The evening times., 1899-07-15
SOCIETY AND REAL ESTATE.
Washington TendlnG to Become the
Social Centre ofzFAmerica.


Social Centre ofgAmerica.
Prominent and wealthy from
every part of the Unionziare buying and
building homes for themselves at the Ma
tional Capital. The tendency in this direc-
tion becomes more marked every year, SO
that already the statement. that washing
ton is the correct winter. residence is al
most not overdrawn.. It's the opinion OF
people who are social leaders and mentors
that the Capital City OF America will in
few years become the society capital and
the art and literary capital as well as the
political chief city of the nation, in the
same way, and to the same extent, that
London and Paris and all the other Euro
pean capitals are. It Is the natural ten
dency. perhaps the inevitable one, that the
official residence OF the head of the ia
tion and his Cabinet. the headquarters OF
the army. the habitat OF the Diplomatic
Corps. and the official home of the Con-
gress should attract to II the people of
wealth and leisure. who are not official in
any way, during the winter social season.
This, entirely aside from the beauty OF
Washington, the mildness Of its climate.
the elegance of its fashionable localities,
that it possesses, which are matters that
more and more are becoming general
knowledge throughout the country.
The influence that society's winter mi
grafton to Washington will have on the
real estate market is easy to foretell, even
IL there were no other guides than the al
ready numerous examples. Members Of
Congress who have retired and now re-
side permanently at the Capital are nu-
merous, and some of their homes are
among the most beautiful in the city.
These were naturally among the first OF
the wealthy outsiders to become Wash
ingtonians. and they have done not little
for Washington real estate. Retired ar
my and navy officers are another class.
In more recent years prominent exam
Piles have been Mrs. Scott Townsend, who
is now erecting the magnificent residence
at the corner of Massachusetts and Flori-
da Avenues; Senator-elect Clarke of Mon
tana, who has become the owner of a
beautiful home in the Heights" Mrs.
Phoebe Hearst, of New Hamshire Ave-
nue.; the Boardmans, OF Dupont Circle;
the Ffoulkes, and Director Of the Census
Merriam.
Among the more recent acquisitions to
the Washington literary circle, not to
mention Secretary Hay and Thomas Nell
most notable homes of the Capital, and
others who have resided in the city for
many years. are Grace DEMO Litchfield,
Miss Margaret Lathrop, Miss Tarbell, the
writer of the remarkable historical biog-
raphies; Frank R. Stockton, who spends
his winters in the city, although he has
not yet become the owner Of Washing
ton residence; Mrs. Schuyler Crownin-
shield, and Miss Mollie Elliott Sewell, sew
eral of whom have purchased handsome
residences.
Admiral Dewey. the head Of the Amer
lean navy, will perhaps be the next build
er of a beautiful home here. II the tribute
OF America TO the Hero of Manila is ac-
cepted by him, it cannot be doubted that
his residence will be one of the chief arch
itectural adornments of the Capital. And
If he takes up his permanent residence
here, another chief reason will be added
why the city should be considered the So
cial centre of the nation.
The building of another residence for
the President will probably be one of the
important real estate events of the near
future This long-talked-of project when
carried out will, OF course, also do much
to add to Washington's social promin ence.
The new home for the President and the
new home for the Admiral Of the Navy will
in a way, In fact, bring in their train a
climax of the real estate development that
follows wealthy society in its choice of
habitat.
II anybody were minded to doubt what a
Presidents home, even his private resi-
dence, can do for real estate. the examples
of the summer residences OF the CIevelands
are familiar and entirely unanswerable
arguments. And what President can do
wealthy society people in general will do.