Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-03
CORRESPONDENCE.

Our Washington Lstter-The Weather
 at the Capital-''Society''-H
 Spencsr-SOuthenstern Washington
 The Navy Yard, Etc., Etc.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 1883. To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER.
 The mid-winter month expired with 8 sigh that had much of spring time mildness about it. gentle chirping of birds and com mingling of sounds tended to greatly disar- range one's calendar but it was only slight mistake on the part of the signal service, which they promptly rectified by issuing their bulletin last evening to the effect that another cold wave was coming. It travelled much faster than usual, for this month must have been very young indeed when it felt the wintry grip, for brief moment relaxed, again frightened. The effect of the pleasant change in the weather was particularly no ticeable in the streets. I suppose none of .our cities has winter population that so wildly recalls the glitter and show-and q must say it) discomfort of summer water ing place as Washington-but that is 8 sub ject that has been absolutely squeezed dry by each and every one of my predecessors and colaborers in the field of correspondence.
 
 yesterday in the bright sunshine, and the brightness of the sky seemed to heighten the attractiveness of the broad, smooth streets. It was one of the regular recep- ton days. Really I forget which one I only know that one day in the week is ap- propriated by the wives of Senators, another by those of Cabinet officers, and others by the various grades of high life whoss boun- diary lines are so strongly marked here. I know, as I passed the corner of I and Four teenth streets about half past four, there was a regular jam of carriages in the former, and I know, by the pretty toilettes and bright faces that flushed across my line of sight for an instant, as jotted along in the bob tailed car, there must be some reception that it was more than ordinarily incumbent upon stsoci- ety" to attend.
 Have you not often noticed how much it either adds to or detracts from your opinion and estimate of author to know him, to hold converse with him, and to hear him ut ter remarks that he can't review, criticise and revise as he would Mss. before commit ting 1t to the worlds 1 can (but don't) do with this He never seems to you to be just the same as before you knew him, and either the impression left upon you by actu-I al contact will be such as to add sweetness, interest or force to his works according as he sings to you in delicate verse, plays for you on the web of plot and romance, or ham mers strong words and squarely-cut para graphs on logic CT science into your brain; or the impression will be diametrieaIly oppo- site and everything from his pen will have an insipid taste if not positively nauseous one. am thinking, just at the moment, of Herbert Spencer, whom I met while he was here some months since. It was nay good fortune to have him all to myself for some tine-the presence of his companion (whose name can't recalI acted as no restraint on the freedom of his speech, and his manner was plainly that of man who was not weighing every word to make sure that noth- ing has been permitted to escape him s'under standard" knew Spencer's books before from his First Principles to his System of Socloiogy, In certain wayI don't claim that had read every line land had adl mlreo tremendously his wonderful charts on, the races, families and tribes of men, but hnce have known him an interest has at taehed itself to those books that I should