The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
THE SOCIAL BUILDER
IN WASHINGTON

The political campaign is not the only
one under consideration in November
This is the season when women lay the
foundation stones for the sky-scrapers Of
social achievement
4 woman is ike a beaver in that she
puts great energy into the building proc
esses OF her life. AS girl she builds
castles Of romance; as a wife she builds
for home. position. and wealth; as a
mother. for the future Of her children.
Not the least Of her building is done
with pasteboard. The House Of Cards.
The House OF Mirth." The Dolls
House"-we recognize them ali as struc-
lures in society-and they have come TO
us in book and dramatic form through a
process Of literary photography as por-
tentous as il is graphic.
Political and social building are closely
allied here In Washington. Many a
woman is the social mortar to her hus-
bands political bricks Were she TO re-
tire from the building business, down
might topple some edihce Of official sue
cess.
This building" is a game as well as a
business-perhaps d business-game or a
game-business- whichever way il is con-
sidered, and according to its balanced
profits.
What one pays 70 do, Is pleasure
game; what one is paid to do is work
a business
Suppose, then. a wOmans social build
ing here in Washington is a game. It
is not in the category with old-time au-
thors euchre, or straight whist: not the
diversion Mr.. Box would recommend. 1t
is game Of skill and hazard. a game Of
chance, q gamble even more than bridge
The hands are dealt at widely divergent
points, one 20 legislation, another to par
~ politics. another 10 matrimony-if the
player has d daughter; another to Char
ity. and final one TO the inner man OF
society This inner man is Unsuitable
voracious, and only controlled through
the digestive organs His is the hand
of import; the hand woman must pro-
pitiate and Play up in the social game;
the hand that holds the trumps.
In November the social builder plans the
game. The scene Of operation-the home
is put in order set The wheels are
oiled with good domestic service. The rival
players are studied; stakes valued: the
operator dresses for the part" Il is the
critical time when everything depends
on fortunate beginning. One fatal move
at the outset may lose the game
At this period the builder derives her
Intellectual warmth from the social regis
ter exclusively. She hugs and hovers over
it, determining exactly what is hot air and
what is steam pressure. exerted by mighty
engines, in the volume of names and titles
blown from the cTucible Of society.
This crucible is well fed. but much Of
its force is expended in gas. smoke, dross:
only a portion Of the fuel burns to red-hot
perfection and comes out gold
On the other hand. suppose a woman s
social building is a business Washington
is the most prOpitiOus place in the United
States for its furtherance
Here Is a ready market for cleverness
and originality; here plowed land for
brain sowing, and an enormous leisure
class waiting 10 take shares and invest
In the building enterprise. Here, also, is
an army of little workmen-eager appren-
tees to the tTade-who viii carry out the
plans Of the architect
With the Convening Of Congress will ar
rive the official newcomers. Many Of them
possess wealth and social ambitions.
They viii be glad to step into an edifice
already reared and made habitable
For such as these the social builder has
prepared the way and rendered easy the
task that lies before them. Her profess
sional fee Is not out of proportion 70 the
service she has rendered.
No ignominy is attached to her business
enterprise, a woman no longer being con-
tent with domestic relegatiOn She either
goes in for society or business. II she
Is clever enough tc combine the two and
become social builder. who will blame
her-especially here in Washington?