may be said of his trim mustache.
He is always dressed with the utmost
neatness, and in the very latest fashion.
He is called by military title, and claims
to have been educated in German mill
tary school. Still, singularly enough, he
cannot speak two words of German, and
during our war he was never heard Of in
either army He has no visible means Of
support, and has never been known to
have penny of money. He is never
permitted to stay long In one hotel, the
reason for his frequent removals being
entirely of financial character Numer-
ous too confiding people complain that
he has disagreeable habit of forgetting
to return small sums Of money borrowed
in great hurry with the utmost ease Of
manner, ''just to pay hackman," or
something of that sort, 'tyou know"
And still this person is to-day, and has
been for two or three years past, one Of
the lions of Washington society. He is
seen at nearly every noteworthy enter
tainment given during the season. He
is frequently the escort of ladies whose
husbands hold high public positions.
Last year one of those 'lovely bits of
gossip" always current here, connected
his name with that of distinguished
Senator's wife, a very gay lady, no longer
young. During that time it was notice.
able that he was less frequent in demand
ing small loans from the general public
than he had ever been before. This sea-
son ''the Captain" affects the company of
very young women. He can be seen
daughter of well known Western eapi-
talist. and nearly every newspaper notice
of reception, party. or ball, contains
some mention of his having been marked
in his attention to Miss This, That, or the
Other. Of course these young ladies' do
not know that the dark-eyed and graceful
Captain" has wife in a small seaport
city-a wife who, by hard work, keeps
his three children from starving. Such,
however, is the case Let it be added
that ''the Captain" has neither intellect
nor accomplishment to recommend him.
He has great fund of small talk, he
dresses well, and is possessed Of impu-
dence and assurance worthy of all admi-
ration. These are the qualities which
make it possible for him to play the role
ho does. The secret of his success may
be summed up in the two words Sub
lime cheek"
But even the good qualities of address,
a glib tongue, and certain mysterious
manner which greatly impresses simple
people, and which are possessed by the
Captain in marked degree, are by no
means necessary to social success in
Washington. There is hardly house in
the city-that is Of n public ofiicial-to
which anybody, man or woman, who is
not notoriously disreputable, and who is
supplied with presentable coat or dress,
cannot freely enter The ease with which
such an cnt,'@c may be obtained will be the
better understood when it ID explained
that person Of any sort of standing who
Leaves IL card and respectable address at
the house of any of the so-called great
men" who are i'll the habit of giving the
lavish entertainments most talked about
in the newspapers. is almost certain to be
remembered when the invitations to such
are sent out. With but
few exceptions large party givers here
vie with each Other in trying to attract
large crowds. They throw their doors
wide open, and it is almost literally true
that all who will may enter. The result
of this peculiar style OF hospitality can
be better imagined than described. At
an entertainment given by high govern
ment official the other evening, for in
stance. Justice of the Supreme Court
might have been seen side by side with q
very fair-spoken man who makes living
by playing with unsuspecting visitors to
the capital an exceedingly neat game Of
poker. At the same reception little
humbug, who processes to have influence
with the newspapers, who at the same
time claims to reflect the views of South
ern statesmen, and who, by hook or crook,
always manages to make most excellent
appearance, was IN deep and evidently
conversation with one Of the
leading Senators OF the United States.
Near him on the evening in question was
another representative type Of Washing
ton fraud" He is at the head of what
has well if not elegantly been called ''ths
diplomatic beats" He is n little fat, un-
shapely ''hanger-on" about the legation
Of not very robust Eastern power which
sends but few emigrants to this country.
He is known among Washington men
about town to he n creature of the vilest
habits, sot, and = petty thief; yet
among n certain set of young ladies' in the
best society" of Washington, young
ladies'" who talk a very little French very
badly he is a lion of lions. 1t may be
that they pet him Oh the same principle
that they perfectly adora" their hideous
pug dogs. Ii they knew that he owes
money to half the low whishey-shop-
keepers in Washington, thai he is barely
tolerated by the very coarse and inconss-
quential representative of the puny State
whose miseiably paid servant he is, it Is
possible that their feelings toward him
might he slightly changed.
At the same entertainment which beast
ed the presence OF his person, together
with II number Of men whose names are
best known in the nation, and Il not IN
company of Washington
Of both sexes who had doubt
less been at some difficulty to either beg,
borrow, or steal the white gloves which
they wore, was also lady Of character
which deserves notice. She Is the wife
of man who was, but who is no longer,
rich She is young and very agreeable
III her manner, conversation, and address.
He is no longer youngnor agreeable, but,
after II worldly fashion, he Is very sensl-
BILE. He has claim against the Govern
ment. He sees that he is not able to &C.
cure its payment unaided, and he never
stands i'll the way when his beautiful wife
tries to make herself and the claim find
favor i'll the eyes of Congressman and
Senators She and number of others
like her find ample opportunity for the
exercise of their talents, for 1t Ii one OF
the most deplorable facts III the lifeof the
capital that comparatively few represen-
tatives in either house of Congress bring
their wives or other women folk with
them to Washington. 1t is hardly neces-
sarv III this connection to refer to the TACT
that IL good half of our members OF Con
gress and Senators have sprung from the
very humblest origin. This Is to their
credit. Yet they have the faculty, pecu-
liarly American, of making themselves In
a degree presentable. Fur different the
position OF wives Of men Of this class
who come to Washington. Without mer-
cy or pity their upstart sisters, Who may
not have half their goodness OF heart,
but who have money and sense enough 10
hire n good dress maker, pick their clothes
to pieces, and ridicnle their lack of impu-
dent assurance, which very frequently
passes current here fol an easy manner
and the best of breeding. At tho enter
tninment already referred to as type of
mauv others of the same sort. one OF
these seli-nsserling milliner made women.
who, by the way, happened to be the wife
of gentleman who is rs prominent In
not very BRAIN exhausting business as he
is III the low walks of tricky politics, ap-
proached quiet young New England
Indy whom she happened to know, and
referring to the unfortunate wife Of II
country Congressman who was also pres
,nt, said with snecr
For heavens sake. Miss Blank, did
you ever see such fright of dress rs
that Mrs Dash has on ~
To which the young' 4 lady senslbly re-
piled
II have always been taught, Madam,
that it was very rude to criticise people
whom met at a social gathering of this