The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-16
CAPITAL CHAT.
Washington Society Becoming
a Bore.
Glad the Season IL About Ovsr--wfay th
Fair Sex Enjoy society-An Astounding
Confession - High Average Value Of
Farms-A Blizzard Echo.

Coniession - High Average Value Oh
Farms-A Blizzard Echo.
WASHINGTON. Feb. l5.--tspecial. 1.-THE
social season is nearly at an end. 1t has
been ono Of tho liveliest campaigns ever
seen In Washington. More than one fash
ionable woman Is heartily glad the end is
so near at hand, and that she is to find
rest and peace. Women who have never
been in the treadmill OF Washington ofii-
cial society have no conception Of the de-
mands which that life makes upon wom-
ans strength. Mrs Gresham, tho wife of
the secretary of state, has we'll expressed
the opinion Of THIS social orgie which many
women hold, though not all Of them are
frank enough to confess 1t. I'm my opin-
ion" said Mrs. Gresham, -FOUR social So
cicty in Washington has become good
deal of farce. There Is too much OF IL.
1t has become master, and hard master
pleasure to those who employ .it. For
young and ambitious women there may
be genuine pleasure In 1t, but for my part
do not like IL. shall hail with delight
the day when / can retire to my home,
and rest
Social Attractions.
Iaskcd one Of tho brightest Of the society
women OF this city, a young woman who
is in the very thick OF tho social BATTLE
what there was In this life that fascinated
SO many women. "Tho answer is very
simple" she replied. 1T may be found
In the one word 'excitcment.' Tho ques
tion which you have put to mo I have my
self asked good many of my friends, and
the reply Is the same In every case. Social
activity gives us something to do, some
thing to lift us out Of the huIncrum CON-
monplace existence of domestic life. You
men have your politics, your battles OF
business, your professional zeal, the stock
market, your various ambitions to serve.
We women have-society. That Is the
only outlet for that part Of our natures
which requires activity, effort, self asser-
tion, conquest. Once in this life, a wom-
an grows to love 1t. She may be fatgued
by 1t, the demands IL makes on her health
and strength may break down her useful
ness In the domestic circle, but the more
of this sort of excitement she gets the
more she wants II 1t wore not for our
social whirl during two or three months
of the year, we should die OF inanition.
Some Of these society women go about
from reception to reception md from tea
Ito tea with heavy hearts. know one. the
wife OF very prominent official, whose
health Is breaking down. Physicians have
advised her to go 70 Carlsbad and save her
life. Her friends urgo her to go away and
rest and build up hdr shattered health.
And what do you suppose tho poor woin-
ans reply TO this advice iss II dare not
|eo and leave my husband. Not TO save my
/ n n ~ -. l. T. xfs
for two weeks. III did, it would proba-
|bly be the ruination OF him and his fam
lily. l must stay by his side, oven IL IL
costs me my life.' Not very catering
comment upon the husband nor upon
Washington society either, Is it4
Can't Help Being Jealous.
Another prominent society woman, tho
wife of senator, IL insanely jealous OF
hor husband. He cannot look at another
woman but she is In q rage. In fact, she
has made SO many scenes atdinner tables,
ht receptions and teas that sho has been
barred from many homes. Hostesses like
her well enough, for when In good humor
Ehe Is a charming and gracious woman,
but at any moment she is likely to lose
tont.or of herself through jealousy and to
make scene Somo queer stories are told
bf her outbreaks Of passion, how she has
broken up dinner parties and raised merry
Ned at receptions. Her jealousy Is inbound
|sd, for her husband Is only gallant TO the
! ladies whom he meets in society, but the
poor woman cannot help II, and she has
brought humiliation to her husband and
berself on so many occasions that she Is
fapidly losing casto In the social world
Ono of your readers writes to ask IL
ban tell him the average size of farms In
! no United States. According to the cen
bus officials, tho average area of all the
1arms in this country Is 1917 acres, the
average value of lands, fences and build
'ngs per farm $4,000, average value Of
Implements and machinery sos, and OF
ve stock $iS4, making the total average
taluo of farms in tho United State $3, sol.
n Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con.
bcotiout, Now York. Pennsylvania and
New Jersey the farms average under 100
crcs each, but their average total value Is
%, 600 greater thnn i'm any other part OF
ho country except tho western states bo.
iond Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and tho
pakotas, whcro tho farms average 324
crcs, with an average total valuc Of near
y $4,000.
Farm Statistics.
One would naturally suppose the largest
arms in this country to be in Texas. But
hc average farm in that state has 225
cres, while in South Dakota the average
227, in North Dakota 277, in Washing.
bn 231, In Oregon 27l, In California 405,
b Colorado 2Sl, In Montana SOL, In Wy
ming 5S6, in Arizona go and in Nevada
30l. Nevada is poor farming state,
ut its stock ranches make It's farms not
ply the largest In average area, but tho
ghest in total value in the United States,
ho figures being Sll, 027 per farm. Cali.
prnia is next with Sld 597. The smallest
Eerago total valuo OF farms In the United
tatcs Is found i'm Oklahoma, whoro the
verago farm Is ratod thus: One hundred
nd twenty-six acres, worth, with i'm.
toyements, S704, with implements vn1ued
SEQ, live stock at Slg5 and total Of s9oS.
During tho recent blizzard thcro was a
teat accumulation Of mail ot Now York,
Philadelphia. Washington and othor cities
bat could not bc dispatched on account OF
DO inability OF tho railroad companies TO
be their trains through. How serious
ZEN single days blockade OF tho mails