The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-08-23
COSMOPOLITAN wAsHrworov.


COSMOPOLITAN WASHINGTON.
In the August number OF The osnfs,y Mari.
on Crawford has an appreciative sketch OF
the city OF Washington. its buildings land
Its social features. He CANNOT understand
the attitude OF those unpatriotio Americans
who dccry the city, and although he has
seen more of the charms Of life elsewhere
than most others he confesses to an en-
thusiastic admiration for the national capi-
tai. Mr.. Crawford says: 800
1t is natural that in its social as
pect Washington should differ from
most other cities. It Ii strangely
cosmopolitan. There is in the ranks
of society the greatest variety Of
race with the greatest variety Of in
terest 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 a notable simplicity exist
ing side by side with something very
like real magnificence Of display,
and a remarkable absence of that
socially servile opinion which &C.
cepts display alone az an outward
and visible sign of inward and social
grace. The ubiquitous diplomat
leavens the whole, and lends it a
slightly European SAVIOR. The curl
GUS English traveller comes, sees,
and takes away an impression, but
leaves none; the German of solid
requirements puts on an air Of levi
ty 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 gener-
alizes within himself as all French
men do. For the French mind diff
ferentiates keenly, but integrates
by one rule only, which is the Pari-
sian.
You may see almost every ty pc at
a big afternoon tea in Washington,
especially at one of those given, ac-
cording to a pretty custom, to
"bring Quito present to society
a daughter of the house. There she
stands, the young girl whose social
eyes are to be opened, a type of the
American maiden of to-day, unlike
any other in the world. For we are
the only n among the great ma
tons of whom it must be said that
we are a distinct result rather than a
distinct race, and this result is a 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,
probably clad in white, probably
having rather dark hair and a COM
plexion to which the Irrational irrit-
able heart,' as the doctor calls it,
gives a brilliancy rarely seen abroad.
Almost beyond a doubt, too, she has
eyes which would seem unusual in
Europe, with strong, %fringing lashes,
but rather too boldly bright and
restlessly, though innocently, curl
ous. The mouth is very mobile /;
the hands are rarely quiet for a mo-
ment-slender hands, very narrow
at the base, very closely webbed be-
tween the thumb and the foreinger,
very exquisitely kept under her
long gloves; hands with which none
but those of Frenchwomen a COM
pare for the wise pains bestowed
upon them.
By her side, upon a broad table,
are endless flowers, chiefly If not al
together 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, splendid with historic jew
els and maternal pride, Introduces
them all to her, one after the other.
a wore or two, not more, to each,
and each passes on. 1t is a pretty
custom, unlike any other in the
world. They all pass on and join
the international throng in the 9TH
er rooms-senators, officials, diplo-
mats; grave men who seize the
quick opportunity 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 have perhaps 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, wondering,
perhaps, whether any face of them
all is ever to be the one face of all
the world for 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 sentiment as all the rest
of us. Now sentiment is good when
it is found, and is real, and there is
little enough to care for in life
without it. Why, then, should the
pursuit of it be ridiculous9 1t is,
and it is strange that it should be.
Perhaps the heart is ashamed when