The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-05
COSMOPOLITAN WASHINGTON.

| From Century.
| 1t is natural that in its social aspect
| Washington should differ from most
other cities. 1t is strangely cosmopoli-
tan. There is in the ranks of society
the greatest variety Of race with the
| greatest variety of interest, or. al
least, in the object of interest. There
is, in things social. the greatest diversity
together with singular uniformity of
| principle. There is notab bic simple
ity existing side by side with something
very like real magnificence of display,
and remarka bic absence of that So
| cially servile opinion which accepts dis
| play alone as an outward and visible
sign of inward and social grace. The
| Ubiquitous diplomat leavens the
whole, and lends it slightly European
| SAVIOR. The curious English traveller
sion, but leaves none: the German of
solid requirements puts in an hour of
levity, the better to observe, to note,
and mentally to digest; the French
man. generally new at wandering,
sparkles in conversation, whether he
be understood or not, and generalizes
within himself as all Frenchmen do.
For the French mind differentiates
keenly, but integrates by one rule only,
which is the Partisan.
You may see almost every type at a
big afternoon tea in Washington, es-
pecially at one of those given, accord
ing to pretty custom, to bring cut"
to present to society," daughter of
the house. There she stands the young
girl whose social eyes are to be opened,
type of the American maiden of to-
day, unlike any other in the world.
For we are the only one among the
great nations of whom it must be said
that we are a distinct result rather
than distinct race, and this result is
d type indefinitely varied by divers
race characteristics. The result
stands by her mothers side near the
door of the first drawing-room through
which guests pass-tall. slender, prob
ably clad in white. probably having
rather dark hair and complexion to
which the national irrita BILE heart
as the doctors call it, gives brilliancy
rarely seen abroad. Almost beyond
doubt, too, she has eyes that would
seem unusual in Europe, with strong,
fringing lashes, but rather too boldly
bright and restlessly, though innocent
ly, curious The mouth is very mobile;
the hands are rarely quiet for mo-
ment-slender hands, very narrow at
the base, very closely webbed between
the thumb and forefnger, very exqui-
sitely kept under her long gloves;
hands with which none but those of
Frenchwomen can compare with the
wise pains bestowed upon them.
By her side, upon broad table, are
endless flowers, chiefly if not alto
gether white. In her left hand are
roses, white too, and as fresh as herself.
Her right she gives frankly to stranger
and friend alike, as her mother, SPLEEN
did with historic Jewels and maternal
pride, introduces them all to her, one
after the other. A word or two, not
more, to each, and each passes on. 1t
Is pretty custom, unlike any other in
the world. They all pass on and join
the international throng in the other
rooms-senators, officials, diplomats;
grave men who seize the quick oppor-
tunity to exchange words of moment,
and other grave men, gray-haired, but
not old in heart, who whisper the
pleasant nothings they learned long
ago to young ears that perhaps have
not heard them yet. The air smells of
tea and flowers, the rooms are crowded,
the heat is great, the goodwill greater
still toward the tall young girl by the
door, who has shaken the hand of each,
and looked into the face of each, won
dering, perhaps, whether any face of
them all is ever to be the one face of
all the world to her.
We Americans are a wonderfully
sentimental people, and the lily-white
maiden who makes her entrance into
society on this day is as eager for sen.
timent as all the rest of US. Now SEN
timent is good when il is found, and is
real, and there is little to care for in
life without it. Why, then, should the
pursuit of il be ridiculous? 1t is, and
it is strange that it should be. Per-
haps the heart is ashamed when the
head knows what IL is doing