St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-19
CAPITAL CITY SOCIETY.
Indications in Washington That the litter
Skirt Will Probably Come Into
Fashion Again.
The Prolonged Absence of One of the
Pretty Department Clerks Causes
Much Gossip.
Speculations Regarding Col Payne--
His Sister Wants Him to Get
Married.
Lawrence Barrett in Tragedy--Mrs.
Villas Populartty--The Christ
mas Club.
snecfal Correspondence of the Globe.

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 17.-One of the
ladies who lead the administration society
has been wearing filter skirt recently. and
the epidemic is catching. Those dear old
filters will surely come back. if only few
Of the leading ladies will have the courage
to continue their use. Gentlemen will
sheer at them and editors will poke fun at
them, but they are good nevertheless.
Laces and hand paintings and skillful work
manship are necessary to our enjoyment
and personal pride; but if they are never
seen. how f1ippant and worthless are they.
The litter unconsciOusly shows the hem OF
the garment. 1t gives a peep at a pretty
foot and ankle, and maybe a glance at the
fancy work of the skirt; and all
these things are suggestive of elegance.
witchery, beauty Of form and plumpneSs
of understanding. Many young lady has
made her fortune by the unconscious i'm
modesty of the old-time litter. Besides,
it is perfectly harmless. you know.
A SOUTHERN SENATOR
missed an engagement with lady of rank
and standing last week. and it has been
traced to that Faro club. They thought
that no one would know anything about
that little game, but this is city of mag
nifcent tattlers as well as of magnificent
distances. There was another admirer,
and. like all the rest. he went to the
charmer and told it all. Explanations are
now in order, and mendacity is rife on Con-
necticut avenue. The gentler sex may
have charity and affection enough to enable
them to make all allowances for the club.
the lodge and all the rest of those mascu-
line common-places. but when it comes to
building up faro bank between love and
lover, it is carrying the thing too far for
quiet endurance. Ergo, there is unpleas-
antness where erStwhle there was love ga
lore. A brilliant blonde. whose name is
borne upon a department pay roll as a
clerk, has been absent from her desk for
four months. She is well known in society,
being
WELL BORN AND WELL BRED.
They say that prior to her departure for
her summer leave she had been entertaining
a chief clerk, through whom she had re-
ceived promotion over elder clerks. Her
leave of absence was extended again and
again, despite the fact that others in the
same department are kept under the thumb
of discipline. Eager Questionings elicit
nothing as to her whereabouts nor as to
the likelihood of the continuance of her in
definite leave. The chief clerk, they say,
wears troubled expression. and is annoyed
by questions concerning the fair absentee.
In the same department it has happened
hitherto that indefinite leaves have been
granted to ladies in similar manner, and
still the wonder grows. There is some
probability that this case however may
become une cause celebre. Of course when
any one prominently identified with society
quietly disappears. all sorts of questions
are asked. and the more mysterious the
whereabouts of the absent the more
FREQUENT AND EMBARRASSING
are the questions. 1t is really too bad.
Congressman are daily annoyed and ham
pered in their transaction of the dear peO-
pies business by lady callers. Cards are
constantly being sent in to members by
ladies who reside in the District of Column
bia and who never lived in the district Of
the member called upon. These S olonS
are beSOught, with tears, to assist the for
lOrn maidenS to government positions in
the bureau of engraving and printing, or
to the government printing Office. Engage
ments are made meetings had and the ap-
pointmentS are made. What influences are
brought to bear upon the congressman they
only know. But, being kindhearted and
humane, they seem to respond to the ap-
peals of beauty in distress almost unani-
mOusly. Hence the pretty girls predOmi-
nate in the bureaus mentioned. 1t seems
to be settled fact that Col. o. II. Payne
will reside in New Nork, although society
has been hoping to have him here for some
time past. He is an
ENORMOUSLY WEALTHY BACHELOR,
and will be great catch to the girl who
can ensnare him. Out of the range of pos
sibilties? No. indeed. Grover Cleveland
was nearly so when he succumbed Col
Payne is barely so years of age. and it is
said that he is known to be somewhat like
King David when he selected the Shuman-
lite virgin to comfort his old age. Col.
Payne keeps up the dignity of the Whitney
mansion in New York. but he is tired of
the lonely life of bacheOrhoud which he
has so long endured. 1t is said that his
sister, Mrs. Secretary Whitney. is exceed
mgly anxious to have Oliver come to Wash
lngtOn. and that she would be greatly
pleased to see her brother married. More
over. it is limited that Col. Payne knows
his sisters penchant for making matches,
and is aware of her desire to help him along
i'll the matrimonial business, and that that
is the principal reason why he doesn't come
to Washington. He wants to select wife
for himself. without the assistance, coun-
sci, management or sympathy of any one
He really longs for
QUIET. REPOSE AND FREEDOM
of Washington life for it is the best place
in the land for men of wealth and leisure,
but he fears that he might be made to hasten
his embarkatiOn unnecessarily upon the sea
cOniugal, and is so conservative about that
little matter that nothing can hasten him.
So, like Cesar longing for the crown. he
puts it by with wave Of the hand. He
will not come. Lawrence Barrett has been
treating WaShlngtonianS to a great tragic
revival. The ancient and effective play
''RienZi" has been running for week to
crowded houses. Mr.. Barrett is too small
a man physically for the heroic part of the
great tribune; but he makes the most of it
by his wondrously keen. incisive. almost
perfect elocution. Scenery. auxiliaries and
equipments all at royal expenditure. have
materially aided the star, but 1t is not likely
that the play will be repeated elsewhere,
except probably Chicago and New York
The orotund tones which have been eSpec-
tally cultivated by Mr.. Barrett constitute
the principal
EVOLUTIONARY BASIC ELEMENT
# his success as tragedian. His defects
re numerous, glaring and at times mad
ching. L ct ne Is lntellectual, rehned,
painstaking and prOdigal in his produc-
tons. Hence, the people admire, and are
pleased to applaud and encourage him.
Upon the stage powerful physique is alb
solutely necessary to greatness. Napoleon.
Alexander, Richeleu and other great men
of history were not of commanding stature.
Yet. in the mimic world people associate
greatness with bigness; and the small men,
Lawrence Barrett being in that category,
labor under disadvantage. The return
of milder weather is ualcnnnad hu .ha