The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-03-27

WASHINGTON, March ID, 1886.
EDITOR KEYSTONE

of brilliancy and extravaganza.
Now the Lenten season is being
observed, and the change from gay
to penitential in the social world is
complete. The wearied belle and
her equally wearied chaperone go
to church of mornings, and retire
at midnight, if they feel inclined.
1t is not likely that the present
stagnation in social circles will
continue during the whole forty
DAYS of Lent, but the high pressure
under which fashionable life has
existed for the past few weeks,
will not be reached again this
spring. Mrs. Whitney, who enter
tanned like a princess during the
winter, at an expense of $1,000 a
week, has gone to Florida for a
few weeks.
The very beginning of the season
Just closed was draped in mourn
inc. and the closing days found a
United States Senator lying dead
in the city. Notwithstanding the
Vice Presidents death and the sad
bereavements i'm the family of the
Secretary of State, entertainments
at the White House have been on
a scale of magniticence not exceed
ed bv General Arthur, who was
said to have a genius for elegant
hospitality. There have been many
elaborate and notable events out
side of the Presidential and Cabi-
net entertainments. There have
been hundreds of teas, scores oil
dinners of exquisite success and
the afternoon receptions have
simply been legion in number. The
Attorney-General, who will not
wear swallow-tail coat, is the only
Cabinet officer who has held alooi
from social frivolities.
The tendencies of social life II
Washington have long been of
character to make thoughtful ano
pious people grieve. Wealth has
brought display and the transient
cosmopolitan character of the pop
ulaiion has pernicious influence
on the general morality. a large
proportion of those who sojourn II
this city are in the certain sense
free from moral restraint. They
have not the conservative, religious
influence of home and in greater
or less degree exhibit in their lives
the free and easy instability o
morals peculiar to all nomads.
It has occurred to your CORE
spondent that these and othel
features of social life at the fount
ain of political life should not b'
| ignored, but known and studied by
the very large and powerful class o
Christian voters throughout th'
land. These have it in their powe
to purify by their ballots, not onl,
the sources of legislation anc
administration, but, through these
the society, which, to a certain
extent, is giving tone and color t.
our whole social system.
It is estimated that the expens'
of transporting Senator Miller
body to California on specia
train, and sending with it a com
mite who will return by the same
method, will be $4,000.
Some Capital gossipers think
strange that only one Senator coult
be prevailed upon to 60 to Sal
Francisco to attend Senator Miller
funeral. 1t is thought that th'
political fight with the Presiden
kept the Senators here. The Dem
ocrats cannot possibly be spared
and the Republicans are thinkin!
that they may need all their force
before the fight is over.
As soon as the death of Senate
Miller was announced, his col
league, Senator Stanford, under
took to assist the sergeant-at-arm
of the Senate in getting up Sena
torial committee to escort tn
remains to California. At frs
Senator Stanford had no difficult.
in finding sufficient number o
his associates who were willing Il
serve, but later on they came t.
him one by one and submitte'
numerous reasons why they coult
not leave Washington at this time
- - Ar.