Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-23
wAsHlNeToN's cHAPERoNs.

How Some "Lenders' Of society in the
Capital Repleni-h Their Finances.
The wives and daughters Of new con-
gresSmen and officers are frequently
thrown into society without any previous
preparation. From the quiet Of a
try home there is n terrible transition.
There are ladies here in Washington
whose husbands have been army or navy
officers. They have spent years in So
ciety, and have held. and still hold, high
rank. The mysteries of form and usage
| are familiar to them, hut the death or
retirement of their husbands has re-
duced their finances below the figures of
| their %eXiravagant tastes. These ladies
now sustain their position in society by
leading the uninitiated through the mys-
FERROUS mazes. They teach the wives of
new senators and members from the
back districts the polite forms, and pilot
them safely through a winter in WASH
ington.
The relation they hold TO the novice is
that of a superior. who CondcscendS TO
take the part Of n friendly adviser or
chaperon. They are courted, followed
and paid. They are women who have
been bellies in society in the past, and
who dictate its forms now. They now
make a business Of pleasure. They adj
wise their patrons what to wear, how TO
furnish their houses, how 10 talk and
act, how TO set their tables. how to re-
ccive callers and who To receive; when
To call, how 10 call and who 10 call on.
They tell them the difference between an
ordinary tGa and a high tea; between a
dinner party and a luncheon, They rub
the dust of their dialect and teach them
polite forms Of speech, and tell them
what To talk about. They lead them
around the circle and teach by example.
These Chaperons are not known as such
except to those who employ them. and
they are the most couTted of all society.
They are experts in Washington life.
In the morning, when they are not
circling the rounds Of society, they act
the part If private conyersatiunalists.
There are always a number Of wealthy
ladies. who, on account of not yet know
ing the ways Of society. or of i'll health,
OF. perhaps. because they are in mourn
ing. are not in the social swim.
As conversationalists, these queens and
factomms of society bring all the gossip
and goings on in society in a morning
call upon those wealthy victims Of seclu-
sion. They tell them who held recep-
tons last night and who was there; what
they wore, what they said, and what was
! said about them. They relate the latest
! private scandal; tell what different peo-
/ pie think of each other. and how each is
measured up by the whole Of society.
They report how long Mr.. - talked
with Miss Millions, and repeat what $50
ciety" thought Of ii. They discuss the
engagements made, TO he made. and
broken oil. All the little bits Of gossip,
small talk and scandal they carry with
exact memory as TO all the interesting
details. and keep their secluded patrons
as well posted as if they were among the
most gay. They Tighten up a melan.
chOly morning.
Some Of the most fashionable women
who have long been the headers Of So
cicty earn in this way the mean to keeT
up their establishments and to maintain
Themselves in fashionable luxury. Tho
wives and daughters Of some famou,
men. now dead. are professional leader
Of society. aud live by their profession.-
Philadelphia Telegraph.