The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-09-28

Well-hnOwn society Lady.
The Congressional circle, like all other official
positions in Washington, is subject to change.
Recently HERALD reporter called upon we'll
known society lady, whose husband, though
one of the most popular members of Congress,
at the close of this session retires to private life;
and, so far as his wife is concerned, the pros
pect has its charms. She said: "While l like
Washington as temporary residence, where
one meets most charming people, it is not de
sirable as a permanent home where a family
is to be reared. l like permanent home.
Here ones friends of to-day are gone to-mor-
row. The nice people one comes to know, the
friendships formed, have no permanent value
or a fixed basis. Several times in the past
my husband has promised me he would not run
for another term, but either bills left over that
he was deeply interested in seeing through, or
the good of his party demanded a sacrifice on
his part of personal feelings. When it was put
that way had to withdraw my opposition, but
| always did it under protest.
"Having said so much might as well go n
little more into detail. This city is getting to
be more and more under the influence of its
wealthy residents. inside and out of official
circles, and that is not a high standard of re-
spectability to set up anywhere. Here every
thing is rated as official or rich and
art and literature move too often in
orbit apart from these circles. Indeed, many
persons come here who imagine from what
they see that there is no artistic or literary
atmosphere at ALL when in reality there
is every incentive to attract the literary people
life, movement, character-while the scientist
has everything for study at his hand, but these
elements are not recognized as essential to So
ciety. Particularly fortunate persons are the
lions of the day, and certain women have wit
enough to see that these classes who do the
thinking give eclat to social events, so they
always have sprinllling of the highly cultured
in their drawing-rooms on gala days social
evenings.
'Times have materially changed socially
since my residence here. When l first
came l thought we must do as the rest
did, and gave large dinner parties, sparing no
expense or trouble, but was cured of that folly
few years ago. Now only give small dinners
to chosen friends, or persons whom [ feel it
would be delight to honor. We always have
a houseful of guests coming and going, any
how, and cannot complain that have suffered
for want of social recognition. Yet In the main
what | say is true of the social life in Washing
ton. This is the incident that cured me of over
straining to please the public who march under
Mrs. Grundy's standard, A few years ago new
member from an Eastern State brought a charm
ing young woman, his second wife, to the Capt.
tai. She was good-looking, had tact, and
though not especially highly educated or strik-
ingly accomplished she used her little capital
well. She was quick to observe and take in
points, She dressed well and had winning and
gracious manners. On her day she always
made preparations that amounted to the giving
of tea. Her punch bowl became celebrated
for its rare brew which, rumor said, she always
prepared herself. Her house was thronged on
every Tuesday, and it was noticed that certain
persons, both men and women, always called
upon her every time her house was open to Wis
itors. They fattered her, drank her punch, and
ate her cakes ad Hbitom. She seemed on the
crest of the wave of popularity. But change
came. Her husband died suddenly, and rumors
began to spread that his estate was insolvent
that the debts were numerous, and that she
would have to go into one of the Departments
in less than year. L pitied her so, for knew
she must suffer, but my indignation was greater
than my pity when l heard one after another of
those who | knew frequented her house, partook
of her hospitality, and tattered her now say,
It's good enough for her. | am glad of it. She
had no business to be so extravagant, and all
that kind of talk Well, thought if that is all
there is in society it is time each lady had
standard of her own. If my husband should die
suddenly, as hers has, how much better off
should | and mine be? Nomore big dinners for
me, or lavish entertainments for those who
merely come and go to see life and be amused
From that on | have always regulated my house
hold expenses strictly within our income, and
given select dinners instead of the big affairs
that made one i'll and poor to get up and iller
and poorer to get over.
sit is hard work with family to live on the
Congressional salary of five thousand dollars
My husband has always had more or less of an
income from his legal profession, and we have
accumulated little property. That is one rea-
son why l want him out of politics. l have an
other reason. | want new house. I
have waited years for it; and while our
old home is very comfortable / have,
womanlike, desire for pretty new home with
all the modern improvements attached, and no
such house can be built to one's mind without
those most interested are on the spot. So you
see, am pleased at the prospect of retiring to
! private life.n Z. L. s.