The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-02-25

expenditure which charact ,rizc the rich
people i'll London and New York. All
OF this may be we'll enough, and not 10
be dcp!orcd, if confined to private in
dividualS; but it becomes public ca
lamty when officials in WASHINGTON
feel bound to initiate such social dis
play.
MONEY FACTOR IN wAslIINGroS SOCIETY.
1t is only recently that money has be-
come such an important factor in Wash
ington society. For long time money
alone was not enough to give one stand
ing in Washington. Probably there is
no place yet in this country where men
Of brains, education and talent occupy
so good position without the support
Of money, as here. With the older
class Of public men money counts for
very little. But it is easy to Sec it's in
fluencc is growing year by year and it
threatens within very short time TO alb
solutcly dominate all other influences
in Washington life. This will entirely
change the character Of Washington So
ciety. Where 1t has been simple and
natural in the past, it promises to be
snobhsh and artificial in the future.
Rich people began to be attracted here
about the time Of the discovery that
they could come here and live practi-
cally free from taxation. 1t has become
through this migration Of rich people
fashionable winter resort. The com.
ing here of unofficial rich people would
not have had much effect upon general
Washington society if their coming had
not stimulated other rich people to reach
Tor the official places at the capital. The
creation Of money-bag standard for adj
mission to the Senate, has created here
wealthy class Of high officials who re-
gard money and its possession as the
toucthstonc ofmerit. The growth Of this
clcmcnt has been father encouraged by
influences around the White House.
Grant was worshiper OF money. He
entertained and gave preference to rich
people. This was particularly true when
he went out Of the White House to paw
visits
HAYES WORSHIP OF RICH PEOPLE.
Hayes adulation Of people with
money, was only cqualed by his careful
saving of his own pennies. His worship
Of rich people was never more clearly
shown than at the last diplomatic rcccp-
ton Civ IN By him Mt the White House.
The diplomatic people were his guests of
honor. All Of the other guests present
were invited to meet them. Sir Edward
Thornton was the dean Of the Diplo-
matte Corps at that time. He was given
-prededenco over oil of his associates.
Ihese gentIe"en awe the greatest possi-
bic sticklcrs for etiquette. Any lu.u
with the slightest knowledge Of tho
world or the commonest notions of no. |
likeness would have been very particu-
lar to have observed every requirement
to contribute to their pleasure. When
the Eour for going to the refreshments
room was rcsched there was only one
thing for the President to do, and that
was to give his arm to the wife Of the |
principal guest Of the evening. Sir
Edward Thornton had already given his
arm TO Mrs. Hayes. Mrs. Astor hap
pcncd to be present in charge of pn-
licemcn who were guarding her extra
ordinary display Of diamonds. The
gliltering vision Of this concentrated
wealth coming under the notice of the
President, he Immediately dashed for
ward and in the most unctuous manner
asked the privilege Of cscorting the dia-
monds and black pearls to the dining
room. Lady Thornton was left with
out an escort. She resented this as an
insult, walked upstairs to the dressing
room, ordered her carriage, and with her
two daughters went directly home.
Arthur is just such another worshipcr
Of money. He associates only with
rich people, and while he goes out in
society more than any other President
who has ever held the office he never
yet dnrkcned the door of any of the
houses of any public men whose pow
erty compcls them to live in moderate
fashion. He goes out more than is com
palihle with the dignity ofthc office. He
is seenwith greatregularity at the houses
of ofpeoplc who have nothing but M oney to
Recommend them to the notice of any
one. From the time that he first came
into the White House, Gen. Logan was
very friendly. He did all that he could
to uphold him. The General was fire.
qucntly at the White House and his
opinion was freely sought by Arthur.
Yet, with all his gaddings about as a
society man, President Arthur never
called upon Gen. Logan, probably be-
cause the latter lived in boarding house
in much more humble quarters than are