The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-06-05

TIE writer Of nh illustrated article
on THE New Washington" In tho
March Century, characterizes Washing
ton society thus: ''IAeaying aside the
question oE political morality. few pco-
pic who have passed wint,r In WASH
ington will deny the charm Of Its soci-
ct.. Acknowledging all its faults, Its
rudeness--narrowness perhnps-and
its lack Of form, IL must .ct DO nc
knowledgcd that II differs FROM all 9TH
| or American society from tho fact that
1t Il not founded on wealth. II In tho
only society which Is really republican,
though it has little resemblance 10 the
Republican coMrt" Of the first admin
istration--ihe only one In America
vhich has n we'll defined basis. And
that basis Is public station, tcmpora-
rily conferred, whether directly or In
directly, by the expressed wishes Of
fcllow-mcn. Tho holding Of such pub
lie station necessarily inplics in:clli-
genec, and such 1t is intelligence. rs
distinguished from lineage or wealth,
which il tho fundamental basis In Wash
ington society Such society does not
feal obliged to adopt certain customs
because 1t Is reported second hand that
they nrc good form In london. Its
opinions are robustly independent, Its
information Is extensive. and Its sub
jects Of conversation arc many and
varied.
ut is not to be imagined that such .
society Is we'll defined, or that Its rules
are clearly cs,nblishcd-though II IL
true that the etiquette Of Social Lifo
In Washington" has been most clnb.,-
rately form alatcd In little pamphlet,
q fresh edition OF which Is pcrenninlly
produced, aad which is said 10 sell In
great numbers. 1t Is, undoubtedly.
open to tho criticism Of being raw, to tho
same oxtcnN-but no moro~-that society
in London Is subsorvicnt and snobbish,
and In New York illitcratc and CON-
mcrcial. Nothing can be moro rid.cu-
lous thnn the public lcvces OF the Pres
idcnt, where the doors are thrown open
that every person in tho street may on
ter them in \ crush, and stand In .
slowly moving procession for two
hours, In order that during half min
ute OF tho time the President may be
seen and his arm mny be- wrenchcd.
But this IL not peculiar to Washington
alone. Such public receptions" arc
inflicted upon presidents in all cities
which they visit. Hardly less incon.
gruous arc the Wednesday afternoon
receptions of the wives Of tho cabine,
officers, when their doors are thrown
open and hundreds OF strangers tramp
through their parlors TO ''pay their re.
spects." The wives Of Judges, Sena-
tors and Representatives have 10 en-.
durc the same thing on other after.
moons of tho week. It has como to be
considered rs part Of the price Of pub
lie station. But no matter what Office
man may hold, no ono may come Il
his dinner table without an Invitation
And 1t is in dinners that Washington
society excols. Diplomats and travel
crs from every part Of tho world; mcr
distinguished in political life, on III.
bench and in war; men Of science ant
men of letters; women Of intelligence
and culture, with the native grace ant
beauty for which American women ar,
Justly cclebratcd-thcre Is no such ,
wealth of choice in ans other American
. city, and there arc no other dinner par
ties so entcr,ining AS those Of Wash
ington."