Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-07-26
AN Army OF WOMEN.
How They Tread on One AnOther's Heels
at the National Capital.

How They Tread One AnOther's Heels
at the National Capital.
According to most reliable figeres
available there are about $4,000 more
women in Washington than men. The
fact of it's being the seat of Govern
ment very naturally attracts schelning
women and adVenturesses- The schem-
ing ones are not necessarily all women
of the vicious and immoral class.
Schemers can move in the best circles.
Many q woman comes here because
she imagines it is a good place to win
husband; others think they can get
employment, and still others, who
have little money, manage to make
friends among the residents, and pass a
winter in the hope of getting into So
ciety.
1t has always been mystery how
many of the females known to be
honest and respectable live here. 1t
is an expensive place, but they manage
TO keep up appearances. They have
nearly all been reduced from some
higher sphere. Many. of them are the
wives or daughters of men who have
been in Government position in the
army or navy, or perhaps in Congress-,
and have, died. leaving nothing for
their families. Some of them who
have been so reduced have trOd the
highest walks of social eminence.
Those of more commonplace qualifica-
tions have surrendered their social
position and opened boarding houses
or gone into the departments There
is an ex-Representative still alive here
in Washington who has two daughters
in one of the departments.
Employment sought by accomplished
ladies of reduced circumstances is that
of chaperone for young people. A
chaperone is very important attach
ment for young people in Washington
society, and one it is not always easy
to get. 1t is embarrassing, and. besides,
generally inconvenient, for mammas TO
| have to sit in the corner or against the
wall and nod while their fair daugh-
! tiers whirl in the waltz and thread the
mystic mazes that lead to premature
| old age
An amiable chaperone, who will go
with the girls to the theater, to balls
and parties, and where not, is cheap
| dG uOos eaAy PIAOC, oAu SdA AIAO PiCAlJ
to do proftably- OF course they do
not advertise: "Wanted-A situation
as chaperone." Nor do they ask Mrs.
Pennyharvest if she does not want to
hire chaperone with long experience
and good references. Not at all. 1t
all comes about very naturally. The
lady is SO accommodating and Mrs.
Pennyharvest is SO grateful that it all
comes to be understood, Another oc-
cupation of fashionable ladies of re-
| duced circumstances is that of reading
to invalids and entertaining them with
all the small talk of the day.
All these means are resOrted to by
ladies who have by some misfortune
been thrown on their own resources.
Some perform these services openly,
with no pretense at concealment of
their necessities. Others manage to
keep their occupation secret between
themselves and the one they serve,
each patron thinking that she is the
only one so favored. Washington is
the place for the cultivation of clever
women, and they are found living
upon their sharp wits in all the walks
of society. Many do thriving bust
ness in the lobby" There is one
young girl, who is about the capitol
every winter, who is said to make
large income out of her practice be-
fore the House. Washington Letter.