The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-23
Ry CHARLoTTE NJ. CoNGFR.

All sorts and conditions of .ren and
women assemble at a national capital.
Thither come not only the chief officials
OF the government. the lawmakers, and
the graf army they employ, but those
who aim TO influence congress. parlia-
ment. or the court. as the case may be.
the captains OF industry and their crews,
those seeking redress for real or fancied
grievances. oflceseekers. and the very
rich, to whom official grandeur and clap
trap have ever been alluring.
This latter class is especially prominent
IN Washington. which tempts the pluto
Gratis TO establish residences here not only
because 1t is the seat Of government but
because IT is the most beautiful city in
the western hemisphere and, as far as it
has gone, the most beautiful city IN the
world, hence an agreeable place in which
10 live.
II offers no opportunity for the accu-
mutation of great fortunes. no business
advantages; but there is no American
cry where life is so comfortable, luXuri-
Gus, and worth while. There is beauty
and charm on every side; with a few ex-
ceptions. the public buildings are magnifi-
cent and inspiring; the streets are well
paved and well kept the parks are love-
Iy at all seasons. even IN midwinter, and
there Is an absence Of the stir and ex-
element Of commerce. the hurry and fur
~ Of business; no talk OF trade mars So
cial intercourse.
Social Lie Wen Ordered.
Its official life is dignihed and serene,
its social life we'll ordered and brilliant.
more brilliant since the multi-milIionaires
tempted by all the Capital offers have
established their Lares and Penates here
The chief things it offers to these IS an
agreeable asylum in which 10 dispense
the great fortunes made in less attract
i've centers, and social recognition. which
fl is often difficult for them 20 attain in
their old homes where the foundations
of their fortunes were laid.
Thus Washington has become the winter
home for the rich, those who live on the
rich, their camp followers. as it were,
and those who have axes 10 grind with
the coming of this motley assemblage.
the customs. habits, and standards of
nearly a century have been changed.
The comfortable old--ashioned, provin-
cial if-you-wiI ways that formerly marked
the Capital as a hospitable Southern town
have been displaced by smart. modern.
cosmopolitan fashions.
A dinner in a fashionable house In the
West End Of Washington differs in no
regard from a dinner IN a fashionable
house Of London or Paris. The DONNA
ton of the millionaires has swept away
all local color, swept It away, at least,
from the homes of those who aspire 10
be in the fashionable set. for local color,
and individuality are bad form. and the
only open sesame 10 this set is strict
conventionality.
Good Old Days Are Gone.
A veteran diplomatist, who twenty
five years ago was a popular gallant in
society az the Capital which he con-
stantly diverted, and amused by doing
eccentric things. returned for a visit in
the early part Of the season, Where,
oh, where" he asked. rs the society Of
yesterday. In those good old days I
. knew every young woman IN society we'll
enough 70 call her by her first name. The
dowagers bullyragged me into doing
stunts for them at dinner, we were a
happy lot, all Of Us and I never went
anywhere where l did not have a good
time but now it's all changed. You have
become so smart, so smart there are no
more good times. I am told that Il Is
bad form to sit on the stoop in the lovely
spring time, and hirt with ones next
door neighbor. and you and I even miss
the old time darby cOachmen, who used
TO skin out Of their liveries when they
returned from driving madame about for
the afternoon calls. TO help serve at din
ner-those picturesque negroes that al
ways saluted you from the box and grin
ned from ear to ear In a knowing way.
and sympathetic way If you happen to
have young woman with you. Now you
are SO ultraelegant with those stolid
Englismen in their immaculate liveTies