The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-23
wAsHIxeroN LETTER.
rom our Regular Correspondent.


seems TO infuse a spirit Of felicity into
everyone. The air is full Of the sup
pressed nurmur of gift secrets that will
burst forth into full bloom on Christ
mas morning. PennsylvAnia avenue Is
transformed from q homeward channel
for government clerks, and a fashiona-
BILE promenade, into a live, busting,
crowded thoroughfsre down which, at
the noon hour of the day, you must
almost elbow your way through a bright
and busy multitude. But it Is q real
pleasure. for one fond of the beautiful,
to walk on this broad business and po-
litical centre these sunny afternoons
during shopping hours. If he is not
charmed by the beautiful matrons and
bellies of Washington society, who find
recreation from their social duties In
this Christmas shopping. he Will at
least be attracted by the glitter of the
shop windows. 1t is in these windows
that the stir in the pulses of trade is
most manifest. Art has been spent to
supplement the attractions OF COM
merce, until 1t is hard to tell which it
Is that exercises the most potent temp
tation the artistic design and arrange
ment, or the nush of colors, the sheen
Of satin and the simmer OF silk. The
holiday season at the capital seems. to
begin earlier every year, and never be-
fore in the history of Washington have
the stores glowed With such wealth.
such dellcacy of fabrics, such mingled
harmony of beauty and use.
Washington is fast absorbing the
best social element Of all the leading
cities, and all sections Of the country
send their fair representatives, ladies
who are distinguished in society here
for their elegant manners, many for
their beauty, their entertaining quail
locations. their womanly attributes and
their virtues. Since the election of
Mr.. Carlisle to the speakership, the
latest lnourslon In social circles has
been from the Blue Grass region. One
would be surprised at the number of
Kentucky's daughters now at the capt.
tai. They are of course led by Mrs.
Carlisle and Mrs. Beck, the latter a
grand. niece Of George Washington, and
I could recall a long list which would
almost consume my space. 1t is said
that Kentucky leads all the other states,
excepting New York, in the numbar Of
Its social representatives. Several
much needed social reforms are prom
ised for this season, and hrst among
these is the pleasant prospect that the
rather vulgar %profusion of food and
general over-display which has charac-
terized dinner parties for some seasonn
past will shortly give way to more sim-
pie bills OF fare and seyerer but more
truly elegant style in the name of
serving and decorations, floral and
Other wise. There is one condition Of
society at the capital in which reform
is much needed, but for which there is
no present prospect Of improvement.
1t Is becoming more and more impos-
sible for anybody engaged In steady
employment to go much In society, for
the hours are becoming later and later,
until q ball mean almost an all-night
affair. The fault Of this lies in the
fact that all are afraid of being the first
to enter the house that has been swept,
garnished, garlanded and lighted for a
ball. Usually guests do not begin to
arrive until about 10 O'Clock. 1t is
claimed for Washington that It is the
only American city where "society"
really ~exists-that is, the meeting aud
intermingling OF men on true social
conditions. Everywhere else 1T is who
were your father aud motherY what do
you dop or how much are you worthS
here 1t Ia what are you, and what can
you contribute toward the enlighten-
ment or the entertainment of others.
l happened In the room of the board
Of appeals Of the patent ofice on Satur.
day, and there the central figure was a
large white haired man Resticulating
a~wkwardly with a telephone. 1t wa.
Roscoe Conkling, aud he was making
an argument for Edison In the big tele-
phone Interference with Bell and 9th
ers. The ex-senator has grown much
stouter since his then corset-like waist
and tiRht-htting clothes were the talk
OF the senate and country. But now
the fact Is Mr.. Conkling is under.
dressed rather than an oYerdressed
man. He had on a loose, ill-ftting
business suit, baggy at the knees, and
altogether as awkward as the clothes
turned out'by the London tailors. His
necktie lacked the gorgeous hue of old,
and the handkerchief was not as bril-.
liant as In the days when he posed fol-
the pleasure Of ladies in the senate gal.
lery. Mr.. Conkling is now making
money in his profession at the rate OF
nearly 800. 600 a year, and II he takes
good care Of his money be will In the
course of a few years be a rich man.
That has always been his earnest de.
sire, and when he gets half a million in
band he will be able to retire from the
law with a good deal more eQuanimity
than he manifested in leaving the SEN
ate. LENox.
nCOTTGH NO MORE