Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01

Beer and pie for breakfast would upset the
digestive apparatus of an ostrich and must
therefore work disastrously when they contend
unassimilstiveiy in the human system. Disre-
garding this evident truth the most dyspeptic
of those who contribute editorials to the
esteemed Chicago Herald has arraigned the
good people of this city before the bar-xhich
may or may not be msrble-topped-has testi-
fed found a verdict. and pronounced sen
tence. Cause for his harsh procedure-aside
from the breakfast OF beer and pie before
mentioned-is found in the announcement
that should ambassadors to the United States
follow European custom they will have retinues
much more gorgeous than those allowed diplo-
mates Of the second grade. There is no other
city in the country" saws the Herald, ''in
which funk yism finds natural nutrition
Washington. The transient character of
SO large a proportion Of its population.
its want of frst-class mercantile estab-
Lshments. the idleness OF the officeholdrng
class and the dependence of the town on arti-
fcisl excitement for human interest combine to
render tufthunting the chief pursuit of the up
starts and vulgar ostentation the principal in
diligence of the new rich. 1t is, in fact,
becoming favorite residence for the latter
class" All of which would be very sad
indeed. if the allegations were true. But it is
not enough TO call attention to a lack Of first
class mercantile establishments that does not
exist nor to libel industrious servants of the
government There must be more words,
more berry ebullition. Hear the scornful con-
illusions of him who declares that the taste
of the town is "a medley composed of
the astonishment OF Arizona with polished
boots; the stare Of the southern planta-
zionist with what seems breakneck energy on
the part Of the northern mudsill: the disdain of
the east toward the west and north. and the
smothered roaring Of the foreigner at Ameri-
can vulgarity and provincial boorishness. Its
mathematics consists in counting millioEaires
and their money. Its literature is the list
of officers and the salaries. Its causerie is
tittle-tattle spiced with scandal. Its high
society generally goes home half-unconscious
at early hours IN the morning. A few reason
able people live in it all the year round. but
most Of its inhabitants come and 60 with the
vicissitudes of politics and the dispensations Of
providence
Had this torrent OF denuncistory criticism
eminated from a BOstonese source it might. al
though entirely without reason. be seriously
regarded. but coming it does from the city
in which the pursuit of wealth and cultivation
Of the abusive talent the conspicuous and
characteristic occupations it Is foundation .,on
which to erect columns Of laughter. There are
residents Of Washington whose wealth il still
novelty and some Of them acquired their
fortunes in Chicago abattoirs the banks
OF that lovely and traffie-burdened stream. the
Chicago river. and it is to their circuit
that soon means suficed they
moved away from sordid surroundings,
eliminated pie and beer from the breakfast
menu and established themselves at the ma
tional capitalize literary, scientific and artis-
tic center OF the country. Some of the most
delightful people in Washington are Chicagoans
and some of the least desirable claim the windy
city their home. Some OF them Office
holders. many OF them would like to be- But
good or bad. no matter wha: their social condi-
ton, without regard TO finance or politics.
they are all welcome here. This is the capital
of the nation-a clean. healthy city, in which
the moral law Is not a dead letter and of which
every true American Is properly proud. Ii is
q cosmopolitan city, in which tine people
of all sections of the republic at home.
They meet IN residence at the capital
no; with the result that each sneers contemp-
tuoUsly at the sectional peculiarities of
the Others, suggested by the Herald. but
with the result that. first. liberation and then
mutual sympathy and harmony follow; that sec
tOnsl peeulia-ities and prejudices are gradu-
ally effaced; that north. west. east and south
learn TO know, admire and respect one another,
and that from this association on common
ground Of citizens from everywhere true Amer
icanism, and the true American, of 10 section
rather Of all sections. are being evolved.