Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-26
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents Sketched
on the Spot.

Captain AlSernOn SartOriS. grandson
OF General Grant. contributes to 1l;tr-
rer'S Weekly = breezy sketch OF WASH
il G.Gn social life, its divisions, StruS-
giles, ana heartburniISS. lie mas IN"
situation post amusing from a t.u-
roDean i,Uint Of view. and the alntlSe-
ment he describes touches tender spot
in Washington. The captain writes
A certain very wealthy lady had evil
IDENTIFY determined either 1" get Her.
self acknow lodged as the principal
leader at the gay ana smarteSt or fan
IN battle, lighting braveiy. Her corr-
age entitled her TO the success her lac
tics brought her.
Several prominent ladies of old
Washington ''ciNe dWellerS nn"ln-
b.rs OF Tie exclusive residential seG,
Tor inc most part-had organized =
SCI les of suhscI iplion dances. The rich
adversary selected an evening upon
Which one of the most important of
these lalccS was to be given and gave
Il great "cOtillon." The ''caVe DIV ellerS'
committee at once dispatched a mes
sengeI with an ultimatun demanding
the pU,tponcmcnt of this "cotiliOn' un-
til after theirs was over. a firm ami
court eous reply Was sent to the effect
that il wo:Iii j" too much trouble 10
recall the inNitations-in fact, mp"ssi-
Bile, ana suggested Il pOstpOnenlent Of
theirs. This put the ''caV" dWeilers on
their n"ttle. and they prepared Tor war
one scarcely dared 10 go out in the
street for fear of being Stop, d ana
compelled to promise attendance.
Some weak men. myself among the
runter, in order to secure peace AMI
unimpeded passage on TIE hISllroadS.
promised To be present at both func-
lious. 1t is due. however. TO the rich
lady to say that she did not resort to
conscription. She simply let ii come
our' in the press and through her close
friends that if any one WAS guilty of
being absent from he, function and
pres, Mt ut the other she. should she be
victorious. would no longer keep them
on her visiting list. AS the night APP
preached the excitement grew intense.
| determined within myself to keep
friendly with both, and with thai in
view drove TO tie Gave dWellerS
dance FIRST. To get in WAS easy. The
warmth of my Weio ONE was intense
but when it came to getting out again
on no. mere were itsiNt SlN u Il SUNS
guarding the single exit. Severa! OF the
guests endetIored To pass them. bnt
returned crushed ana slammed. Then
RENE. nbCred the German waiter ana,
followed by Il youthful diplomat. gave
the worthy Il dollar. Let us com"
with YOU into the Kitchen said |: ana
III the middle Of A waltz. the dtlcIn:s
couples hiding us from the dragons. We
went down the kitchen stairs and OCT
through the are.l. We waited for moth
ing but made 4 Decline through ma
ana Siusl to the nilliOnaircS. we az
rived III time to be present 1T one OF the
most gorgeous entertainments of TIE
kind eyer given. and, indirectly. OF
course to cOngra tulatc the Virtor-tor II
was the ''Waterloo" of the cave dwell
lerS." At II o'clork nothing but the lad
les Of their families and one or two
fright ened ronScrptS We're left, all hay
ii,e, .2,i!le over To the representative OF
the mighty dollar. The defeat WAS final
The '.cave dWtllerS' went back to thrit
caves and Washington society. with the
diplonratic corps. cabinet, Judges ana
al fell down and worShippcd the golden
calf.