Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09
SLAVES TO SOCIETY.
Not Much Pleasure in the Capitals
Gay Whirl After All.
OUR STATESMEN ARE BALD HEADED
A Dissertation on the Habit Of Smoking in
the Halls of Congress.
WOMEN IN TIE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
rYRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Il IfROh n CORRESPONDENT
| WASHINGTON, March S.-To keep ny
with the procession in Washington, as
| society goes, must not only be a surprisingly
onerous task, but one from which
but little-lf any.-sarisfaction can
be secured for either mind or soul.
1t may be that there are some women
as it takes all sorts to make worldwide
find solace and the fullest enjoyment in
dressing up" every afternoon in their best
clothes and going a-calling, loaded with a
stack OF cards. but we, personally, would
devoutly fray to be excused.
We fell in with "the swim" here lust to
see and know lntelligently what it all
meant and included in the city which repre-
sents the country, but ''great Cesar!'-if
we may be pardoned for the slang-protect
us from any such system of social slavery.
10 do The sights In the morning-to array
yourself in full dress regalia for grand re-
ceptions-and be introduced to hundreds of
people from every State in the Union that
you will never meet again in the course
of your happy home life, and whose faces
you forget Immediately, and with whom you
chat interestedly end, perhaps, eloquently
for the possible space of 10 minutes is in
o.
ably monotonous in the long run, even in
one so short as ours.
CHANCES AGAINST CLOSE FRIENDSHIP.
As follows at times, you may make dear
friends in such whirl, but the chances are
against it, and the whole business is mainly
deierence to social forms and a law of
etiquette against which many people rebel,
and wisely, too. The wives of most Con-
of an arbitrary rule which to our view is
assuredly exacting, since they are awarded
no salary for their services, but like minis.
ter's wives they are supposed to be subjected
to the calls of all constituents, and even
when not willing to sacrifice their time and
enjoyment feel constrained to do so because
it is the common custom.
1t is said of Mrs. Carlisle-who is the wife
of the Speaker of the last House-that she
has never missed call when due, that
what she has accomplished in the matter of
the battle of the cards is something marvel
GUS; but if we were the wife of the Speaker
we would, unless given the same salary,
just do as we pleased. We would not Law
ourselves upon the altar of our country to
any such extent for nothing. A MARTYR is
perhaps thrilling to read about, but mar
tyrdom in real life behind the scenes must
be burdensome to the last degree.
As we said before, there are women who
possibly enjoy this nerry-go-round. But
there are not a few, perhaps, so loving, loyal
and devoted to their husbands interests that
they would do even more, through the love
that moves the world, more even than their
real duty, and thus sacrifice themselves for
those whom they love through thick and
thin and for better or for worse.
The living of her own life tho ;nd.n.nd
ent e1nression of her own ssn,;rnants ~.
usino of her own indoment bana -. ".
heen decried in a ciergyman's Hifa 90 ha;Gs
destrnct;ve of bia sncoess Sba = ta ~ LIZ
meek and model woman who is to y bs =. .nh uIe
missiye to her husband in ali ,b;nn. and
serve as an echo for his oninions at oil
times She is moreover In he snh;aot 20
The criticism of his neonia and r,an:ns "
affairs in accordance witb Their wh;,,s Id
preiudices. anu
Something of the same un nwritten law pre-
walls in the etiquette of Washington as to
the wives of public officials
,o, n
ooNN ]Ai'H In NOar DENf'
Then there are some who assert for them
selves independence, and feel no pressing
claim to Keep up the reception end of the
IN country which repudi-
ates them as citizens, and prefers to extend
the rights OF such to ignorant aliens, litter
ae.h ase hasa'ss ] anu ostuafous sa saVages. some
their convictions, and secure for themselves
freedom by being in mourning for distant |
relatives. ior whom under other circum.
stances they would never dream of mourn-
ing-or by the religious observance of Lent |
which, being Methodists or Presbvterians
thew would never think of observing at
home.
All of the balderdash and stuff about so-
ciety girls attending the marriage marts tn
such condition OF fatigue and .tgoneness" as
to necessitate being bathed and rubbed
down by professionals, and swallowing
1uarts of hot bouillon, and being swatbed in
milk, and being every day subject to
massage to enable themselves TO keen nm in
rood condition during the strain and racket
ieemed essential to the maintenance of the
,ocial end of the administration. are
certainly a pure fabrication. as are
10 many other reports. Unscrupulous
under pressure of HAVING
omethine Sensational to saw. manufacture
uch yarns, and some of the innocents of the
world outside believe them, To please
heir best patrons. from whom they receive
ayors. they are constrained to mt a fair
ace. distinguished mien. a gown of trans.
epdeut beauty and French finish. and a
Lazzling lot of diamonds upon the
MOST COMMONPLACE DowDy
hot ever occpnisd tho ninnooIa of h;ob
;tion w;tb q wsoIIb of ;n,a,;n,t;es ~
onntiess fne words tba1 ,r,ai.o a
1,iasr creatnres iun.o;na ,han.saI-os anG some
anE E;no with crowned had. Thnse hsa as
o infIa,eJ with sncb treatnont 5 t5at ve,Jme thne
~ -, rou.I a;rs I'D 80 - .ly snas iney
ho bn., ~ v,ts ~ H. no;nt ~ IN sne"'1rses T,'
oon,a no 49, aII of t6a;- appbiishod rTa I.on tHey
;t.Ia 90 o. t snes paDaseu rs. gioly iol nice
~ ;aa u T. SJ a LnI; anu o'her 'ahgi-
re re gs1'0i ggan0io uho nirua .h"nasoI @ snas Inere
- pe:pio ~ p.o'ie 'nem1o!see uPon tne