Wichita eagle., 1889-03-06
WASHINGTON LIFE.
Professional Chaperons Who Coach New.
corners in Its Ways.

Professional Chaperons who Coach New.
corners in Its Ways.
l don't know just what to call her,
writes the Washington correspondent of
the Philadelphia Telegraph. She belongs
peculiarly to Washington and is born of
the necessities of the place. She is sew.
eral-or rather there are several of her
If you are lady and happen to be elected
TO Washington society though having
your husband chosen to sit in the legisla-
tive halls or TO hold other place of honor
under the Federal Government you may
find her useful. She teaches how TO enter
tain, and clears away the thorns from
your path on your entrance to Washing.
ton society.
The wives and daughters Of new Con-
gressmen and officials are frequently
thrown into society without previous
preparation. From the quiet of country
home this is a terrible transition. There
are ladies here in Washington whose hus-
hands have been army or navy officers.
They have spent years in society, and have
held and still hold high rank. The mys-
tertes of form and usage are familiar to
them, but the death or retirement of their
husbands have reduced their finances be-
low the figures of their extravagant
tastes. These ladies now sustain their
position in society by leading the IN
initiated through the mysterious 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 Washin gton. The relation they
hold to novice is that Of a superior, who
condescendS TO take the part OF friendly
adviser or chaperon. They are courted.
followed-and paid! They are omen
who have been bellies in society in the
past, and who dictate its forms now They
now make business of pleasur They
advise their patrons what to wear, how to
furnish their house, how 10 talk and act,
how to set their tables, how to receive
callers and who TO receive; when tc
call, how TO call, and who to
call on. They tell them the d difference be-
tween an ordinary tea and g high tea;
between 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 bv ex-
ample. These ehaperons are not known as
such except to those who employ them,
and they are the mos. courted OF all so.
ciety. They are experts in Washington
life
In the morning, when they are not cir
cling the rounds of society, they act the
part Of private conversationalists. There
are always q number of wealthy ladies
who, on account of not vet knowing the
ways of society. or of ill-heslth. or perhaps
because they are in mourning,are not in .
the social swim.
As conversationalists these queens and
factotums Of society bring ali the gossip
and goings on in society IN a morn
ing call upon those wealthy victims
Of .ecluslon. They tell them who
held receptions 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
WHIST different people think OF each other,
ana how each is measured up by the whole
OF society. They report how long Mr..
- talked with Miss Millions, and reap
what society" thought of ii. They dis
cuss the enga gemeuts made. to be N AIDE,
and broken OF. All the little bits of gos-
SIP, small talk and scandal. they carry
with exact memory as 10 all the interest
ing details, and keep their secluded
patrons as well posted as if they were
among the most gay. They tighten up
morning.
Some Of the most fashionable women
who have long been the Headers, of So
'iety earn IN this way the means to keep
~ their establishment and TO maintain
themselves in fashionable luxury. The
wives and daughters Of some fam Gus men
low dead are professional leaders of so
.iety. and live by their profession