Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-09-20
COSMOPOLITAN WASHINGTON.
1t Differs In Its Social Aspect from Most
Other Cities

Other Cities.
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, at
least, in the object of interest. There
is, In things social, the greatest diversity
together with singular uniformity Of
principle. There is notable simplic-
ity existing side by side with something
very like real magnificence of display,
and remarkable 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 q slightly European
SAVIOR. The curious English traveller
comes, sees, and takes away an impress
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
keeny, but integrates by one rule only,
which is the Partisan.
You may see almost every type at
big afternoon tea in Washington, es-
pecially at one of those given, accord
ing to a pretty custom, to bring out"
to 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 one among the
great nations of whom it must be said
that we are distinct result rather
than 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, prob
ably clad in white, probably having
rather dark hair and a complexion 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 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 webbcd 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, splen
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. II
is a 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 Ions
ago to young ears that perhaps have
not heard them yet The air smells o
tea and flowers, the rooms are crowded
the heat is great, the goodwill greatel
still toward the tall young girl by tn,
door, who has shaken the hand of each
and looked into the face of each, won
dering, perhaps, whether any face o
them all is ever to be the one face o
all the world to her.
We Americans are a wonderfully
sentimental people, and the lily-whit
maiden who makes her entrance int
: society on this day is as eager for sen
timent as all the rest of us. Now sen
timent is good when it is found, and i
, real, and there is little to care for il
life without it. Why, then, should tn
. pursuit of it be ridiculous? 1t is, an
it is strange that it should be. Pei
, haps the heart is ashamed when tn
head knows what it is doing.-Mario