Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-12-06
SOCIAL WASHINGTON.
Ioaqula Miller on the Revolution at
the Federal Capital.
The Changes Which Quarter Of Century
Has Wrought In Its Streets, Archites"
turs and Social custOms---Ex-
elusive Diplomatic Sets.

WARRINGTON, December, This city
in which every citizen OF the United States
holds some pscuniary interest, it nothing
more, is peculiarly new city. 10 ride
through It's wide wooded avenues or look
down upon it from Arlington Heights or
any of the tumbled and oak-Set hills that
encircle it, you see but one prevailing
color. 1t is q red city. And so new in its
bright red dress, that you almost feel as II
there ought somewhere to be set up sign
warning the stranger to beware OF paint
1t is greatly to be regretted that Cover
nor Shepherd, who once tore down the city
and built it over again, did not carry his
destruction to the very doors of the White
House and overthrow the hideous iron
fences that surround 1t. The stranger
wonders to see the Treasury building set
out in the open streets, while the White
House and Lafayette Square have sbomlna,
bly rusty fences around them that would
do good rervice at Sing Sing. The heir
apparent to the presidency, every newborn
American, to be kept back by this IRON
fence with Its pitifally initiative old teudal
gates! The iron fences around Lafayette
square and the White House must come
down, even at the COST Of raising up another
BOSS Shepherd
The already famous buildings here are
UNIQUE. You might fancy yourself at Lcng
Branch but for the abundant trees and the
perfect pavements, 90 airy and artistic are
the miles upon miles of wonderfully besuti- |
ful houses. OF course, these airy castles
are of tie lighter and more trivial kind OF
structures here; but they are not the less
beautiful for being light and less massive
Indeed, the ponderous structures that
gather about the White House have almost
compelled these light and artistic little
castles to blossom here by the way OF con-
trast.
AS for the style Of architecture. it is
simply understandable in its picturesque con-
fusion. There Is nothing arbitrary about
it. There seems 10 be no law. 1t is q
Law unto itself, with this one simple purpose
of expression; Be beautiful. And 1t has
succeeded in this purpose as no style OF
architecture has succeeded since the red
palaces under the three towers of San
Marine, on the Adriatic.
Social life has been borne forward IN the
new city in equal pace. The politician Is
no longer the chief object OF interest.
Literature aud refinement are deposing !
him, and are quietly, but firmly, demand
ing to be heard N his stead. Leaving the
body and looking into the soul Of our
capital, it may safely be said that that in
definite term society is just now about
to find higher and nobler definition here
than in any part Of the world. This Is
SAID advisedly and By one who has seen
the world fairly well. The social world
that you have read of however, is not the
soul of our federal city bys great deal
There is q prevailing belief that the army
and navy make up the centre and core OF
social lite here; but you must reflect that
the army and navy OF America are not
made up, IS in Europe, OF men born to
social eminence. Not that social emf
nence" is thing for man or a woman
who can do anything to thirst after at all
To be an idle gentleman about town IS
certainly no great attainment and no al
lurement to man Of brains But, to put it
frankly, the young army officer who left
mis- fathers farm or country store to enter
West Point, and sees little else till he airs
his buttons in Washington, is certainly the
peer or even master, only in manhood, Of
the etf4minate French marquis or Ger
man baron to be met at his first introduc.
ton. The young American soldier could
probably meet the German ard the French
man too, both together, let Us venture to as
sert, in fight and win the battle bravely.
But it viii be frankly conceded that the
American is not at an advantage with
these men form over the sea in contest
for social eminence" in the cultured for
eigu circles here.
Our scientific men are greatly respected
BY this large and influential foreign els
ment at the capital. Our literary men, If
we except such Nestors as Bancroft, are
held in but little better. if any better, es-
TEEN than our soldiers. The secret OF this |
is found in the tendency Of American let
ters to spill over into careless newspaper !
work. Set it down as notable fact that
the American soldier is not sought after at
all socially by the cultured foreigners COM
prising the Legations" in comparison with
our civilians OF equal distinction, however
the tradition runs to the contrary. These
foreigners, wrighIly or wrongly, seem to
think our military men, IN too many cases,
iliterate and boorish.
As 10 what ladies or what class Of ladies
take FIRST rank in the esteem of those cult
waited men from over the sea it is no. easy
to decide. Beauty, however, and vivacity
seem TO be the first requisite. Back OF
these, of course, the "attsche" turns an
iuuuiring eye for gold. Yes, it is to be
conceded that our ladies are great sought
after at the Federal City; let US hope, too,
not all the time for the sake Of their money.
In truth, the cultivated sttachs sees more
real heart and life and soul in thu Ameri-
can girl than he can see in the other sex
at home, because they srs here to see.
This must, in q measure, excuse his ardor,
which we may be permitted to believe is
not always mercensry For some Of these
cultivated and apparently frivolous foreign
gentlemen are not only sons Of wealthy
fathers, but men Of high honor and integ-
rity.
The colony Of the legation" is large
one. 1t is clannish too; it is very select,
and, in its way absolutely exclusive. You
may come to Washington and spend the