The bee., 1884-02-02
LOUISE To CLARA.

''''' "00n was very entertaining,
and L am greatly gratifed to know
that my letter was so favorabIy re-
ceived by our friends. I told YOU
L would write you something con-
corning our society in 1863. and
OF the most important incidents.
But before | do SO, [ desire to
discuss the marriage of the old
man eloquent. OF course it was
a surprise to us all, but cannot
condemn him for selecting one of
the opposite sex, since he felt dis
posed to marry. As you well
know there was a great deal of
dissatisfaction manifested on the
part of our girls, especially L. and
I. who had their caps set for the
old man. | feel for the poor girls
because they have been nipped in
the bud; [ have endeavored to
warn our girls, but they don't
seem to take the warning; I am
sure that this late marriage will
teach them a lesson, for long time
to come. Some seem to think
that it is a reflection on our girls.
l deny 1t. If Mr.. ID. presumed
that white lady would answer his
purpose, more so than one of our
girls he had perfect right to pur-
sue the course he did. 1t is true
the old man is worth little money
and some think it p pity that so
much of his wealth will now 90 to
his wife " hen he dies, which, of
course, lessons the amount that is
to come to his immediate heirs.
L consider the marriage no more
than any other marriage, hence I
shall let it drop here, and proceed
to discuss our Washington society
in 1868.
The society of this city was as
pure as baptism. Our young men
were perfect models, and the young
ladies were above suspicion to a
great extent; [ know the young
men did not doubt the virtue and
sincerity of our girls then as they
do now. 1t was a crime for a
young lady to be seen coming out
of a beer saloon or to have it
known that she was a frequent
visitor of such a place. In 1863,
the young men sought the ladies,
not the young ladies the men, as
they do now. The society through
out the city was an ornament. The
Cornell OF Georgetown the
Costins and Dupees on the Capitol
Hill; the Smiths on Massachusetts
Avenue; the Cooks, Dutchs: the
Browns and Fishers, ever known
as Washington's best circles.
There were several downfalls, one
or two years later, which was
caused by the influx of strangers,
such persons as our city is now
monopollzed with. The Lotus
Club that informed you of some
time ago was in its bloom; while
this club endeavored to reform
society it consisted of SONS of the
vIlest Iibertines and drunkards.
Its existence was short and its
members fell one 10y one. Some
went to the insane asylum, while
others died disgraceful deaths.
There are only Y few of them
now living. Some of them were
elevated to high social positions by
our citizens, but they soon dis
carded those who placed them in
high social life, and considered
them beneath them. The poor
kitchen girl, the barber, the hack
driver. the waiter, the chamber
maid were treated like brutes.
This caste was inaugurated by the
Lotus Club. There is one of them
now In this city who claims to be
a lawyer; he was petted fed and
given money and SO soon rs he
got a little foothold the poor little
elbow made fool of himself and
today he is one of the worst pau
pers in the city. If | were a man
[ had sooner marry an honest girl
out of the kitchen than te marry
oor,,o of these creatures i'm what is