The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-09

COSMOPOLITAN WASHINGTON.
re In Different In ITS Social Aspect From
Most other Cities.

A8W@G&
Most Other Cities.
Tt is natural that in its social aspect
Washington should differ from most 9TH
er cities It Is strangely cosmopolitan.
There il in che ranks Of society the
greatest variety Of race, with the great
est variety of interest, or at least in the
object of interest There is in things
social the greatest diversity, together
with a singular uniformity Of principle.
There is notable simplicity existing side
by side with something very like real
magnihcence of display and a remark
able absence of that socially servile
opinion which accepts display alone as
an outward and visible sign Of inward
and social grace. The ubiquitous diplo-
mat leavens the whole and lends il
slightly European SAVIOR. The curious
English traveller comes, sees and takes
away an impression, but leaves none;
the German Of solid requirements puts
on an air of levity the better to OBSERVE,
to note and mentally to diges the
Frenchman, generally new at wander
ing, sparkles in conversation, whether he
be understood or not, and generalizes
within himself, as all Frenchmen do,
for the French mind differentiates keen
", but inteRrates by one rule only,
which is the Partisan
You may see almost every type at
big afternoon tea IN Washington, espe-
cially Mt one given. according to a pretty
custom, to bring Quito present to
society," daughter of the house. There
she stands, the young girl whose social
eyes are to be opened, a type of tho
American maiden of today, unlike any
other IN the world, for we are the only
one among the great nations Of whom
it must he said that we are q distinct
result rather than a distinct race, and
this result is a type indefinitely varied
by divers race characteristics. The IRE
suit stands by her mothers side near
the door of the first drawing room
through which guests paSs-ta11, slen-
der, probably clad in white, probably
having rather dark hair and a COM
plexion to which the national irritable
heart, = as the doctors call it, gives a
brilliancy rarely seen abroad.
Almost beyond a doubt, too she has
eyes which would seem unusual in Eu-
rope, with strong, fringing lashes, but
rather too boldly bright and restlessly
though innocentIy curious. The mouth
is very mobile The hands are rarely
quiet for Observation-Disclosures hands. very
narrow at the base, very closely webbed
between the thumb and forefnger, very
hands With which none but those of
Frenchwomen can compare for the wise
pains bestowed upon them.
BY her side, upon a broad table, are
endless flowers, chiefly, if not altogeth-
er, white. In her left hand are roses,
white, too, and as fresh as herself. Hen
right she gives frankly to stranger and
friend alike, as her mother, splendid
with historic jewels and maternal pride,
introduces tt en- all to her ono after the
other A word or two, not more, to
each, and each passes on. 1t is pretty
custom-unlilze any other in the world
They all pass on and join the interna-
tional throng in the other rooms-sen-
ators, officials. diplomats, grave men, |
who seize the quick opportunity to ex-
change words Of moment, and other
grave men. gray haired, but not old in
heart, who whisper the pleasant moth
ings they learned long ago to young I
ears that have perhaps not heard them /
yet. The air smells Of tea and flowers, |
the rooms are crowded, the heat is
great. the good will greater still toward (
the tall young girl by the door, who has .
shaken the hand of each and looked in /
to the face of each, wondering perhaps +
whether any face of them all is ever tc
be the one face of all the world for her.
We Americans are wonderfully SEN
timental people, and the lily white
maiden who makes her entrance into
society on this day is as eager for senti-
ment as all the rest of us. Now, senti-
ment is good when it is found and il
real, and there is little enough to care
for in life without it. Why, then, should
the pursuit of it be ridiculous? 1t is,
and it is strange that it should be. Per-
haps the heart is ashamed when the
head knows what it is doing. Marion
Crawford in Century.