Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-25
tuesday Evening, Jan. 25. 1851.
GOSSIP.
Social aud Political A1airS---The
Whirl of society.
Corresponding Louisville Post.

Correspondence LOUSY lie Post.l
WASHINGTON, January 19.--The
social structure of Washington is
wonderful, and quite unlike that OF
any other place under heaven. There
is apparently a society composed Of
high sounding names that with a very
little pushing on the part of an aspi-
rant, will take him or her within its
magic circle. But Observe-these re
ceptions'-which are c%unningly dis
guised under the mask of a card re-
ception" in order to give them a some
what private and exclusive eiect-are
Heterogeneous to the last degree-and
one might 60 to every reception in
Washington given by people in ofhcisl
and semi-oficial positions, and be no
more factors in society than ifthey had
stayed at home. Every card left
at an official residence is scrupu-
lousIy re urned. Your basket
may be full of cards from the
Shermans and the Evarts, and all the
other big people, and it does not
amount to a row of pins. On their
reception days their houses are open
to the world, and you, my ambitious
wife of a representative, or my young
lady from the provincial town, come
here to have a winter in Washing
ton" may be in society without being
of society. But there are fewer OBJ
stAcles in the way of a stranger get
ting into this Holy of Holes than in
any other city. Washington being
Cosmopolitan more than anything else,
if one has any social standing at home
there are modes and persons through
whom it may be utilized here. But
the man who, in the revolution Of
politics, is sent to Washington as a
representative, will not, on that ac-
count, be sought alter-he must bring
his recommendations from home with
him.
There is an excellent literarysociety
~here-among which was organized the
literary club, Of which Gen. Garfield
was president, before he was told to
go up higher" The most prominent
member OF ii is, perhaps,
MRS. FRANCES HODGsoN BURNETT,
the author of "Haworth's' and That
Lass O. LOwries." She has a modest
house on | street. 4 few doors from
General Garfeld's. Her husband is
an o%culi;t, and a man of geniusi in his
profession, besides having many ad-
mirable social qualities-but he is OK
tremelylame and walks with difficulty.
Mrs. Burnett herselfis a small blonde,
a rather pretty woman Of thirty-fve.
She is not impressive either in man
ner or conversation. 1t is curious to
observe the difference between a man
or a woman who can talk and one who
can write, and the want of discrimi-
nation shown by the public between
the two gifts. Now, in meeting with
the author of "That Lass O. Lowrie"-
of which more copies were sold than
any book published, except Uncle
Toms Cabin"-one would expect to
see some traces Of profound kn0wl
edge Of peOple, thee skillful handling
Of character, the dry and incisive
humor that makes That Lass such
good reading. On the contrary, Mrs.
Burnett is 10 conversation a common
place woman-with good sense and
good manners. but utterly devoid Of
personal magnetism, and with her
brains as securely locked up in her
head as money in a bank vault, and
Madame de Stall, who could teach
statesmen and philosophers, has left
behind her books that are never looked
at after our school days are over. Mr..
Charles NOrdhoff is another p-ominent
literary character here, and keeps with
his wife assistance, a charming circle
OF reading, writing and talking people
around him.
THE wHIRL OF SOCIETY
has at last commenced and dinners.
balls, receptions and lunches follow
upon the heels Of one another. But
in spite Of oth1r attractions. John
Mccullough has managed to draw i'm.
mense houses during last week and
this, which bids fair to keep up until
the close of his engagement at the end
of this week. John is no end of z
favorite in private as we'll as in public
General Sherman made up a party o.
ladies and gentlemen to 60 to thu
thcater to see him, and after the per
Torrance entertained them with
MAGNIFICENT supper, at which Mr.. Nc
Cullough joined them. This is hi
last tour before going to London to tr
his fate before an English audience a
Drury Lane, and he is having a glori
Gus send of. .
MISS CALHOUN.
the niece Of John G. Calhoun, Wit
made such a hit in San francisco, die
the same thing here last week. Sh,
appeared ia several ambitious roles
and did well in all, besides giving
promise of doing better. She is ex.
tremely handsome and full of talent
and reminds me now very much o
Fanny Davenport but if she fulfill
what sho now promises, she will b
infinitely greater than Miss Dayen'