Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-29
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Society In w ashingtOn.


The writer of an illustrated ertice on "Tho
New Washington" in the March Century,
characterizes Washington society thus
Leaving aside the question OF political mo-
rality, few people who have passed q winter
in Washington will deny the charm OF its So
ciety. Acknowledging all its faults its crude
ness-narrowness, perhaps-and its lack Of
form, it must yet be acknowledged that II
differs from all other American society in the
fact that 1t is not founded on wealth. It Is
the only society which is really republican,
though it has little resemblance to the 're.
publican court Of the first administration,
the only one in America which has a we'll de-
fined basis. And that basis is public station,
temporarily conferred, whether directly or
indirectly, by the expressed wishes of fellow
men. The holding of such public station
necessarily implies intelligence, and such II
is intelligence, as distinguished from lineage
or wealth, which is the fundamental basis in
Washington society. Such a society docs
not feel obliged to adopt certain customs be-
cause it is reported at second hand that they
are good form in London. It's opinions are
robustly independent, its information is ex-
tensive and its subjects of conversation are
many and varied.
1T is not to be imagined that such socie-
ty is we'll Defined or that its rules are clearly
established-though IT is true that the Ell
quette of Social Life in Washington has
been most elaborately formulated in a little
pamphlet, Of which a fresh edition Is peron-
nially produced, and which is said to sell In
great numbers. 1t is, undoubtedly, open TO
the criticism of being raw. to the same ex-
tent-but no more-that society in London is
subservient and snobbish, and in New York
illiterate and commercial. Nothing can be
more ridiculous than the levees of the Presi-
dent, where the doors are thrown open that
every person in the street may enter them in
a crush and stand In q slowly moving pro-
cession two hours, in order that during
half minute of that time the President may
be seen and his arm may be wrenched. But
this is not peculiar to Washington alone.
Such public receptions are inflicted upon
presidents in all cities which they visit. Hard
ly less incongruous are the Wednesday after
noon receptions Of the wives of Cabinet Off
GERS, when their doors are thrown open and
hundreds Of strangers tramp through their
parlors to pay their respects The wives
of judges and senators and representatives
have to endure the same thing on other after
moons of the week 1t has come to be con-
sidered as part of the price of public station.
But no matter what Office a man may hold
no one may come to his dinner table without
an invitation. And 1t is in dinners that Wash
ington society excels. Diplomats and travel
ers from every part of the world men dis
tinguished in political life, on the bench, and
in war men Uf science and men of letters
women of intelligence and culture, with the
native grace and beauty for which American
women are Justly ceebrated-there is no
such wealth Of choice in any other American
city, and there are no other dinner parties so
entertaining as those of Washington"