Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
LADY MONEY MAKERS.
Fortunes for Society Bellies in Wash
ington Real Estate.
RECEIPTS OF BOARDING HOUSES.
Pretty Girls Busy Clicking Out Bank
Rolls on Typewriters.
ICE CREAM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
rconRrspoxpENcE OF THE DISPATCH !

| CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1SPATCH.1
WASHINGTON, June 21.-There are lots
of women in the Capital City who make
money in real estate. Mrs. Patten, the
wife of the California millionaire, added
materially to her fortune in this way before
she died, and there are number of other
society ladies who speculate in houses and
lots on the sly. Not few of the fortunes OF
Washington are founded on real estate, and
large part of that left by Corcoran comes
from the rise of Washington property. One
Of the most aristocratic families in
the Northwest dates its origin back
to a lot which the grandfather of the
high-toned young ladies Of to-day owned.
This grandfather was butcher and he had
a very pretty daughter whom the cook Of
Sir Charles Vaughn, the British Minister to
the United States q decade or so ago, saw
| and fell in love with. When Vaughn went
back 10 England the cook remained and
| married the daughter of the butcher. The
butcher died, leaving his lot, which was sold
at an enormous figure, and which formed
the foundation of the present family's for
| tune.
Not long ago the butchers daughter,
whose origin had, as she supposed, been for
gotten, took it upon herself to criticize the
admission of the daughters of q poor, but
blue-blooded naval officer, into Washington
society. In speaking to one of the most
refined ladies OF Washington about it this
butchers daughter said: what an idea,
Mrs. Blank. don't think we ought to ad-
NIT these people to our circle. Washington
society is growing so common, and we really
must draw the line somewhere"
Eyes, Madam" replied the lady sarcastic
ally; "that may be true. but where shall we
draw the line, at the sirloin or the tender
loin?''
BOARDING HOUSES AND ANCESTRY.
This story makes me think of the board
ing house women Of Washington, some of
whom belong to that class known as reduced
gentlewomen. Not a few boast the bluest of
blood. and Congressman from Michigan
told me his experiences with one of these
the other day. Table board in Washington
costs from $40 to $50 per month. and this
Congressman wanted to get good boarding
place where he could run in and get his
meals. He was met at the door by gray
haired old man who told him that his wife,
the lady of the house, was not at home.
But" said he, "I would inform you,
sab, that this lady. sab, Is descendant of
George Washington's family, sab, and she
is sure to suit you, sah."
My Congressional friend said he would be
glad to board with so distinguished char
acter and made some inquiries about the
meals. The old man to his repeated Ques-
tions answered shortly, but always turned
the conversation to the George Washington
end of his family, until finally the Con-
gresham exclaimed, 81 don't care blank
ETY. blank whether my landlady is George
Washington's niece or George Washington's
cook. All that want is to have good hot
rolls and oatmeal for breakfast and want
my meat cooked rare" Whether he got 1t
or not don't know.
cxsH IN coNGREssMRs's sromAcHs.
Quite number of Washington women
have made money in keeping boarders.
There is one within o few blocks of the
White House who owns two houses worth
at least $40, 900, the whole OF which she has
made out of Congressmen's stomachs, and
know of another who boards Government
clerks and clears $4,000 a year. Another
woman who is known somewhat as tenn.
perance advocate keeps big hotel here and
another has three houses filled with all
kinds of officials from Cabinent Ministers to
Treasury clerks. She has different rates ac-
cording to rank, and the Senator pay S25
mouth for what the Representative gets for
$22. 80 and which the clerks gets Tor $20
She has q negro steward and he Is such a
good caterer that he is said to receive 81, 200
q year for his services.
Furnished rooms bring very high rates in
Washington. You cannot get any kind of
a room in the better part of the city for less
than $40 per month and suits Of two rooms
range from $40 up to several hundred dol.
lars. 1t used to be that Congressman had
to pay at least 500 month for |
any kind of rooming accommodations, but |
hoh data wi hou lofa al
in Washington have reduced the prices Of |
rooms and the room-renting women of the |
capital are not making SO much.
A PRETTY ICE CREAM vENDER.
Quite a number OF women make money
here by catering. and there is little French |
lady, Madam Demont who has made a
fortune by furnishing ice creams for White
House dinners and who has furnished cream
and confectionery for all the Presidents
back to Buchanan. She is dark-faced
little old lady with eyes as bright as those
If any business woman of France and she
how to charge high prices and
,et them.
Some of the prettiest girls in Washington
ire typewriters. They are numbered by the
thousands and they are the most expert of
heir kind in the United States. The
,reater part Of the typewriting of the de-
is done by them and scores of
hem have offices and take in work from
lobbyists, claimants and at
orneys. They come from all parts of the
ountry and I am told there are ], 500 who
make living outside of that given through
he civil service by Uncle Sam. I chatted
nth one OF these yesterday about her busi-
less. She said:
CLICKING OUT A FORTUNE.
"Of course like it. get more pay here
han could get in New York, Philadelphia
r Chicago, and I make enough to buy lot
ow and then. was offered 81, 200 clerk
hip in the Treasury few months ago and
would not take it. can make more out ,
ide and would not have my life ground
ut by. the Government machine, nor will ,
It one of those smirky chiefs boss me
round. I have a number of Congressman
hose correspondence I attend to. They ,,
ONE here in the morning and dictate their
'ork in shorthand and often 60 the office
f Senator or TO his committee room at the :
apitol when there is big job on hand.
"Of course get big prices for such labor I
nd have often received q dollar an hour.
enator Stanford pays the highest prices q
nd he often employs typewriters. Such !
opylng as do get paid for by the folio '
hundred words and the average rate i
aid here is go cents per 1000 words. i
,metimes do work for reporters and once i
ad an arrangement with Amos Cummings :
give him three hours every evening. He j
ictated directly to the typewriter and he =
aid me $40 a week"
Miss GRUNDY, JR.
Remedy for Dysentery. &