The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24

luncheon before the middle of the month
and SO through the whole course OF
things And why isn't this right? Why
should some attempt 10 play a role in
society il they have neither the prestige.
the knowledge. nor the mOney-betteT give
il up. Society is like bank, where every
check given must be made good. II one
accepts something. he must give some
thing.
There is a pitiful tale OF an old beau
in Washington, who thirty years ago was
the leader Of the smart set-not TO know
him was TO be unknown. No man could
get into any club without his sanction,
no girl could make a successful debut
without his benediction: no social func-
ton was perfect without his presence.
But the immense prestige he enjoyed
because of family, character. and posi-
ton was ruined by his taste for strong
drink and other vices His old age was
ike that of Beau BrummeI He lost the
important position he held in the govern
ment on account Of his incompetency and
was reiegated to private lie on the
smallest of incomes. Bt like Beau
Brummel, he was at heart an honest gen
tleman: his real friends never deserted
him. To the end Of his life be was a wei
come guest at certain smart houses. who
cared nothing for his social prestige but
admired and loved him for himself. for
he was a man Of unusual distinction. The
sad thing about hts whole later history
was to witness the attempt be made to
return the fayors ne received. With no
money IN hts pocket, no chance of get
ting any. he frequently dined a the homes
Of old friends. and his Tavenous appetite
showed his great need. But he never
failed % show his appreciation OF this
lovely hospitality. In the DAYS OF his
prosperity great boxes Of flowers, "baby's
collins" as they are termed to-day. were
sent 10 his amiable hostesses. and the
men who honored him with their friend
ship and entertained him at their homes
were dIned at the club. But in his Old
age he had no money and the returns
he made were simple and pathetic. In the
spring be would walk into the woods and
gather all the wild flowers that grace
that season. His hostess of to-day or
yesterday would receive clumsily-made
baskets Of spring beauties and violets-
Later on he would carry TO their doors
great branches of fruit blossoms and in
the season ne would gather baskets Of
wild fruits and present them TO MS
friends in a most interesting and novel
manner in baskets of grass, Old cut glass
cOmpotiers that had belonged 20 his fam
lily for eneraticns-whatnot, 50 that de-
spite his poverty. his threadbare cOndi-
ton, he was always a welcome guest at
the hoWes of those who understand. This
Is told not TO excite sympathy for "A man
who would scoTn IT, but 20 show how
deeply those who are really Of society
feel the obligations they accept-and It
IS right in the world Of fashion as well
as the world Of commerce there must be
quid pro quo.
But social debt is not always paid in
the same coin There is the funny man
one invites 10 dinner TO entertain her
guests; the musician who comes in handy
al an afternoon tea; the dancing men.
without whom a cotiliiOn or ball could not
be a success: there is the celebrated
bridge player who makes things go. The
debts of these people are paid By their
talents; they owe nothing TO their host
ess; they were invited for an especial
purpose. they fulfill that purpose. and
the obligation is cancelled But the idler.
the social CRATER. the uninstruCted. who
go into society and accept everything they
can get, without making a return. should
be scored. Washington Is the home for the
social CRATER, and this genus cannot be
too severely scored. No one should &C
cept what he cannot repay.
As to letter writing. on which several
correspondents Of The Arbiter have recent
~ asked advice, its intricacies would
seem to be so well taught in this age of
superior schools and higher education as
not 10 need comment: but for any one
who may want 10 benefit oy certain hints
that The Arbiter can offer. he advises the
following. Let your stationery be CON
servative, yet individual Select a plain
bond, rice, or granite paper of the con
VentiOnal size and style and stick to it.
II you are ambitious TO be regarded as an
elegante, have your monogram placed in
the middle of the page; or Il you are en-
titled 10 use a crest. your crest, with
the number and street of your house. and
name of the city in which YOU live Those
who have anything more than a strictly
social correspondence should invariably
put their house address on the envelope.
IL is impossible 20 calculate the conven-
fence this is to the postal authorities. and
how desirable it is from every point of
view, since, if a letter is TO be returned.
il is sent back Immediately and is not
subject to the long wait at the dead let
ter Office. The old-fashioned twenty
page letter has gone out of style. To-
day one tells what one wishes. or what
is on one heart as quickly and succintly
as possible.
Surely everybody must know that the
proper form of correct address Is MY
Dear Sir" or My Dear Madam" People
on more intimate terms say simply. Dear
smith, or Jones. or Mary, and the
ending of the letter runs for formal bus
mess notes. Very truly yours" with
many deviatiOns for more intimate CORE
spOndence. such as Yours faithfully. q"
I Yours cordially "DevOtedly yours. -
"Fondly yours" depending entirely on
the taste and character Of the writer.
Frankly. it is almost impossible to give a
rule in such a matter Outside of bust
ness epistles the value Of letter depends
entirely upon the personality a writer
puts in II, but above all things. a letter
should be brief so that It does not take
up too much time of the person who re-
ceives it-for instance, a letter that The
Arbiter has under his hands from Oliver
Wendell Holmes reads:
Ny Dear DR.. Blank: It will give ne great pleas
ure 20 dine with YOU on Wednesday evening next
| NeTy truly, yours, O. W. HOLMES.
is this not a model of style? That
master of English, Henry Wadsworth
LOngfellOw. wrote May .. 1876:
Dear Mrs Waierston: I shall be delighted to
see You and your friend from New York on Friday
/ at Il O'Clock, if that dag and hour viii suit your
convenience. On Saturday ] am engaged. both in
the morning and the afternoon.
BE kind enough 10 let me know If this arrange
ment suits sou, and believe me. yours very truly.
HENRY w. LONGFELLOW.
These two letters from the most distin-
lguished men of their time should be looked