The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-06-01

Mrs. John \. Logan and Mrs j. l.. Tullock,
wife of the late Postmaster Tullock, were TAX
ing quiet tGte-a-ttte lunch in Memorial Hall
at Calumet, discussing the results of the recent |
fate for the benefit of Garfield Hospital, when a
HERALD reporter was announced. The conver- |
saton that followed gradually drfted about
to the contrast between the present ways of
Washington society and those of fifteen or
twenty wears ago. Mrs. Logan said: "There
have been almost incredible changes and the
old ways in the light of the present were char
acterized by great simplicity. One never heard
of republican court in those days so soon
after the war. There are several persons OF
distinction and wealth here now, as there were
during the past two or more administrations,
who, by entertaining in a lavish way have to
certain extent elevated the hospitality OF so
ciety to such pitch that many feel they can
not reciprocate as they would like to, and so do
nothing by way of return, since it is only the
mllionaires who can ransack the earth for deli
caces to place before their guests on gold plate.
And yet l do not think it fair to characterize
this as extravaganza on their part. All the
charming women connected with these families,
with Mrs. Fish and Mrs. Whitney included, are
exceedingly knd-hearted, and they can well af-
ford to be lavish. Besides, what they spend
helps the producer and the artisan, not to men
tion the artists who are employed by them to
beautify and embellsh their homes. The only
bad effect is upon people who, II not in official
life, enjoy its entree, such as retired Army Of
fcers and their families, the Senatorial and Con-
gressional circles, with that class Of resident
citizens who enjoy a simple competency and
have refined tastes united to desire to see
something of society and entertain in way.
But their way is SO limited by contrast and
half pay that they do one Of two thing-noth-
ing at all, or run headlong into debt. II they
do the latter then comes a smash-up. After
dining off of gold plate it does take some moral
courage to return such hospitality with the kind
of dinner that plain Senatorial household, for
instance, can afford. During Gen. Logan's life
time we once found ourselves in such situa-
tion, and after family caucus concluded that
the dgnifed and proper thing to do was to re-
turn it to the best of our ability in our own way
and simply give such dinner as we could af-
ford. l did my best, and with the help of
good cook the affair went off finely. There was
one dish that | knew kings and republicans
alike had taste for, and had it-with corn
bread. 1t is needless to say it was spring
chicken fried with cream gravy, and to this
day one of our millionaire Senators often refers
to it as one of the best dinners he ever sat
down to.
81 believe 1t great mistake and inconvenience
to have visiting hours SO late in the afternoon
is now customary. 1t is my idea that from 2 to 5
are the best hours of the day for visiting. will
give my reasons. If ladies during the season
are invited to luncheon at from to B, a carriage
walking costume would do for the luncheon
and the call or the reception, while if the visitor
went about in her carriage and had husband in
either wing ofthe Capitol orin the Departments,
he could be called for before the carriage was
put up, and if there was an evening dinner or
reception on hand, from to or P. M. would
afford ample time for the family dinner, the
hours rest or the evening toilet. In some re-
spects like the great simplicity that English
women adopt in receiving. The guest is re-
freshed with cup of tea, biscuit, or glass of
wine, and entertained by the brilliancy Of the
hostess and the company drawn to her by per-
sonal attraction or some other powerful mag
net We all have Utopia and dream dreams.
have mine. l do not consider myself in So
ciety in the conventional sense just now, but
hope some time to make my drawng-rooms the
centre where literary, artistic, and distinguished
people generally will love to come to enjoy each
others society and cultivate the art of CONVEX
sation, where simple refreshments will answer
that can be furnished without the aid of a
caterer.
81 think there is no place in the world" Mrs.
Logan continued, where life is so delightful as
in our Capital City. In every other capital
are rarely if ever so. At least they do not talk
politics in mixed companies. We have no
women who reflect the political atmosphere OF
the French salon, however near we may ap-
that makes society so delightful is this absence
of political or religious discussion in the draw
ing-rooms of women in official society at Wash
ington. ,.,.,.
The Garfield Hospital will do. The president
of our Sewing Circle, Mrs. Rutherford, is good
Catholic, but she never obtrudes an opinion that
any Protestant worker among us cannot sub
scribe to- While on the subject of charities
may as well say that it always offends my
sense Of justice when hear people saying Mrs
So-aud-So-an official or society leader-makes es
such or such a charity her fad The women
who are ornamental rather than useful in char
table work are, in my opinion, very few II
takes brains, executive skill, and work tC
found, build up, and carry on our charitable in
stitutions, and women do not get the credit they
deserve for their unpaid labors. The most OF
the funds appropriated by Congress for thei
support and the money earned to piece out
scant appropriation, all pass through some
careful woman's hand, who acts treasurer
and pays bills that never go to protest Wher
is the man willing TO devote much time ant
gratuitOus labor where the disbursing of thou
sands is concerned? | think the society woman
has risen almost without yolition on the wav
of progress. She feels the impulse to do some
thing, to expand her own nature, and to benefi
the world. The feeling is the same as tha
which animates the woman who follows he
artistic or literary instincts, only the first does
for love and the later for love-and money
simply because she has to-to liye."
II certainly think there has been grea
change for the better in the dress Of womel
during the past twenty years" Mrs. Tullocl
lga