The Washington critic., 1886-12-29
WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER %, 1856.
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Says Il. II. G., in recent letter from
The City of Mexico to the Boston
Hcrdld.' Hon. John w. Foster, who
has had diplomatic experience from st.
Pctersburgh to Madrid and Mexico,
finds his old acquaintance with gov
eminent people in Mexico useful in
such errands as that which he has just
got through with in behalf of the Cen
tral Railway Company. 1t was not
long since that Mr.. Foster came here
and got a concession for the Mutual
Life Insurance Company of New
York. He Is remarkably well-adapled
TO Spanish.Amerlcan diplomacy, ssand
the putting of such man out of pub.
lie life shows the weakness OF our sys-
TEN of rotation. Mr.. Foster liked the
diplomatic career, and would have
been glad to remain in 1t permanently,
had such been our custom, but he is
making great deal more money out
of public life than in 1t. One fee
which he receives often equals years
salary as minister abroad. But 1t
cannot be denied that the English do
some things better, as. for example, In
keeping at service in diplomacy for
life so able and tactful man as Sir
Spencer st. John. their Minister to
Mexico.
~~#
There is a representative in Congress
from one of the Southern States, says
the Omaha Bees correspondent, who
manages to live comfortably in Wash
ington at an outlay of not more than
81, 500 per year. lie has no family,
neither drinks nor uses tobacco in any
form, and yet he apparently enjoys life
In his own way and is general fayorite
with his Congressional associates He
has neat but not extravagant apart.
menis in an eminently respectable sec.
tion Of the city, and dresses In good
taste. Many of his companions are
very anxious to learn his method of
saving so much of his salary, but he
refraiDs from giving them any advice
on the subject, but tells them good
naturedly that it is the result of his re.
markable self control. He Is not In any
sense miser, but he Is about the best
specimen Of n model moral Congress
man in existence to day.
~
A day or two ago, says Towle of the
Boston Traceller, Voorhees, went down
to the Interior Department and endeav.
ored 10 persuade Secretary Lamar to
make friend of his chief of certain
division, position, by the way, which
is outside Of the classified civil service.
He talked and talked, and argued and
ilattered, when suddenly Lamar said,
"Senator, has your man had any prac.
tical experience In work of this kind
Voorhees, candidly replied that his
friend was good politician and a most
deserving man, but he could not an.
swer the Secretary's query in the af
firmative. Lamar tipped back in his
chair and said. "I'm sorry that can t
appoint him, Senator, but to tell the
truth, must hire man with busi-
ness experience for this place. It's bad
enough to have a Secretary Of the In
terror who don't know anything about
practical affairs. l have made up my
mind that the men under me must be
practical. 10 even the thing up"
%~s
CuyS luC w usuluStOu COIIcspuuucub
Of the New York Mail and Express:
People who read the New York papers
here are surprised at the New York
custom of introducing young ladies
into society at an afternoon tea. Here,
ball is the proper caper. Every girl
who belongs really to society, and
makes formal debut, has a bali given
by her parents. Both of the British
Minister'S elder daughters were pre-.
sented in that way, and in January
his youngest daughter will have her
coming out evening party. AS for the
afternoon tea, pure and simple, it has
been dead these two years in Washing
ton and people no longer write the sug.
gestive "Tea" in the corner of their in
vitation cards. 1t is supposed that this
little word frightened the men away.
Now, 1t is true there are afternoon re-
ceptions, but they are perfectly gor-
geous, and the simple entertainment
which used to be provided is replaced
by collation. at which everything on
the list of gastronomy, including terra
pin and champagne, is served. 1t is a
question, though, among people here
whether the afternoon tea in its origi.
nal form was not preferable to the
Il.