Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL coRREsroSpESoE OF THE moNIroR. ]

by the press of the country. In ru-
raj districts the conviction is preva-
lent that Washington is the cesspool
of national infamy; and it is remark
ed upon as eden of iniquity' and
"center of corruption. / cannot
concur with this belief. The fact
should not be lost sight of that the
universal interest felt in events oc-
curing in this city, as the pivotal
centre of our governmental system,
causes them to attain wide publicity, |
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 i'm
mediately national circulation.
And, from the many fraudulent de-
velopments that have in the last
twenty years been traced to high
places in this official center, it cannot
be wondered that the nations eyes
have become suspiciously fixed upon
this city as the focus of spontaneous
corruption. In truth, the permanent
population of Washington is as moral
and religious people as any in the
country. The fippant talk about
the immortality prevailing here, SO far
as it has any real truth, applies to
the various birds of passage,-the
visiting pleasurers, place-seekers,
plunder-hunters, and that class that
fit about all cities, but especially
about the National Capital at certain
seasons, but do not represent the
citizenship proper of the district. If
numerous churches, church member
ship and church attendance are ac-
cepted as proofs of the high morality
of community, this city can make
as good an exhibit according to pop
ulation as any in America. The
District contains seventy seven
churches, and 40, 051 communicates.
With so much leaven leavening at
the whole lump. the moral condition
of the city need not be despaired of.
President Arthur has returned
from his angling excursion to Florida,
having reached the city Sunday even
ing. He looks quite swarthy from
the effects of the southern climate,
and traces are yet visible of his re-
cent illness in Savannah. Next
time, it may be inferred, he will
lunch heartily on soft she'll crabs and
champagne after day of prostrating
sea sickness, exhaustion by exposure
to the hot sun, and attendance at a
tedious reception. This was too
violent even for a Presidents consti-
tuition, and "indigestion, that con-
science of every bad stomach, pun
ished him with a collie. But the
| President was not so much to blame.
What could he do but partake bonn-
tifully Of these elaborate preparations,
or else appear impolite or hard to
please. Really, no President of
ordinary calibre ever had a chance
of keeping half well. 1t might be
wise, or kind, to select Presidents
with reference to their anacondiac
capabilities.
The President missed seeing Mrs.
Langtry, who, in his absence, might
be called the most interesting per-
sonage in Washington during the
past week. At any rate she was
talked about and looked at more than
any one else. Indeed, the people
expressed much greater desire tc
see than to hear her, and, although
your correspondent has no desire fol
either after one experience, verdicts
pronounced upon her abilities ant
personal attractions are too con
flicting for any one person to assume
the role of umpire. American pa
irons of the stage could not hav,
expected to find in the Jersey Lily
the fire of dramatic genius. Sh,
was not heralded as great actress
But men and women with established
regulations for good looks almos
invariably fulfill their claims to th,
same, when it is question of goot
looks alone. Intrinsic beauty can
not be mistaken for anything else
Mental qualities may disappoint
grace of manner may be wanting
shallowness of mind or coarseness O
nature may develop, but the momen
you catch sight of phenomenal
beautiful woman you know it, yo
recognize it instantly, and prejudic
melts away. Langtry is not beauti
full according to the acknowledge,
standards of taste. If the geniu
that produced the Venus of Milo, th
Venus de Medici, of Thorwaldsen O
Canova, were not all wrong, Langtr
is not beautiful. They would no
have chosen her as a model, Q
thought of immortalizing her in maj
BILE. She has neither the face nc
the form that painters or sculptor
love to copy. Even her fatterin
! photographs are not beautiful as an
one can see. You search in vain fC
lines of beauty in her angular fac
and form. Her face is not oval,
J not fine or refined. Her shoulder
are to broad. her waist positivel
! waspish. She is beautiful only
. the Vulgar repetition and hearsay {
those who have never studied beaut