The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-29
WASHINGTON A MAGNET.
More and More the Leisure Class Are
 Going There to Live.
From the philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
 Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish's prediction that the social center of the country event. ually will be in Washington finds justi- fication in the rapid growth of the so- cial, literary and art colonies in the Capital City. Every season witnesses ad- ditions to the circles of distinguished and wealthy people who select Washington for their winter residence.
 If had a dozen houses I could rent them all within twenty-four hours" was the remark of Major General Corbin d he closed a deal for his own residence just before leaving for his new post on Governors Island The general on his re- turn from a western tour, saw on a newspaper bulletin board notice that the order for his transfer to the command of the department of the east had been made. Before going home he and his wife stopped at real estate office and placed their house, furnished, in the company's hands. This was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
 Before they sat down to dinner they were notified by telephone that the house had been rented for s5O00 a year. The general received dozen applications for his house from out of town people who desired to rent homes for the season in Washington, but had found the supply limited and inadequate.
 More and more every year is Wash ington being selected as the winter home of substantial people from northern cities. The rentals for residences adapted to entertainment are more reasonable in Washington than in New York Phil adelphia or Boston, and the custom has sprung up for wealthy people and those prominent in society to rent their own homes in northern cities and come to Washington for the season, where they can enjoy not only milder climate but the refined atmosphere of art and lit erature and also enjoy the unique favor of Washington's special attractions. na- tional politics and diplomacy.
 The frivolities and absurdities of the Four Hundred that have provoked Hen ry Watterson's keen satire are not so much in evidence in Washington. and the winter colonies from other cities ap- preciate the more interesting life at the national capital. To mingle with diplo- mats from all the great capitals of the world, to know the men and women in national life who make the political wheels go round, to meet and know sci entists, literary people and artists and others whose importance and reputation do not rest upon a foundation of dol lars, Is refreshing experience to those who have been accustomed to winning social position by matching wealth..
 Besides the floating social population that drifts to Washington each season there is every year added a permanent colony of men and women of wealth and refinement who have purchased or built delightful residences there. Within the last eight or ten immense apartment houses have been erected on plans that appeal to those who wish to spend part of the year in the city The dearth of suitable furnished houses, or, in fact, of any houses adequate for social entertain ing, has sent many of these outsiders to the apartment houses and family hotels where two or three suits are thrown to- gether and ample accommodations secured for the demands of the social season.