Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-09-14
WASHINGTON CHARACTERS.


Peculiar People who Constitute an Inter.
estiDg Feature of Capital Life.
One Of the saddest features Of the always
varying life in Washington, says a CORE
spondent, is the gradual disappearance OF
the "old- timers" I do not want to call
them the "Colonels," "Majors" and
Judges" for that would include some
who do not really belong TO the charming
and clever parasites who are meant by the
"old-timers." They are broken-down gen.
tlemen, persons who have seen "better
days" who never did and who never would
work, but who are yet persons Of fine at
tainments, charming conversatlonalists,
agreeable in their manners, and yet always
waiting near some genteel bar for the invi-
tation that will surely come to indulge in
something genial and exchange flash or
two OF brilliant wit or narrate some thrill
ing story Of romantic personal experience
in the days when they were rich In slaves
and land and lived the lives of veritable
sybari es.
Five years ago, when first began an in
innate acquaintance with the vaiiegated
life OF this political capital, there we're per-
baps q round dozen notable hangers-on of
this type. Hardly one OF them but could
quote the Latin and Greek classics by the
ream in the original tongue; most of them
were we'll read in elegant literature of all
times, and could discuss 1t In the most
charming manner; all Of them had been
actors in real romances and tragedies of
luxurious social life, and scarcely one had
any parts so Objectionable as to make him
Stunned by the best gentleman with whom
he came into contact Now they have
dwindled away to two or three. That is,
there is only that number in sight Sew.
eral are dead.
One has just come forth after several
months In the hospital, and Immediately
began to strike his old friends for the
generous entertainment which was the
means of sending him into retirement.
One has actually abandoned the hospitable
precincts Of the hotel bars and the appetiz.
ing aid inexpensive free lunch. and is
making a threadbare living by copying and
letter writing for this and that one of his
friel ads, who like to encourage the old boy
in his novel attempt to earn his bread by
the sweat of his brow. 1t was departure
that was frowned upon in an almost savage
manner by the others of his crowd as being
not only degrading, butt as a pernicious
innovation upon time-honored precedent
which tended to bring them all into con-
tempt. 1t was daring thing to do, and has
resulted In the utter ostracism Of the bold
old boy, but he has stuck to 1t bravely in
the face OF many temptations and dis
couragements. fear there will be
change soon, however. Evidently the
luncheon that comes by purchase is not as
liberal as that which comes without money
and without price. The poor man grows
thinner and thinner, his voice sounds as
though there were a vast vacuum in his
stomach, and IL he does not find starvation
preferable to receiving the cut direct from
his old friends he will doubtless soon Le
seen at regular intervals lowering about
the best layouts Of free luncheons to get
the freshest salads and fish balls and pork
and beans and cold meats when they first
That useful bit Of gentlemen's wear long
ago went the way of their "uncle" to
everlasting oblivion, but some mysterious
intuition informs them to q second Of the
time when the free lunch will be spread,
and the moment when this or that friend
who will set up the drinks will present his
welcome face upon the scene.
They have been great study to every
student of human nature in this town Of
queer characters, put their race Will soon
be ended, and there is none to take their
place Their tribe will become extinct
with the dropping out Of two or three tot
tering forms which are yet to be seen in
their favorite haunts, and what that means
to Washington you who are not to the man.
ner either born or educated will never
know 1t means the passing away of fig
ures which more than all else suggest the
life Of the aristocratic South before the
war, and in their Incidence and inability to
do the least thing for their own mainten-
ance tell of the immeasurable effect of the
curse of human slavery,