The morning times., 1896-06-21
PLAYGROUND OF CUPID
Was ingt0n a Paradise for
Those Who Flirt.
PARKS THE RENDEZVOUS
Young and Olu Exchange Sly Chances
Along Shady Walks-A Mar
ried Man Exposed.
PARKS THE RENDEZVOUS

"Never wedding, ever wooing,
Still a Lowell born heart pursuing;
Read you not the wrong you're doing,
In my cheeks pale hue?
Allmy life with sorrow strewing,
Wed, or cease to WOO"
Washington is a City of flirtations. Not
only do the young men and women in the
ordinary walks Of life indulge in this
but the youths and darnsels Of the higher
society are not adverse to u glance OF the
eye or a smile OF the lips.
1T all goes to make up lfe," is the
excuse OF the guilty ones when taken tC
task for their seeming disregard for the
laws OF propriety.
No sane person will admit that flirta-
uons should be encouraged, but all are
forced to recognize that 1t is folly to con-
demn the character OF a young person be-
cause OF their weakness In this direction.
A girl who eflirts is not necessarily bad.
She is, however, imprudent. Her actions
afford people an opportunity to talk and
she will soon find that her character has
suffered. IndiscretioD should not he lnis-
taken for natural forwardness or weak
ness OF character, and yet by soIne it is
30 construed. II you wish to avoid sus-
picion abstain from flirting.
The Washington Irritation is something
out of the ordinary. 1t is carried Oh with
the boldness of a warrior and the skill Of
diplomat. 1t is generally Of short durd-
ton and sometimes ends in disaster
WHERE CUPID REIGNs.
One of Cupid's fayorite play grounds on
pleasant evenings is the terrace of the
Capitol. Here are many convenient places
formed for Just such fastime. walk by
these hooks will generally reveal the
n. - I...r
who, to all appearances are deeply in
tere sted in cony ersation or in solitude are
enjo ying the cool breeZes that sweep
around the corners of the big marble
building and add another charm to an
already charming spot. But ladies are not
the only occupants CT this favored place.
We're such the case there could be no
flirtetons.
To successfully carry on a war with
the eyes for batteries there must be men
around. These are not hard to lind On the
terrace. And they are not all young tnes
either. Frequently may be seen old men.
with graz heads and boards, strolling Il bout
the grounds. eyeing the above mentioned
females and occasionally accosting one OF
them. But as rule these old men are not
as successful as their younger rivals.
Some of the habitues Of this rendezvous
of love are interesting studies, and Il novel
ist could here find material for all kinds of
stories. A few incidents, well known to
the writer, will suffice to show the nature
of these diversions:
One man, unusually conspicuos by his
frequent presence on the terrace, and his
determined impudence TO the young ladies,
is a resident OF Capitol Hill, living near
Third and streets southeast. He Is tall.
has dark hair and mustache and brown
eyes On more than one occasion ladies
have been insulted by him.
MARRIED MAN EXPOSED.
1t is not always the single men who
trifle with the fair ones affections. oe-
casionaily a married man is brought to with
a round turn and when the story becomes
public moralists use him for an example
IN their lectures and writings. The follow
ing incident, which is said to be true in
every particular, will serve as an Illus
tration:
lady, to whom he gave the name of
Earnest Brooks. This, of course, is not
his real name. Time Wore ON and
something more than ordinary filtration
friendship developed. The lady showed
her preference for him and he was quite
conspicuous in tis attentions to her. Finally
she invited him to her house.
One evening, While standing upon the
steps. the window at the second story of the
residence adjoining was opened and lady
called out:
GOOD evening. Mr.--."
The gentleman. though embarrassed at
this sudden disclosureOf bis name, returned
the salutation.
The lady continued: "Why hasn't your
wife been up to see me? You know ste owes
me call"
Now completely embarrassed. he answer
ed the remaining questions which his tor
mentor hurled at him as best he could.
The lady TO whom our gay Lothario had
been pa ying attention was informed of the
true facts. and the reception she accorded
the discomfited Mr.. = was chilling in the
extreme. tits needless to say the acquaint-
ance was broken Off then and there.
Members of Congress are by no means ex-
empt from the charge of Irritation. In fact
many of them are extremely open in their
advances toward the fair sex, and make no
attempts a concealment.
Last winter a yound lady devoted anafter-
noon to watching the maneuvers of a
certain tall, dark-haired Representative
from Texas. The member leaned over
book which he pretended to be reading.
His eyes frequently sought the gallery, how
ever especially that part in which a damsel
who resides on New York avenue, between
Eleventh and Twelfth streets, was seated.
The young lady returned his glances and
soon the member arose from his chair
walked around the room directly beneath
the railing of the gallery, smiling at those
above him as he passed. In a moment he
was seated beside the young lady and ap-
parentiy an eager spectator to the proceed
ings of the House. But not for long. A
few words passed between the two and
soon they arose and repaired to the House
restaurant.
Some girls, who frequented the Capitol
last winter, pride themselves on the num-
Der of members who have taken them into
the dining room. The young lady in Ques-
tion belongs to this class. ..
The daughter OF u Representative from
Wisconsin visited Washing ton recently
and was soon deeply enga ged tn a flirta-
tion with half dozen members who were
OF her identity. They would un-
have remained SO had not the
young lady flirted once too often. She
met a friend of her father who knew her,
and the jig was up.
HOW SHE RODE HOME.
The depots are well known to the young
people as excellent places to meet on
evenings when the weather prevents
lengthy stay in the parks. The B. & p.
depot, especially, is a favorite spot with
them. 1t was here that tall, dark haired,
blue-eyed young lady one evening, in COM
pany with two other girls of the strictest
propriety, discovered that in the whole
party there was neither money nor car
tickets.
The young lady was very tired and the
idea of a long walk home was by no
means pleasant. She cast her eyes about
the depot in the hopes OF finding party
Of three young men. This, of course,
was unkno wn to her friends, who had no
idea of what was passing in their COM
panion's mind. She soon sighted her prey.
hasty fIirtatiOn an exit from the depOt
into Sixth street, and the young men were
At her side