The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-30
\ IN SOCIETY.
Weak Headed Young Men who Stand Sin
Need of q Keeper.

u ~ htepCIs
Washington Letter.
The recent scandalous outbreak at a ball given
at Castle Stewart suggests the idea of the
necessity of having a keeper for the majority of
the weak-headed young men who go out in
Washington society. The trouble with most
of the receptions given in Washington is the
unrestrained furnishing of liquor to the guests.
A person who gives a reception in this city
without providing enormous tub-hke punch
bowls, full to overiowing with strong punch,
is voted slow. Then there are generally too
many people invited. Many Of them are per
sonally unknown to the family giving the en-
te~rtainment, and are consequently under less
restraint. 1t is a custom with a number of lead
ing entertainers to invite to their general re-
ceetions every one vino calls upon them. In.
such cases a large number of the guests are per
feet strangers in the houses where they are
received. This fact permits cheeky people to go
to large receptions without any invitation. A
number OF easily accessible houses OF Washing
ton are simply regarded as somany lunch routes,
and are treated accordingly. Probably IN no
city in the country occur more diSgraceful scenes
than are common incidents at some of the over
crowded receptions of this city. 1t Is not an ua-
common thing for young men to become thor
oughly intoxicated at fashionable receptions. 1t
Is On4y Wnen Sucn q ScSuo OCCuES do oH0 ohO q u
Castle Stewart that public attention is called to
the fact, At the Russian Minister'S the other
night a young society fellow became so much
overcome that he fell down and had to be carried
home. 1t was at this same place last winter
that a young man made a stir by sitting down
by the side of an old lady chaperon whom he
did not know and then gently Topped over on
her bare shoulder and went to sleep. This
young man who so disgraced himself upon this
occasion was Immediately shipped off to Europe
for reform. He has been reforming In IarlS
now for over a year.
Those who abuse the hospitality of entertain
ers in Washington are generally very young
men. The atmosphere of Washington Is not
wholesome for the development Of . good class
of young fellows. There are no business oppor-
tunities Of any kind here. There is no scope for
a proper manly ambition for the average
youngster. The result is the development Of
the poorest possible kind of young men. They
are taught to look forward to a government pc
sition as the summit Of earthly ambition, and
20 circulate in Washington society as the ex-
treme of the most ardent desire. Thes9fellows
read nothing, and spend their time idliIg about
the cheap drinking places of the town. Those
who have official connections through their
fathers or their relatives use the houses where
they visit as places in which to get drunk with
out cost. The number of these animals at the
public receptions of WashingtoR~is relatively
small. The average of Washington society is
very high. One meets here IN going out more
noteworthy and distinguished people than in any
place in the country. The Che great flaw in the
social picture is the presegce of these unlocked
cebs, who should be marked and dropped