Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-22
Washington Society.

A delightful, gossipy article about
Washington society is contributed to
Harper's Magazine by Henry LOOMS Mel
son. 1t is the best summing up we have
seeralately of the marvellous congiomera-
ton of men and women from all parts of
this broad land that constitute Washing
ton society. 1t is as much the duty Of
every moderately well to do American to
spend winterin Washington as to make
the tour of Europe There is to be found
the nearest approach to real American
society--if there is any such thing-that
exists anywhere
From all corners of the country our
people come together there. The rough
Of speech and uncouth of manner are
polished off in a few months to become
at least respectable members of refined
society They are good, moral people,
intelligent, too, wanting just what they
will get from season in Washington.
Boorishness, selfshness and greenness
are there, but they are shamed into moth
ingness by the exquisite flavor of court
hness and gentleness that will always
pervade Washington society. Give every
body his deserts, this courtliness, gentle
ness and polished manner are due largely
to the southern element in Washington.
If we could unite northern energy and
enterprise with southern gracefulness
and politeness, we should have the most
fascinating specimen of humanity that
has yet blessed this globe, He would be
just about perfect too.
Mr.. Nelson describes well the strange
contrasts that meet one at presidents |
reception, contrasts sharply emphasized |
in dress, from the new rural congress
man, who goes to evening parties in |
a frock coat, to the gorgeous Chinese |
in his rainbow robes of state. !
Here, too, is the hopelessly vulgar rich
man, who somehow makes one think of
hog bristles, who has for years been able
to buy all he wanted and thinks he can
buy place in good society too.
Best of all is Mr.. Nelson's conclusion:
revelation of American character. These peo-
pie who make the living panorama Of draw
ing room are the products of our institutions.
In the countries Of kings and emperors they
could not have come to this. Some OF them
may be vulgar, many Of them may be crude,
most of them may be uninteresting to those
whose pleasure lies in the alertness and skill Of
Intellectual fence The latest works on fiction
nay be unfamiliar to them they may not know
he names of the leading French authors or
painters, they may not have heard that Russia
ias a literature, they may think the equestrian |
figy of jackson more splendid than the grace
ul figure Of Chief Justice Marshall, but they
ave self respect and kind eonsderateness for
thers, and they recognize the proprieties OF
peech and manners.
They feel their own powers and have realized !
heir value. They are clean minded, and they
ave won their leadership by their own efforts,
or this is the congregation of the leaders of
he republic-the men and women who inhabit |
he homes Of the country, in city and hamlet,
n prairie and mountain and by seashore. |
hey are the source Of its power and the prod
cts of its culture. From out their sturdy stock |
ONE the brilliant double blossoms of that
which deems itself the highest civilization. |
lost of these blossoms die with their genera
ion, but the invigorating soil grows better and
etter plants as the years go on.