The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-08
BUSINESS OR PLEASURE.
The Question thar every Congress
man has to Decide.


Correspondence Of the Press.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Public men COM
plain most bitterly that society makes
such iarge demands upon their time that
they cannot properly get through their
work, At the last White House recep-
ton { sat down in the East Room, taking
poss ession OF a secluded corner, and
watched the famous men and beautiful
women who were promenading that noble
apartment, rejecting upon their daily
lives, their antecedents their life strug-
giles and daily routine. On such an occa-
sion as this it is always obvious that the
woman is serene aud content and self
possessed, while the man it is who seems
pressed for time, who is nervous about
his appearance and his manners.
AS good luck would have it was Joined
in this nook Of observation by the man,
Of all others, whom / wanted to see
young and handsome Congressman Dol
liver, of Iowa. Dolliver wanted to see
because knew him as an eloquent and
thoughtful man, a wit and philosopher,
original and courageous in his thoughts
anu tApIcoolOIlc, anu btlC LhOA . AitCACo
because all this spectacular affability and
dressy show of cordially was new and
strange to him. In short, wanted to
know what man of brains and sense,
fresh from the people and from form
of society much simpler than this, would
think of it all.
"Dolliver," said !, as he sat down be-
side me, 'tell me how this scene i'm
presses you"
First" he replied, "let me tell you of
my experience here tonight. 1t was my
first taste of official society as seen at a
public levee in the executive mansion.
did not know what to do when came
here, and SO thought it best simply to
follow the crowd. 1t took me forty min
utes to get from the front door to the
coat room, and there a colored man
grabbed my hat and coat, while l was
willing to wager something handsome
that should never get them back again.
Ten minutes later and the stream of peo-
pie had carried me with them to the re-
ception room. l was little dazed by
what occurred there, and have been
little dazed ever since. ! remember
hearing my name sung out by some one,
Mr.. Dolliverp A man whom took for
the president grabbed my hand and
pumped my right arm up and down a
couple of times. Then 1 was showed
along to Mrs. Harrison, think it was.
My arm was pumped again, and
as another cog was turned by the
machine l heard myself greeted by
the second lady as Mr.. CULVER
Again the pump motion was applied,
the machine took up another cog, and
Twas introduced to the next lady as Mr..
MELVILLE More pump like movement
of the right arm, and with the lights
dazzling my eyes, and my brain a little
disordered by visions of beautiful women
and gorgeous dresses, was passed along
to still another. Here l recovered my
self sufficiently to endeavor to regain
possession of my proper name, but when,
five seconds later, the machine moved
again I found the pump action just like
its predecessors and a large, handsome
woman with French accent calling me
Mr.. Gollyboy.' Then / gave it up,
and resigned pry5selr 20 anything that
might happen in the way of impromptu
nomenclature. More pump handle
movements, more parodies on the name
that had come honestly by, and finally
l reached the end of the line and as
Gen. Zollicoffer' made my escape into
catch my breath"
''And you like itf'
"Well, it is wonderful spectacle, and
am fond of the spectacular. All the
glimpses have had of the society of
Washington interest me, particularly the
fine dinners. 1t seems to me that the
dinner is the most rational and enduring
form of social activity here. never
fail to accept an invitation to dinner.
But what strikes me most forcibly is
the demands this social business makes
on ones time. How some of the sena-
tors and members manage to get through
their work and give so much time to So
cial matters is more than can under
stand. Of course am willing to con-
cede that this society is very fascinating.
must confess that it has taken hold of
me in a way which had not dreamed
of. | came down here, as I am told
many young congressman had come
before me, full of ambition and clothed
in good resolutions. was not going to
daily with the glittering tempter, soci-
ETY.. Ny days were to be spent in the
work of the house of representatives and
in the service of my constituents, while
my evenings were to be devoted to letter
writing and to study. Now as a matter
of fact have been out to dinner or a
reception every night for week. have
almost lived in dress coat"
"And you find yourself much pressed
for timer"
"All the while. 1t something new in
my experience. In the country town in
which lived we did not know what it was
to be hurried. We arose at reasonable
hour in the morning, had leisure to read
two or three newspapers before break
fast, walked down to the office, stopping
to chat with friends on the way, had an
hour or two for midday dinner, took a
nap thereafter if SO inclined, and in this
luxurious manner spent the day and the
evening. But this is different sort of
life. Take my experience of today as a
sample Of every days experience, not
only of mine but of every congressman's
and senator's. breakfasted at s. at o
was in hired cab going to the govern
ment printing Office to get a Job
for an old constituent of mine, from
there to the pension Office to look up a
case for worthy woman of my district,
then to the postoffice department to see
about postoffice appointment, to the
treasury, to the war department and
finally to the Capitol. Ali day there l
wrote letters to my constituents. At 8
o'clock the house adjourned, and I had
an engagement to dine at four miles
from the Capitol. Arapid drive, light
ming change from business to dress suit,
another hurried drive, and was at my
hosts, ten minutes late, despite all my
exertions. At 0 o'clock I had an engage
ment with my friend and colleague,
Judge Reed, to come to the presidents
reception, and here am, all Of which I
call pretty lively work for plain young
congressman who had firmly resolved
not to be led astray by the seductions OF
Washington society"
Mr.. Dolliver did not know was going
TO use him as horrible example of the
manner In which the society Of the capt.
tai destroys good resolutions and leisure
illness, and he may not thank me for SO
dong, but being young and handsome
oacheior, naturally falling an easy vic
tim to the wiles of the world of fashion,
wanted TO contrast him with certain