The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-24
MECCA OF AMERICANS,
ouRFAMous CAPITOL, WASHINGTON,
The Jerusalem of all patrloIls Cltl..ns-socl.sy
Features OF the clty-Lsnt and its 0bSerr.
Aaee-A Gsaalns American PrInesst
A Short Temperance Sermon.
From an Occasional Correspondent.

4 Short Temperance Sermon.
From an Occasional Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. O., February 2S.-For
one who has both means and time at his
disposal, this is the city par excellence in
which sojourn during the winter season
may be made exceedingly enjoyable and
in the highest sense profitable. What
Jerusalem was to the Jew, and what Mecca
is to the Mohammedan, our National Capt.
tol seems destined to become-if It be not
already to the devout American-the
shrine to which his yearly pilgrimage
shall tend. Howbeit, while his inspiration
may not be that OF the religious enthusiast,
his heart must swell with righteous pride
as nearing the city from whatever stand
point he may choose, the lofty dome OF the
Capitol meets his gaze, while from its PIN
nacle the fair Goddess Of Liberty waves
greeting to her loyal American devotees
and welcome 10 her foreign friends.
Walking through these wide avenues
and pleasant streets lined on either side
by broad spreading shade trees, with those
ol less pretentioua growth, giving equal
promise OF shade and refreshment to the
weary traveller, what American does not
feel proud OF this city and OF his whole
country? Or seated in one OF the pleas
ant and well.kept parks that dot the city
from end to end, as he looks upon the
statues OF Washington, Jackson, Scott,
Mcpherson, Thomas, Farragut, and last,
but perhaps greatest Of all, that OF our first
martyr, Lincoln, does not feel proud OF
himself when he remembers, II am an
American"
AGAY SEASON.
This has been an unusually gay season
at the Capitol. It would seem that all the
pent up gaiety Of the past five years had
been unbottled and poured out with a
layishness tkat sayous Of improvidence
and dissipation during the season Of mirth
that has just closed. Shades Of St. Peter,
how these society people do keep lent |!
Their .gaiety is like abstaining from flesh
and surieiting upon fowl. 1t Is true the
last Sunday "wine dinner" was given
on the very last Sabbath before lent But
you have only to read the Society Notes"
published daily in our evening papers to
satisfy your curiosity as to the OBJ.
servance Of this world renowned season
OF fasting, humility and-but prayer Is
not for me to meddle with-that belongs
to him who says to me, First cast the
beam out OF thine own eye"-it is the
outward manifestations 80 carefully herald
ed from day 10 day, that belong to every
body and become every day matters Of
comment or discussion. In an evening
paper just laid upon my table read,
"Col. and Nine. - are at home to in
vited friends on Sunday evenings" "Call-
ing was very general yesterday"-"in the
afternoon lea was given by Mrs. -
to party OF select friends. These teas
are spoken of in fashionable parlance as
"high teas" which simply means that the
guests have "high time"-now women
are not supposed TO know the true English
OF that expression, and / confess to my
ignorance until / was enlightened by the
sight OF the punch bowl upon nearly every
table that has been set in Washington this
winter-at afternoon reception, teas and
entertainments Of whatever order among
the high caste OF the city.
AN AMERICAN PRINCESS.
One notable exception is found in Secre-
tary and Mrs. Teller. They do not even
own punch bowl, and would you believe
it, at an entertainment given this winter a
General, prominent in social cirrles, being
seated beside the Secretary's wife, was
asked whether lie would take his cham
paigne dry. "Dry, you please" answered
the General. The champagne being poured
from bottle into glass and looking very
much like fluid, Mrs. Secretary inquired
very modestly: General may ! ask what
is meant by dry CHAMPAGNE. Ihavea. ked
Mr.. Teller but he doesn't know, and am
really curious TO learn how liquid can be
dry" The quiet simplicity and woman
illness OF the vile OF the Secretary OF the
Interior is very refreshing in the midst OF
this whirl Of giddy frivolity. Always
dressed with quiet elegance that betokens
the innate refinement OF the wearer, a
cordial amiability that manifests itself to
every one with whom she comesin contact
genuine warmth towards those whom
she is pleased to call friends, Mrs. Tel.
ler is woman whom the nation
may well be proud Of and whose rare
womanly virtues her sex might proftably
initiate. While meeting the recognized
demands OF the social position to which
she has been called, she never once for
gets-the wife, the mother, and the friend.
Her face always takes me back to the quiet,
unostentatious, but sprightly and lovely
Mrs. Hayes-almost holy quiet reigned
during those four seasons" that marked the
Hayes administration, so that it required
only little softening down upon the face
OF things in the sad days that followed.
rur HENCE or wnMIn