Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-20
MRS. DAHLGREN's BOOK.
Washington Society Caricatured bv
One Who Ought to Know.

Washington Letter to Near York World.
There are still quite a large number of
Washington society people here enioyinp
the comforts of their well-arranged homes
instead of subjecting themselves to the
inconvenience of watering place hotels.
The summer has been so cool and pleasant
that they have found life very enjoyable
here.
But among them there has suddenly
risen a great disturbance. 1t has been
Occasioned by Mrs. Dahlgren's new book.
"A Washington Winter" They are in
dlgnant at the picture given by Mrs. Dahl
gren of Washington life. A lady said to
me yesterday: 'EWhy, it is perfectly
dreadful! Mrs. Dahlgren was the daugh-
ter OF United States Senator and at her
second marriage became the wife of an
ought to have had opportunities to
know something about Washington
society, but the worst that ever has been
written by all the swarm who have
published sO-called washington novels
has been as mild as moonlight compared
with the rawlings of this old woman. She
may have met such society as she do
scribes. but | never did. The cultured
people from all parts of this country ami
all the distinguished foreigners who come
to America may be met with in Washing
ton society. And while ! confess that II
happens all too frequently that low. ig-
norant men are elected to Congress. vet I
am sure that they are the exception. MOI
the rule. We have men of great cnIture
in Congress, and if they have avoided
Mrs. Dahlgren it must be- her own fault.
'Of course you know what the animus
OF the whole book was? Don't YOU? Wen
PteH you. You must know that Mrs.
Dahlgren, who is nothing if she is not
thrifty, has been trying for years TO get
the government to pay her $3.50, 600 for the
guns which her husband invented Sec
retary thompson, the Navy, after care
tully investigating the case, absolutely
refused to recommend any such payment
He was satisfied that such payment
would be UNJUST. And his action utterly
defeated Mrs. Dahlgren. To get even,
as the slangy people say, Mrs. Dahlgren
writes a Dook IN Which she holds up Sec
retary thompson and his wife 10 ridicule
Her description of those people is most
unjust, for Mrs. Thompson was n Iadv
and Mr.. Thompson a delightfully."- c,,aint
old gentleman, with char ming, Old styIe
manners. -
Il don't know who Senator spangler'
was. The character has attributes be-
longing 80 several l have heard that She
ineaht II luF senator Carpenter. But thai
cannot be so unless the woman is p fiend
for Mr.. Carpenter was devoted to hjs
family. de drank very heavily, though. /
Delleve, Rut ae was Dy no means the
--99norapt man that 'spangler' was. He
was one of the most brilliant LAWYERS in
the country. And then he never built 3
house. Senator Stewart, of Nevada. did
"a very queer sort of a structure-bnt If
couldn't have been Mr.. Stewart.
'Of course tAirs. Wilton is Mrs. Dahl
green herself, and she certainly was snoh-
bish tmay l use such a word ? enough Eor
it to be pretty fair picture, The daugh-
ter and niece were her own two daugh-
ters by her firsS marriage with a Mr..
Goddard, of ohio,
senator Roland is Senator Hoar:
'Clarence' is Clarence King: Mr.. Clys.
mic no one can identify; the Commodore
Is General Van Vliet, Of the army, no one
can dispue that,
Indeed, ! am glad Mrs. DahIsren has
written the book; for ! believe that now
her social status will be settled. She
ought to have the cold shoulder after this:
don't you think SOP"
And after a careful review of the hook.
your correspondent is inclined to agree
with the stately dame whose ewes s60na
with so much Indignation while she
talked