Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17
A cHATTY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

God be praised, the fog Is lifting!"
A CHATTY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Washington, May 14.-(Special Cores
pondence.)-It would require pen gifted
with the powers of composite photog-
raphy to creditably present to you a true
and characteristic picture of the differ
ent elements that live, move and have
their being in this most interesting city.
l can imagine my letter to you resulting
in melange of the various tongues
spoken by the many nations of the earth
Of 1t were possible for me to write such),
with an elaborate trimming of Chinese
hieroglyphics down the sides, and a liber-
al sprinkllng of the darby pronunciation
of our mother tongue.
Probably in a composite 'ture this
would come out as the strongest charac-
teristic In the babel of tongues, for here
the negroes name Is legion, Washington
being largely populated by our African
brothers, who revel in the consideration
shown them here as nowhere else in the
world; and, to their credit be 1t said,
they take advantage of the many oppor-
tunities extended to them On the line of
education and improvement. But, do you
know, really miss our Italian friends of
Birmingham, who were placed so con-
veniently and conspicuously at every
corner to remind one of being hungry
absolutely famshed--for fruit? Really,
IL there were not such a dearth of fruit
stands in Washington 1t would be per-
feet city. One can choose any mode of
life here, from a butterfy's fiutterings to
the earnest work of a very Industrious
bee.
Social life consists of a mad rush dur
ing The Season. which Is spoken of in
capital letters, as if the world moved
around that frail pivot. Among the
pleasantest features of the winter are the
afternoon receptions of Mrs Cleveland,
at which on one afternoon In the week the
lady of the White House Is ''at home"
to callers. There is also special after
noon card reception, besides public re-
ception, given before the season closes.
To the former ladies of congressional,
diplomatic and other families she wishes
to honor with her card are invited.
There are no gentlemen admitted beyond
Colonel Wilson of the war department,
who stands by the hostess side and
makes the introductions as the lines file
past.
This reception is less formal than the
large evening brushes at the White
House, when the crowd and discomfort
are so great that women are sometimes
taken out of the line in fainting condi-
tion.
Mrs. Cleveland has most charming,
gracious manners and q very hattering
way of shaking hands, as If she would
forever after remember you. Everyone
comes away an ardent admirer Of the
FIRST lady of the land" Apropos of
that expression, Mrs. Cleveland takes a
daily constitutional. One day when look
ing particularly fresh and youthful, after
a long walk, she was seen for the first
time by little daughter of one of the
cabinet officials. When told that 1t was
Mrs. Cleveland the child seemed trans
Avn dxxrffh fnt atc11 10
barrassment of her mother, who re-
proved her for staring. But" said the
little girl artlessly, you told me she was
the first lady of the land, and I don't
think she can be as old as that"
1t was at this reception that I caught
my first glimpse of Mime. Yang, the wife
of the Chinese minister. The crowd of
ladies around her rivaled In size that
near our hostess. Always smiling and
pleased at the attention she excited,
Nine. Yang was now endeavoring to
make herself understood without the aid
of an interpreter, whom she had bravely,
or rashly, left outside the doors.
AS she can only say "bitty pretty)
day." and "how do?" you may imagine
that conversation was not very brisk
In that corner. She affects the high
handshake but noticed that when she
encountered Mrs. Cleveland's hearty
American grip, the grip won and after
up trying to be fashionable for that day
at least.
There is one thing / think highly COM
mendable in the Chinese-they never
give up their national costume Did you
ever notice how loyal they are In that?
1t Is said that as a nation becomes more
civilized and enlightened 1t always
adopts the costume of the European ma
lions, of which the japanese are cited AS
fitting Illustration. but we can readily
understand the Jap's wisdom In discard
ing a one-legged discomfort for some
thing better. The Chinese, that Is, the
Chinaman, Is loosely and comfortably
dressed, whereas the Jap's costume had
not progressed beyond the swaddling
clothes period.
1t must have taken a mighty resolu-
.tion to make such q big jump into our
costume, not even "tapering off" (my
own pet expression--have patent on 1t,
therefore the quotation marks), by pass
ing through bloomer period. Nine.
Yang wears the most gorgeously hued
gowns, with the inevitable sash glued to
the middle of her back, a hat like little
basket turned upside down, from UNDER
meath which on each side of her head
grow pink roses. regular bushes In size,
for they have stems many inches long
and sway gaily in the breeze, while the
fiuttering of bright green ribbon stream
ers, paint on her cheeks from up above
her eyebrows and blackened teeth make
a sight never to be forgotten But with
1t all. she is really quite pretty, which
you will hardly believe after this descrip-
ton.
The round of gaiety did not close with
the advent of Lent; there were no big re-
ceptions, but innumerable other enter
tainments were given. Society's sack
cloth was so covered with gay trimmings
that the ashes were not visible. Many
affairs were for sweet charity's sake;
perhaps these were the visible signs of
the ashes. Plays by amateur dramatic
clubs, fashionable teas, at which one
could buy sofa cushions galore at such
infinltesimal sums as $50 or $40 Apiece
mers bagatelle that. of coursez-and q
beautifully managed mask carnival at
the Ice palace. imagine an immense
building covering about half q
square OF ground, the floor covered
with CLASSIFY smooth artificial Ice. On
this skated together in friendly fashion
such oddly assorted creatures as brown
les, kings, queens, tramps and His sa-
tanic majesty. One tall. gaunt Trilby
Wss 80 much hypnotized by three Sven 4
l~oIls f1.ax n foxsxI