The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-02
HOT But TOLERABLE.
WashingtOn's Claims as a Summer
Resort.
The Capital City Has Attractions of q
| Negative Misunderstanding Cool Is a
Science-Senator Cameron's Refrigera-
| tor Drawing Room.

science-senator Cameron's Refrigera-
tor Drawing Room.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, June 30.-The capital
isn't half bad as summer resort. Such
unlimited freedom as reigns here is not
to be found anywhere short Of a first
class go-as-you-please summer resort. 1t
is perfectly Arcadian in its ingenious
ness. Great men hobnob down the river
in the most democratic simplicity with
lesser lights, and women of official life
can do almost anything and not attract
any more attention than is agreeable.
Really that is all that makes life
here endurable. The heat tickles the
mercury. 1t sails up and flies like
flag. The pavements scorch and the
asphalt melts, but when night comes the
city wakes and the fun begins. Women
here have such pleasant times that the
wives of members of congress who are
obliged to stay through the long session
of congress manage to survive in COM
fort and enjoy the process. Keeping
cool is science here. AS soon as the
heat becomes rampant every curtain is
tucked away, the blinds are drawn and
the sun tabooed.
The drawing room in Senator Cam
eron's house is sample and perfect
refrigerator. No one could think of be-
ing warm in its precincts. Cool, light
mattings stretch from one tapestried
wall to another. Every piece of furni-
Fure is SO cool looking that it might
have just come out of the icebox. The
furniture is dressed in pale shades, and
mornings Mrs. Cameron in cool negli-
gees entertains her closest friends en-
sconced on a wide couch with fluffy
pillows.
Senator Sherman has become accus-
toned to the democratic summer free
dom of the capital and uses all of it's
privileges. One of these is sitting on
the doorstep, and almost any night the
venerable senator can be seen occupying
the top doorstep of his K street mansion,
reading the paper or entertaining other
senatorial lights. The entire family are
usually there too. Another operation
that Senator Sherman INDUCES in is
''going down the river" Everybody
goes down the river here nights. Hardly
an evening passes that the boats to Mar
shall Hall OF Indian Head do not carry
| a number of senatorial and congress-
ional families. Senator Sherman is one
of the most frequent patrons. He comes
| down to the wharf with look of perfect
| delight on his face, and silver and Stew
art are as far away as Alaska. He goes
on the steamer like small youngster
ready for any fun, and if John Sherman
ever does unbend it is when he goes
down the river, while the band plays all
the popular airs.
Lafayette square is favorite spot
with people who want to keep cool, and
many of the diplomats who are hunting
for zephyrs sit about on the painted
green park seats. The Marquis Impe-
Iiali has favorite bench, where he is
| often seen about in the afternoon in
this park.
| The parks here are distinctly made for
use, and congressional gentlemen are
| bound to have their share. Senator and
Mrs. Hansbrough and Delegate Smith of
Arizona and his wife spend most of their
evenings sitting in Franklin park; while
the ladies stroll up and down among the
trees and fountains the men smoke to
drive away the belligerent mosquito.
| Dupont circle is the great park for Of
fetal circles. It is opposite the Chinese
legation, and on any night the legation
can be found cooling their queues there.
The baby is trundled around the park.
The big young son of the minister runs
about, and the women, with their un-
happy small feet, waddle about the paths.
The funniest thing about them is that
the men of the legation never go near
the women. They take separate paths,
and if some winding brings them face
to face the gentlemen step upon the
grass and look away while Lady Tsui or
her attendants hurry by.
+ Massachusetts, avenue looks like the
annex to summer garden. Pretty girls
roam around, and the middle of the
asphalt pavements is much more popu-
lar than the sidewalks are. It's great
sight More real well known people can
be seen sitting on doorsteps than any
where else. They really sit on the steps,
too. Chairs are not of much account.
! attorney General Miller and his family
have very limited lawn, but they cover
it as soon as dusk comes. Chief Justice
Fuller likes his doorstep, but his dignity
is so great that he has to have rocking
chair. Mrs. Hodgson Burnett is fire.
Auently seen on the doorstep of her
pretty house surrounded by admiring
friends or, what is much more to her
taste, alone with Little Lord Fauntle-
roy's brother, discussing the next issue
of The Moon or Il Hing the boy stories
of her foreign life.
Down below Scott circle is doorstep
of dark red sandstone, and it is gener-
ally occupied by the prettiest woman in
| Washington with coterie of friends
Mrs. Senator Davis is joy at such
times. She always wears white now,
Ind evenings at the Davis mansion are
very popular. Mrs. Davis gets plenty
of fun, too, out of the day. She has an