The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-17
. Washington Letter.
WAsnINGToN, March 8. 1881.

auguration approached. fairly ran
over during the days Immediately
following, and has hardly yet set d
down TO that gentle simmering
which it will keep up for short
time longer, before settling down TO
absolute quiet.
The day following the Inaugural
ton was noted even among brilliant
Washington days for the many and
delightful social occasions TO which
il gave rise.
Senator Sherman gave reception
to the Cleveland Grays, who came
over to the Inauguration as Prcsi-
dent Garfield's special escort. Later
Saturday evening Mr.. Sherman en-
tertained Gen. Hancock at dinner.
Indeed, dinners, receptions. speeches,
serenades and general merriment
were the business of the hour on
Saturday.
The most notable entertainment
was given at Welcker's to Vice
President Arthur. twas a dinner
rendered by the prominent New
Workers in the city. OF course, SEN
ator COnkling was chief among
them. Mr.. COnklin@ seems TO have
the Vice-President under his pro-
tecting wing as a special protege.
One may meet them almost any
pleasant afternoon on Pennsylvania
Avenue. walking arm in arm from
the Capitol after the adjournment
of The Senate.
The most elegant reception of Sat
of 70,
hams. His wife is rare hostess,
and has talent for gathering bril-
liant lotteries about her. Everybody
of political prominence was there.
Judges of the Supreme Court hob
nObbed with their brothers of the
Court of Claims, Cabinet Ministers
past were to be seen cOngratulating
Cabinet Ministers future. Foreign
Ministers were there i'll gorgeous
array with there Legations; congress-
men in flocks all accompanied by
the brilliantly attired women of
their families. Army and Navy of
ficers were too thick to count. Gen.
Hancock attended and was the cen-
tire of an admiring circle. The peo-
pie here have We'd in
DOING HIM HONOR
in spite of his manifest reluctance TO
be made so prominent. There was
II rumOr that brilliant entertain
ment i'll his honor was on the tapis,
but he left very unobtrusively on
Monday. to the immense disappOint-
ment of evrybody. His visit to
Washington on this occasion was
one of the most graceful of the
many graceful things Gen. Hancock
has done since the Cincinnati con-
vention brought him before the Ma
ton, and while here, his behaviour
under circumstances that many men
would have felt to be keenly EN-
barrassing was in the most exquisite
taste,
Ex-Secretary Belknap made him
self slightly more prominent also on
Saturday than has been his wont
since his meteOr-like downfall. He
headed u party of Iowa people who
called on Senator Allison of that
state, and on Secretary Kirkwood.
Speeches, music, and congratulations,
were in order. Senator Pendleton
entertained the Ohio people in this
city, and Senator Hill, of Colorado,
gave reception to Colorado peo-
Pile which was extremely pleasant.
Indeed, one of the most delightful
features of the Saturday merry-mak-
ings were those hospitable entertain
ments given by so many of the con-
gressmcn, and to which all the WIS.,
itors from their respective states
were invited. They had the effect
of bringing friends together and of
making them feel less like strangers
in a strange land. IL made the many
Texans IN The city regret more Keen
Ly than ere,' that their splendid state
should be absolutely URTepreSeRted
SOcidlig at the National Capital
Our members generally either leave
their wives at home, or if they bring
them here, they usually board and
dispense little hospitality compared
with the New England and some of
the Western congressman. To be
sure, the average Texan does not
come here seeking social worlds to
conquer; he comes generally to get
an office or to keep some other man
from getting the one he already
has, still little terpsichOrean or
other dissipation of that nature
would have rare effect in bunting
the edge of his sorrow under disap-
pointment or of working off his ex-
uberant joy in case of success. tits
to be hoped that the voters of Texas
will henceforth bear this in mind.
WASHINGTON SOCIETY
receives some very hard hits from
correspondents. 1t is remarkable to
note how many of them are purely
squibs of the imagination. Yet
some others are undeniably deserved
at least, by the political circles, which
are open to almost anyone, and are,
in consequence, somewhat heterOge-
neous in composition. The back
woodsman's (and woman's tOO) blunt
uncOuthless often runs afoul of the
cultured cosmopolitan's polish but
the contact hurts neither, and ought
to be accepted with pride since it is
the outcome of the great republic.
But Washington has more kinds of
society than One-the literary and
aesthetic people for instance Some
of the most elegant and really de-
lightful entertainments of the season
are given by them, and one meets
there the most refined people-the
people really worth knowing.
Lastly, comes the purely local So
ciety, made up of resident aristoc-
racy-vcry exclusive-very elegant,
and unfortunately, also pncOmpro-
misingly dull, especially when con-
trasted with the helter-skelter bril-
liancy of the political circles and
with the bright, brainy enjoyment
of the literary. The "Open Sesame"
to these various circles is very diff
ferent. To the first, Influence
either political or of the sort that
emanates from a pocket-book-is
the passport. Ones past standing
counts for little, nor ones future
either, unless it be a promising
one, when, of course, it counts for
much. "WOrship the rising sun" is
the motto of these careless self
seekers. Intelligence and culture
opens the door 10 the second; TO
the third-blood alone.
THE LITTLE CAMPBELLITE CHURCH
on Vermont Avenue, where
the President worships was, on last
Sunday, the scene of moro curios-
ity than piety it is to be feared. II
was packed 10 its utmost capacity
people standing in the aisles even
and many unable TO get inside the
door. The Presidents family at
tended in q very transformations
manner, and assisted with great
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