The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-26
Washington Society as II Is Graphically
Portrayed.
TEE PERFORMANCE OF SHODDYlSM.
Polltical Gossip Blaine and Barrison-Th
Alleged Interview with cx-Prcsi-
dent Cleveland.


anything labeled society in this country.
While. Of course, there are many most ex-
cellent people here who enter into social life
and festivities which is denominated and un-
derstOOd TO be society" and ia lis lOftiest
phase III mere hollow nockery and shallow
pretense. That ls because the shOwlest So
cety Is largely made up of psryenues, Of men
who have accumulated riches Il boiling soap
or selling some hunhug patent medicine. and
who locate In Washington IN order that their
families may shine IN society some OF the
most pretentiOus mansions IN the city were
erected and belong 10 men who. having ac-
Quired wealth bv life of toll and solt-denial,
came here 20 crafty the social aspirations OF
tie female members OF tAeir iahAies'
These people suddenly plunge-tnats the
word-info society They erect or purchase
splendid houses, designed more for social en-
tertaiumeuts than home cCmf.Tts. They en-
terrain most literally Expense is not an
item II consideration. All who can present
themselves IN the regulation apparel are vel
coined. and 10 Is easy to understand that the
aspiring family has hosts Of friends and ad-
mlrcTs. AT the official receptions the hne be-
tween the polished and the crude Is not
drawn. OF course the host OF hostess can
signify disapproval of a caller by frown, or,
"a II Is commonly termed, turning the cold
shoulder The most serious Ofiense that
can be- committed Is ID appear 10 plain apparel
or anything having the appearance Of having
been worn quite often. In short, there IS no
pardon for any evidence Oh poverty.
A POINTED ILLUSTRATION.
pointed illustration OF this occurred not
long ago az reception at the mansion Of the
Secretary OF state. Alrs. Secretary was doing
che h0nOrs enrolled IN one # Worth's
c0sthest costumes The widow Of q former
high treasury official. whose husband came TO
lis death under very distressing circum-
stances. was among the ca lcrs. she has not
Ir.a .l...Na~ lot
Of her husband but as she and Mrs Blaine
had for years been on very intimate terms.
ehc deemed Il her duty 70 call The sudden
death Of the eX-trcaSury official LETT his large
family with only % few thousand dollars Of he
insurance. and with the noble purpose of de-
voting this % the education of her children. tho
widow encOnomizcd ugidly. She approached
Mrs. Blaine who appeared 10 entirely over
look her. Assuming that the oversight was ac-
cilental tho widow walked up % tho hostess
and extendngher hand, said Mrs Blame,
you haven't forgotten me; / am Mrs. --"
'Oh, certainly replied the hostess entirely
ignoring the extended hand and IN a sueering
tone. II might have recognized you by that
familiar black silk dress"
The widow. cut o. the very hearts core.
drew back and, choking down her sols, man
aged TO retOrt. ~ my husband had taken
advantage 0f opportunities while IN pubic
hie which other officials are SAID never TO
have neglected, 1 might now wear Worth COS
TUNES t9o" She then left the house. This
incident was related 90 THE TINS cOrrespOn-
dent hy % lady who overheard every word OF
the conversation. The truth Is that Mrs.
Blame felt that she would subject herself TO
tl8 rldicule OF society If sAe recognized as an
old friend q lady who was not attiTcd en- reggie.
ANOTHER EVIDENCE OF sHODDYsM.
Another evidence of the pretent9us charac-
Oh ~ many who make great social display
l.75 IL the iuferioritv of the horses they drive
u II ID. o. g. Erf.rsff Tact that fIrVn
4- fewer really fine horses IN Washington
t4- IA any other city where 30 much display
ot torse flesh i- made.
one Of the best known livery men Of the
national capital, who has been dealing IN
horses for more than @ quarter OF century,
eald % your correspondent. The truth is
there is uo sale for high-prced horses IN
Washington. 10 is % rare thing TO get as much
a. 500 for horse here As q general rule
buyers IL Washington VII not pay over $500
u 500 pair for them. You would DE sur
pised a. many Of the transactions
II wealthy citizens. Some 81 them erect
magnificent houses furnish them with all
spleudor keep large retiuues of servants,
entertain lavslly, and buy the most costly
carriages aud are content to have them drawn
by sorry plugs costing two hundred and fifty
~ three hundred dollars per pair. These
horses are clipped. locked. and reached, and
with OyerdraWs SO ughtas % almost pun their
nccks out Of joint, they are paraded on State
occasions AS tLoroughDreds.
SOUTHERN SOCIETY.
Anent the subject Of Washington society
there De- one phase so conspicuous that all
who have access To the upper circles admit
that the most substantial element comes
from the South. The southern element IS
the most select as well as the most cultured
lu the homes Ol the Southern people the
status of the individual or family Is not
gagged Oy riches.
BLAINE AND HARRISON.
Secretary Blaine has returned from his
quiet s0Journ at Virginia Beach. but he per-
bists ~ maintaining an ominous silence with
regard to his Presidential boom. However,
some of his boomers are not so retlcent, aud
Chief among the Blaine shOuters now appears
General john >. ClTksOn. Only recently he
Was loudly laudng General Alger as
the man for the '92 occasion Now,
however, Lc is Justify prating OF
Blaine Now that he IS president Of the Ma
tonal League OF Republican oluoe' the ma
chiuerv which il Is generally supposed Will
largely influence the selection 81 delegates 10
the next Republican Convention, tlarksons
utteraucos are of no little consequence. lie
IS s0rcly dIsguutlod with HARRISON, actually
sour, because the President did not SEQ Ia INN
material Tor Cabinet minister. IN ms Dos |
ton interview Ciarks1n says HARRISON las |
made q faithful Executive, but that Le -
lacking only lu TIE personal popularity Whicn /
gives man the power az electricity ln pol /
tics. After Q4uulng HARRISON WIN tAS J
FAINT praise he refers TO Blaine as the pine /
uOmenal Secretary OF State. THIS utteianco /
OF GARRISON outlines tue policy OF the Blaine /.
men They cannot afford % openly dcnounce /
Harrison. They intend u give him /
TIE benefit ia al conventions, II reso- /
buttons commencing his administration, /
bat an Of these resolutions wall contain /
laudations Of Blaine. aud II will be argued /
that blaine possesses tho magnetism ana /
popularity which HARRISON lacks. that the /
coming contest vii be close and holly fought !
AID that % win the Republicans must not
overlook "a single point. The Blame men are
preparing their lives OF battle upon the theory /
Lat Grover Cleveland VIII be the democratic
candidate. and that BIO is boy far the strongest
i.al DID lbs party ClTkson sounds % bis EEL
.w-w0raers another keynote III saying
t-4t Cleveland is one 81 the smartost poliu-
clan. has party has ever had. and that the he.
pulncaus have underestimate his political
tasaciiy and leadership.
Meantime Blame is saying nothing, but 10
us an old saying he Is saving W )od
lresileut Harrison after his return VIII no
doubt have worry serious conference " n his
lcinler. in which the latter viii be invited 70
declare his intentions. Mess the declara-
Ion shall be satisfactory % the President IL Is
Aet believed that his ambitions secretary can
comfortably reside IN the same official house
! III b his Do Ia.a a1ftfrfup chief