Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)

| (From Our Regular CorreSpondent.)
The moral and religious status Of
the National Capital has long been
a subject of cOntempuous comment
by the press of the country. In
rural districts the conviction is pre-
valent that Washington is the cess
pool of national infamy f; and it is
remarked upon as eden of iniqui-
ty" and "center of corruption" /
cannot concur in this belief. The
fact should not be lost sight of that
the universal interest felt in events
occurring in this city, as the pivotal
center of our governmental system
causes them to attain a wide publi-
city, increased by the transient
character of its population, which
halls from every nook and corner of
the United States. No intimation
of fraud is mOOted here, that does
not have Immediately natl onaI
circulation. And, from the many
fraudulent developments that have
in the last twenty years been traced
to high places in this official center,
it cannot be wondered that the ma
tons eyes have become suspiciously
fixed upon this city as the focus of
spontaneous corruption. In truth,
the permanent population of Wash
ingtOn is as moral and religious
people as any in the country. The
t1ippant talk about the immortality
prevailing here, so far as it has any
real truth, applies to various birds
OfpasSage, visiting pleasurer5, place
seekers, plunder-hunters, and that
class that fit about all cities, but eS-
pecially about the National Capitalat
certain seasons, but do not represent
the citizenship proper of the dis
trict. If numerous Churches, church
ance are accepted as proofs of the
high morality of a community, this
city can make as good an eXhibI
ton according to population as any
in America. The District contains
seventy-seven churches, and 49,051
COMMITMENTS. With 50 much leav-
en- leavening at the whole lump!
the moral condition of the city need
not be despared of.
President Arthur has returned
from his angling excursion to Flor
ida, having reached the city Sun
day evening. He looks quite swar-
thy from the effects of the southern
climate, and traces are yet visible
of his recent illness in Savannah.
Next time, it may be inferred, he
will know better than to lunch
heartily on soft shell crabs and
after a day of prostra-
ting sea sickness, eXhausting by
exposure to the hot sun, and atten-
dance at tedious reception. This |
was too violent even for a Presi- |
dents constitution, and "indiges-
ton, that conscience of every bad |
stomach" punished him with a col
ic. But the President was not so
much to blame. What could he do
but partake bountifully of these
elaborate preparations, or else APP
pear impolite or hard to please.
Really, no President of ordinary
calibre ever had chance of keeping
half well. 1t might be wise, or
kind, to select Presidents with ref
erence to their anacOndiac capabili-
ties.
The President missed seeing
ing Mrs. Langtry, who, in his alb
parsonage in Washington
Turing the past week. At any rate
she was talked about and looked at
more than any one else. indeed,
he people expressed much great
er desire to see than to hear her,
md, although your correspondent
has no desire for either after one
verdIcts pronounced
lpOn her abilities and personal at
ractions are too conflicting for any
me person to assume the role of
umpire. American patrons of the {
tage could not have expected to
ind in the Jersey Lily the fire of ]
lramatic genius. She was not heral-
led as a great actress. But men and
women with established regulations .
or good looks almost invariably
ulfiIl their claims to the same when
lone. Intrinsic beauty cannot
,e mistaken for anything else.
dental qualities may disappoint
race of manner may be wanting
hallowness of mind or coarse
ess of nature may develop,
ut the moment you catch sight OF
phenOmenally beautiful woman
gu know it, you recognize it in
family and prejudice melts away.
Iangtry is not beautiful according to
he acknowledged standards Of taste.
the genius that produced the We :
us of Milo, the Venus de Medici,
f Thorwaldson or CanOva, were
OF all wrong, Langtry is not beau
full. They would not have chosen
er as model, or thought Of inn
her in marble. She has
either the face nor the form that
ainters or sculDtOrs love to copy. ,
wen her fiattering photographs {
re not beautiful, as any one can
,e. You search in vain for lines of
aauty in her angular face and
'rm. Her face is not oval, is not
ne or refined. Her shoulders are
10 broad, her waist positively
aspish. She is beautiful only in
le vulgar repetition and hearsay (
those who have never studied =
eauty with intelligence or in the
orks of the great masters.
Washington, April %, 1888.