New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.


rrp washington SEASON. By JEANNE GOULD LIN
COIN I2mo PIP 201. James H. osSoou d" ~
yrs Iincoln's story of winter IN ""Sni"s'
is told with more discretion than former Nii'e'' W
The society Of the Capital have taugh' "S W
She has. 10 he sure used for drawing-r"oh uooo'%-
tion some well-known figures; Out heI emu :"
+bis direction have been moderate, and they or"le
- 49,, ,,,sbp,ont in the air of gushing news
- oorre snondence which they give 10 her DOCK
III orr the author would probably declare
o. ho ber crowning triumph, since her story
20 told in a series of letters purpofuug 10
Inc written by her heroincs. The vralsemolance
is however not perfect. These sentences read less
1l,o tho cossip of n well-bred girl than like the
work of a DISTINGUISHED lady correspondent" OF
some out-of-town journal; " Kitty reappeaIed WIN
n gentleman of grave and somewhat severe aspect
whom she presented to me, and whom immed'-
ately recognized rs the clever author OF My sum
,ner IN a Garden. Just after, there was niue SUI
m the hall. and looked up to see Kitty bow, with
mach eaDressemeaL to an imposlng-iooking man
who wasmaking his way quietly to Miss Endicotts
4ea-tabc where he shipped into q seat on her left IN
tbe most unobtrusive manner The first gentleman
Of the land said Mr.. Fairfax, smiling, as he saw
the question in my face; and you may imagine
Laura. how eagerly | looked at the President. lie
is very much as | supposed he would be-a thorough
gentleman in bearing; and his manner is the per
lection of dignity without condescension' J"Se
,silieu that | think we do not always hnd among
those in high Places
The story is overloaded with heroines-theIe
are thrce-and the plot as far as II goes Is an ao
.,,rllv imnroboble one. 4 husband and wife are
senarated on their wodding-day for the ihmNeSt
reasons and large part of the book is taken up by
The unmerted suffering of the bride 1t is, in fact
q kind a Braddon plot developed with lloweis
realism Like most society novels OF the time 1t
is a hit of special reporting dealing lightly with
conventional emotions and specifically with ar
actcr
Washington society as explained by Mrs. Lincoln
is polite amable, not particularly brilliant, ana
generally msrepreScntcd. She causes one OF her
characters to discourse upon the untaiTneSs OF
visitors who attend a reception or two at
the White House and other Official man
sons and are entertained by only temporary
residents, and who then leave the city
under the impression that they have ." seen
Washington" thoroughly, thereafter sncering at
its "mixed society and the delights of Republic
can levee Even less capable critics arc the
strangers who 60 from house to house on reception
DAYS with burning curiosity TO see and talk with
Official people:
One of these. tall rather Cood-lookng woman.
seemed as ! saw. 10 be eycng me with CONSIDER
able attention. There was nothing e'Hccaliy oHen-
slVe about her except her torlorn ar OF a" h
waTdnesS and her curiosity about me pegah 70
imagine that NV bonnet must be asAcW, or thal
had parted with my lawful belongings in some
mysterious manner, 80 prolonged was her stare. N
last with a desperate resolve written upon her
face, she made her way TO my side and sand
abruptly. May | 81. down by You ! as
scented politely, and drew back my gown TO MAKE
room for her, wondering what was coming next;
She ST surveyed me with eager attention; nut !
kept silence. Then came another burst Nav
call and see You ~ Really, madam, sau /, 1or
second quite taken by surprise and concluding mat
there must be something very fascinating IN my
appearance. q" il would hardly pay YOU 10 DO 50.
am the wife of a private citizen. and SOuthoTner
"a well; We live in the most quiet manner, and 90
not entertain at all; still, If NJ would afford Nou
any pleasure pray come 10y an means. heI co9hlt-
nance fell; She gra~ped hcI poe ket- ham kcrchrci
and said amazedly, Dear me! thought yo@ Udt an
offG0i!'
The author has many good words for the Western
women in Washington, asserting that in their cult
walton and refinement Boston is met upon Its own
ground. As for the Washington girls, the greatest
fault they exhibit Is, she declares the very rude
conduct that some of them are guilty of toward
strangers. OF political wire-pulling there is moth
ing in the book but there appears amusing story
OF onice-seeking at the hands of benevolent
woman:
One morning she was told tina person wished to
see her and upon gong 10 her TecepuoD-1com Sne
found man awaiting her, who bowed respectfully
and proceeded 10 state his errand: Known
madam" said he. that yOu were KIND lady and
had influence, | came to ask NOu 10 assist me ID
procuring position under Government Miss IN
dicott asked him what the position was and what
reason he could assign for It's being gwen hlH
what | want said he, with entire gravity, rs a
place as messenger in any one Of the Departments;
and l have claim upon this Administration be
because my wite's sister eoGioder1G UAHe STARTS
Tor Mss Nclty Grant rbN che got mar-
RED Miss Endlcott kept her counte;
nance and dismissed the applicant politely, and
forgot all about il until an evening some weeks
after when she happened to be dining with the
President. 1t was a small dinner given for Bos-
ton celebrity and during the dinner this gentle
man. who sat next Miss Endicott, laughingy re-
marked 10 her, gancing around the table as he
spoke Il fancy that you and are the only guests
present who have no political aspirations; III short
we haven't a gift 10 ask OF the PRESIDENT "Ah !!
there you mistake she said readily, haze ! y
and turning to the President she then and there
repeated in the drolleSt manner. the story have
just told you convUsing the guests aud ending by