The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-21

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The wife of a
prominent ofTleias, who has had much ex-
perience in Washington society, where one
sees aA sorts Of people, said To me- the other
day: 1.-The brightest and most Interesting
women in Washington arc che department
girls. have often thouEht that If were
q man, and were going co pick out q wife,
I would wanb one of these women who
haye worked for few years Tor Uncle
Sam They are women whose characters
have become settled, who are practical
without being sOrdid, and whose minds
have SOME solid, enduring cultivation.
Contrast these working women with the
mere devetees of society, the idle women
who are supported by their husbands In
such lHxury that even common household
cares are not theirz, and 1t is the working
woman who profits by the comparison. To
my mind the face of a society woman in
time begins to reflect her mode OF life. 1t
lacks character repose, deinfteness Of ex
preston, becomes doll-like and dull. The
department woman has rubbed enough
against the world TO have the Stiffness
taken out of her. She is no longer romantic,
foolishly sentimental. At the same time she
preserves all her refinement and womanly
softness, for the work is not hard and she
associations are pleasant. Tony notion the
departments in Washington make theideal
place for a woman to work in. It does me
good to walk through the great buildings
and see such large number Of bright and
happy young women earning their own
living and helping their families along.
They dress well, behave well and look like
women who know how to take care OF
themselves, qualified to assume almost any
responsibility in life, Some Of these
women are old, and not few OF them
are maidens Of such few charms and SO
many years that they wiz never marry,
but challenge you to find greater mum
Der of really pretty women out of like
number in any walk OF life than l can
show you in the treasury or the interior
department, or any other of our big hives
of governmental industry. Step into the
corridors of the treasury department., for
instance, at luncheon time, and note the
women who pass you by. Nearly all are
simply but sweetly dressed, and make
kaleidoscope of pretty pictures in their
light summer fabrics. Nearly all wear
flowers, too, indicative of home life and of
the country. AS a matter Of fact, this
observing society woman went on, ga large
number of our department people are
moving out TO the suburbs of the city and
acquiring little homessof their-own. They
are saving from their meaRer salaries, and
the hours which they are required to keep
at their work, In the morning tin in the
afternoon, give them abundant leisure for
going and coming.
Whenever hear of a man picking a
wife from the department. / feel like con-
graduating him. Now theirs is MT. Jones,
of The St. Louis Republic. He has just
married and gone away to Europe with
Mrs. Parsons, one Of the prettiest women
of the census bureau. Mr.. Jones has made
a great success of his paper. He came
north from Florida few years ago, and
has won both fame and fortune l hear
that some of his friends here, senators and
members Of the house, underworld TO dis
suade him from marrying Mrs. Parsons
because she was a department woman.
They thought she was not good enough
for him, did not have social station equal
TO his. As q woman who admires the de-
partment girls and believes in them 1 am
glad Col. Jones was not Influenced by his
friends. I we'll remember when Senator
Mcdonald, of Indiana, married a clerk in
one Of the departments. His friends made
an effort TO interfere, just as Col Jones
friends did. But III venture that Mr. Nc
Donald has never been sorry that he put
all the advice Of his would be friends be-
hind him. Mrs. Mcdonald was and still
is one of the loveliest women in America.
visited her not long ago il her Indianapo-
lis home, and she is perfectly happy. She
and her husband arc still the lovers they
were when married. at first Indianapolis
society was inclined Co turn up iesnose at
Mrs Mcdonald because she had been a
department clerk, bat che went along IN
her sweet. dignified way, asking no favors
of any one, and now she Is one Of the most
popular women of the Hoosier capital.
"Of course you cannot expect every mar
rage of prominent man with depart
ment beauty TO turn out well" concluded
my lady, for human nature Is human
nature wherever you find it. Once in a
while there Will be a case like that OF ex-
Senator Christiapcy, who married only to
get a divorce. but in the long run am
willing to back the department. girl for
beauty and character and womanliness
against all corners"
For my part, am glad always TO see
love level ranks in this democratic coun-
try. Therefore it is a pleasure to see the
department girl, whom my society friend
has praised so highly, catching on The
loveLest woman have seen IN " aShing-
ton, next to Matte Mitchell. the queen of
beauty, is Rose Alexander, department
clerk Theirs is Mrs. Senator Davis, her
self once q milliner, who has about her in
the social season a bevy of the prettiest
girls TO be found in the capital. Many of
them are from the departments, and just
as nice and sweet and well behaved as If
they were the daughters of EniHioDalres.
Go out TO the country club house, or the
new Glen Echo cafe, or along the delight
full drives which Surround Washington,
and you will see the departments girl at
her best. She IS out, Slngly, by couples
and ousrtets, with senator's members OF
congress and promising and important
men in general as escort. The department
girl il always good company, Eivacious,
not too prudiSh, and with wit native or
acquired by contact with the world And
she Is nearly always a lady, No wonder
she catches a good husband
Probably there Is no city in the country
moro given 10 driving aud riding than the
capital In these sultry days the charm
ing country roads are the resort OF thou
sands when the sun is setting end the
asphalt pavements begin giving OF the &C
cumulated heat of the day, All round the
city are beautiful roads, hsrd. nos often
dusty, well kept and very, very popular
Ii is odd how presidents set the fashion
even in driving. As soon IS the Cleve-
lands had bought and occupied the Red
Top cottage every one IN Washington was
seized with a desire to drive out thar way.
The Weodley road therefore became a
prime favorite, and such II has remained
to this day, Il is one ot the drives which