Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
WARRINGTON ~ SUMMER.

When Congress sits late in the summer. rs
many still think it is likely to Do ,Iis year much
pity is wasted on members of the national
legislature 10y their friends out of Washington
for their supposed suderin@s in working in hot
weather. As a matter of fact the Capitol is far
more comfortable in summer than In winter. foI
in warm leather all the outer doors ard windows
are left open AMI there Is a free circulation Of
air. cooled after coming within its thick walls;
while i'm winter. when the outside openings are
kept closed and the steam heat, preVades the
legislative chambers. the temperature becomes
oppressive and the oil very .CII. Ladies in num-
hers attend the debates At this season when
ever any matter of great interest is being
discussed. and as they wear thin clothes and
light colOrs. the galleries Present a very gay APP
pcaranc".
The families Of many OF the Congressman al
ways rei.lGin IN VI Washington until the gentlemen
can iPdvs for the season.
WASHINGTON lie Is uniuue in comparison with
that OF other cities 1T ell times OF the year but
Is specially noticeable for It's peculiar customs
IN spring and sumner. Such street scenes as
are witnessed in EO other c:ty ON this continent
are so Common in Washington as to excite 10
comment whatever. except from total strangers.
The Influence Of its geographical situation on
the niaIHcrs and customs of the national CAPT
tai Is never so strongly marked as in warm
weather. As CCntTGstpd with that Of the north.
southern society is IN all Things less formal. and
In many respects unconventional. and even in
winter " Washington shows that il belongs more
to the latter than the former, cosmopolitan as
II - IN It's personnel
When the weather grows warm enough to
make outdoor life enjoyable, Washington people
of ali ages live in the open air almost as much
as II they were in the country. Not only are
the parks used like those at watering places. by
adults as we'll as children, but when the nights
are at their highest temperature il is the custom
Tor ladies and gentlemen To sit in chairs on the
Sidewalks in front "a their residences. where
their acquaintances. a. they stroll by. join them.
until sometimes such a gathering will number
over twenty. and often includes members of the
Cabinet and Senators and their families. or
ladies and gentlemen of the foreign legations
On moonlight nights a. many ladies walk about
in couples as 10y day. But more than all in
the style Of dress adopted In warm
weather for street wear does Washington
show unconventional tendencies Tor not
only all COlOrs of thin goods as well as
white toicttcs worn 10y fashionable ladies. but
on very warm day dark skirt ard thin white
blouse-waiSt can be worn at pleasure On ac-
Count OF this freedom as to dress and outdoor
anHisement2. and its wide streets and MANY
parks. Washington Is fer less uncomfortable in
summer than the cities whose Temperature is
cooler, but whose customs are more exactng
All manner OF OutdGor excursions are enjoyed
by fashionable parties. some taking trip by
canal boat to the picturesque Great Falls of
the Potomac, others going in bargcs rowed by
members Of q boat club, UP the river and OF hers
these vessels Is never interchanged) while
steam launches and tugs belonging to the gov
eminent often carry many young people OF On
picnic. Walking parties TO gather wild flow
ers In the forests, less than mile from the city
limits, are also frequent from the time the first
arbutus can be found.
Ever since tennis was introduced as game
for ladies and gentlemen in this country il has
been very popular in Washington, and there are
numerous tennis courts in private gardens, as
we'll for no ,ln FL.
House in the grounds about that building
Games are often played in the grounds of the
British legation. and quite regularly in those OF
the Argentine legation. There are three young
ladies', the daughters OF each minister at each
OF these legations. and the Argentine minister
has tour grown sons
The variety of vehicles in common Use i'm
Washington always attracts the attention of
strangers. It's smooth streets making the use of
certain styles possible which would be Unendu-
rable elsewhere except on country roads BIZ
cycitS and tricycies tsOme of the latter accom-
mOdatiDg a couple OF passengers are VERY nu-
merous. while village carts, low phaetons han
som cabs. and an infinite variety of other cabs
(mOStly square i'll form and with much glass;
Tor two or four persons. are almost as numerous
as the ordinary style CT carriages used in other
places
Ladies are seen driving every style Of vehicle
except the cabs and large carriages often en-
fiTely alone. and some ladies' have for ID Ionr
time used the tricycle
But the most cOmical of the street scenes of
tfls spring was when I, couple of men in cos
tune riding bicycles, We're seen ona very warm
day shading their eyes with gayly Illuminated
Japanese para>ols.
Dancing Is perhaps more frequently feature
OF entertainment at AL times of the wear i'm
washington than anywhere else. Even in warm
weather there is dancing when an excursion is
taken by large party on steamboat, or when
charity fair or tea party is in progress in a
public hall When high tea was given for
the benefit OF a charity. on a steamboat last
spring. under the auspices of ladies of the
families Oi high government officials. there was
dancing; and also when the Garfield memorial
hospital vas opened (uwO weeks before the pa
tients were received. there was dancing in one
of the wards.
The chief market in the national capital Is at
all seasons patronized in person BY many Of the
most fashionable ladies in the city, and in front
OF It's main entrance may be seen as many nand-
some private carriages as before the door of a
house where an elegant entertainment is in
progress People from all parts of the country
specially admire the display OF flowers in the
market, and therefore many ladies 20 there who
would otherwise send servant. Ladies who
have hvedin other cities, and never have thought
OF going TO market themselves, begin to 20 reg
ularly after settling in Washington. The mar
ket building is an especially large and hand
some one. and is kept charmingly neat. Itfronts
On pretty park.