Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-03
A LETTER ABOUT ExH
WASHINGTON HAS CHARMS THAT
HOLD THEM FAST.

10 ls Especially Fascinating 70 the rAdies
and 10 Men who Like society--Insor-
pastioa Res.rdins Mon Who We're For
nseriy Nigh In Public Life.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May lon the floor Of
the senate the other day saw no fewer
than six ex-cenators, hats in hand, chat
ting with friends and viewing the scenes
Of their former triumphs or disappoint-
ments. These were Warner Miller, Of
New York; Thomas J. Clingman, Of
South Carolina; Joseph e. Mcdonald, of
Indiana; Blanche K. Bruce, Of Missis-
sippi; Omar d. Conger, of Michigan, and
Augustus Fl. Garland. Of Arkansas. The
presence Of such large number Of for.
mer senators reminded me that one of
the odd phases Of life in Washington is the
plantifulness Of "exes." We see ''excs"
riding by in their carriages, or begging
dimes on the street corner. They sit op-
posite US at dinner, or hang about the
barrooms waiting for an invitation to
step up and take something.
The 'exes" are everywhere, OF all aaes
and colors and previous conditions of
official servitude-all excepting the pres
idency. We have no ex-presidents resi-
dent here, though we have any number
of men who escaped that great Office by
the skin of their teeth, and not of theif
own desire, but owing to circumstances
over which they had no control. No
former presidents are here, but there are
ex-cabinet officers, ex-senators, ex-con-
Uressmen, ex-commissioners and ex-gov-
ernors galore; and as for former wearers
OF the judicial ermine and those who once
issued martial commands-the Judges"
and generals and "colonels" and ma
Jors'-their name is simply legion.
Men who live in the national capital
for time as servants of the people do
not like to go away. They are fascinat-
ed by the lazy righteousness of the life,
the beauty of the city and the social op-
portunities here presented. That form
of society which is expressed chiefly In
good dinners and large, fertile punch
bowls most enthralls the men, while the
snowy afternoon and evening receptions,
the teas and the endless round of dress
parades known rs calling bind the wom-
en- fast In their tolls. WHAT Leave
Washington and go again to the from
der2" exclaimed tho pretty wife of an
army officer at one of Mrs. Oates famous
receptions last week. "Why, if that is
to be my fate declare shall commit
suicide. Rather than go to the frontier
and leave dear, dear Washington will
cut my throat" The pretty woman
meant every word of it, too, and she
made shivers run round the room by
drawing fruit knife suggestively close
to the white skin of her neck. Then she
seized glass of punch, quaffed it with a
laugh, and what had passed for bit Of
comedy in the minds Of the spectators
came to an end. But it was not all COM
edy with the dashing woman, and her
poor husband, the army officer, is out
bustling night and day for the influence
which may enable him to secure that
boon of boons in the service-waiting or
ders at Washington.
IA curious commentary on this fasci-
nation of Washington life." said Repre-
sentative Hit, who is one o2 the brilliant
coversationalists Of the capital, twas af-
forded by the surrender of Gen. Leo at
Appomattox. was then living in the
National hotel, which at the close of the
war was the fashionable hotel of the city.
The house was filled with army officers
and their wives, and when the news
came from Appomattox and the people
in the streets began to shout and cheer
and fiaunt their flags with joy stepped
up to the parlors to see how happy the
ladies were. Imagine my surprise to
find three or four of them in tears, and
the others looking very sad and solemn
What is the natter asked one OF
them. Have you not heard that Gen.
Lee has surrendered to Gen. Grant,
Yes she replied, half crying, and that
Is just the trouble. We know this means
the end OF the war, and that we must
leave Washington and go away to the
country to live again. and then this wo
man, like several Of her sisters, burst
into tears. l actually believe" conclud
ed Mr.. Hit, "that half of these gay
devotees of society would have been
glad to have the war continued couple
of years longer that they might have re
NAMED in the whirl of Washington soci
ety."
With both men and women fond ol
Washington life it is not surprising that
this is the place in which the "exes" mos
do congregate. A man once famous ant
powerful, whom many people though
might himself become president of thu
United States, now walks or drives thu
streets of Washington unknown to nearl.
all who see him. He is a handsom,
man, with iron gray hair, fine profile
an intellectual face. His name is Bout
well-"Lawyer Boutwell," he is callet
by the few who know him-and ho wa
secretary of the treasury under Presiden
Grant. He was then social as well a
apolitical leader, and was seen almos
daily at receptions and teas. Now h,
eschews all such frivolities, and, like tn
average man of experience and sense
confines his social exploits to the stretch
ing of his legs under the mahogan,
where there is plenty of good wine ant
good company.
Plenty of other "exes" of the cabine
may be seen on the streets of Washing
ton. William A. Richardson, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Boutwell, in the treasury
lives in one of the handsomest houses il
Washington, where he is chief justice o
the court of claims Ex-Secretary O
War Belknap is one of the best know
men in the city of Washington. II
grows rounder and jollier and more re
in the face as the years go by, and tn
circle of his friends appears to be contir
ually widening. He is D gastronome,
wit and story teller. He makes ten Q
fifteen thousand dollars year as a clair
agent and spends it all. He has lovel