The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-18

awl or the pint measure, for trade, you
know, is regarded with horror in Wash
ington society. Family counts for very
little If a man is a cutter of cloth or a
vender of tea and coffee. There is an
old family here which furnishes a strik-
ing illustration of the nice distinction
society makes This family is from Vir-
ginia, and it is one of those 'ffirst fami-
lies' which are the peculiar property of
the Old Dominion. OF two sons in the
family one adopted the profession of
medicines; the other for some reason
chose to become a grocer. They were
equally refined and attractive personal
ly. Probably the second brother had an
aptitude for trade and would have been
a miserable failure in anything else.
But if he had any social ambition he
might better have taken a government
clerkship or lived ON what he could bor-
row from his friends. Neither of these
occupations is considered a social bar
rier.
The Grocer and the Doctor.
DR.. Carter-that is not his name,
however-hourished in society, and be-
cause he was SO popular, fashi6Hable
and wealthy people became his patients
and he gained a very comfortable in
come. Grocer Carter meantime sold cof-
fee and sugar and lard and enjoyed life
in his own way, not caring for society.
Both the doctor and the grocer had old
family friends with whom they kept up
a connection, and most of these friends
were members Of the Metropolitan club
Mem bership in the Metropolitan is con-
sidered a social test in Washington.
The doctor belonged to the club. The
grocer did not. One day the doctor sug-
gested that his brother join the club
The requisite number of sponsors was
obtained and the grocer name was put
up. Then came an emissary from those
in authOrity-a confidential agent
who whispered in the doctors ear. He
suggested that the doctor withdraw his
brothers. name, because if he did not
the brother would be blackballed. The
doctor asked indignantly what objection
there was to his brother. He was in
formed that it was the grocery, nothing
else. Personally the DOCTORS brother
was very much liked, but really man
couldn't be expected to associate with his
grocer. So said the club members to
whom he appealed. The doctor there
upon took down his brothers. name and
resigned from the club.
There is only one thing which may
redeem a man who is in trade. If he
gets into congress, his business sins may
be forgiven. A man who kept retail
clothing store in Boston became a mem.
Der of the Metropolitan club some years
ago. He wRs the man who approached
Justice Lamar on the floor of the house
one day and seized the lapel of his coat.
After the fashion of a southern states
man of the old time Mr.. Lamar fastened
only the lower button of his black frock
coat and let the upper part of it roll
negligently open. "You shouldn't wear
your coat that way, Mr.. Lamar" said
the hier-congressman. "You should
wear it this way" And he dexterously
tucked Mr.. Lamar's shirt down at the
sides and buttoned his coat as trinity as
though he were a young blood about to
parade the avenue Mr.. Lamar thanked
him and went around looking very I'M
like himself until he left the hall of the
house. Then he unbuttoned his coat.
sour Set"
Of course we ought to have an aris-
tocracy of true worth in this country
where all men are equal, and 1 hear a
great many people who come to Wash
ington criticise those other people who
live here and entertain handsomely and
who restrict their invitations to the
members of "our set. But if they will
look back hundred years they will see
that the fathers were far more aristo-
cratic than any one at Washington
affects to be today. When George Wash
ington was made president. he called
his official friends in consultation to de-
termine how he should carry himself,
and this conference agreed that the
president must not call on any one;
that he must not shake hands with his
guests; that he must give formal levees
at stated intervals. At these levees the
president always made the circuit of
the room, bowling to his guests, and he
and Mrs. Washington retired as signal
for the breaking up of the mblage.
Today the presidents right hand is
mark for any American citizen who
wants to enter the White House.
You hear of very few congressman
taking part in the affairs of the very
gay world. Speaker Reed, for example,
dI1@ $500