The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-04
THE DESERTED CAPITAL
By Frederic j. Haskin.

III
There are many cities which weas
liza slightly deserted aspect during the
II dog days, but In the number of resi-
licences empty not only during the
summer. but good part OF the spring
land early fall. as well, none can COM
n pare with Washington. Along Massa-
|Ichusetts or New Hampshire Avenue.
1 or Sixteenth street, or any OF the
other famous residential thorough.
fares you may walk past solid blocks.
lof ornate, pretentious architecture
4 without seeing window opened TO
! the sun or hearing a human voice.
There is practically no trafnc upon
these streets. which wealthy residents
have purchased and left 60 silence anc
neglect.
this state Of affairs One of them, OF
tcouse, is the departure of the foreign
am bassadprs to various summer
sorts. each EN- bassy carrying In It's
wake a loyal following of Washing
Itonians. The Austro-I 4;ngarfan am
bassador is stationed at Lennox the
| Russian and Spanish diplomats cnose
! Newport and each has. little cotere.
LOT observation-disclosures who are continu
ling the friendly intercourse of the
winter. The British and Italian am
lbassadors selected Beverly. and,
while the ambassadors spend most o.!
their time In Washington. occupying
bachelor apartments In the embasss
buildings, the women, who are CON
parative newcomers, are cementlns
/ friendships which have been strength
ened by Italy's alliance with the cause
of the allies
Social Festivities.
The great number OF closed houses
| In washfng ton does not mean .
closed social season this year. how
lever. The possibility of hosttnties
! has deferred several members OF the
cabinet. as well as the htghest ON
GERS of the army and navy from CLOS
ling their town houses this year a
| few diplomats have also remained in
the city. The women of the families.
fmbued with pratseworthy inclina-
| tion to share the responsibility OF
/! their husbands. or a desire to be n
! the midst of things, are also still mere.
This little circle is gazing IA, Eay
round of dinners and dances. Tue
nassfng of the portfolio of state 10
:, p. an secretary has been made the e--t
cnsa for many affairs. Mrs. Lonsins
has been the guest OF honor our.ns
the past month, and the excuse l9r
more entertainments than mas any
other woman in Washington durtnSI
the summer for many years. inese
Festivities, Involving as they do only
ahont a dozen houses, do little to de-
tract 1s from the deserted appearance
NJ Washington as whole. Row after
row Of magnificent houses stand emp
~ securely closed and barrtcadeo'
firm and forbidding in appearance
washington is said to contain q
larger number of palattal resloeces
occuuied but a few weeks during the
year If at all, than any other city IN
y, tn fet lo
~ hoe become more the social center
of the nation than ever before, ana
has therefore, attracted large
,,,1mhar of wealthy social leaders
from other cities, who have buiis
homes suitable for large social func-
lions. Few of these houses are oc-
cupied more than two OF three months
weeks. Yet most of them are In the
charge of caretakers who Will nave
them In readiness for occupancy Win
IN twentyfour hours II their owners
suddenly desire to return.
Society Climbers.
1T is a wel1-recognized fact tnas
newly rich people now come more
frequently to Washington tnan
New York to secure social recognl-
Etion. In a single season a clever VS.
man may secure slight but secure
footing upon the rounds of the socias
ladder. and her first requisite IS
suitable house in which to entertain.
After it has served it's purpose, 1t may
not longer interest her. a beaut11ul
house. with an elaborate garden sur
rounding it, was built few years
400 nv a western woman who desired
| to marry of her daughter. She Iur-
nished the house sumptuously and m
, troduced the young woman. they oc-
cuufed it only four months. but dur
ing that time secured the desired IN
trof1ncfions. The daughter married
a foreign nobl ian few months Ia
ter. The handsome house has oeen
closed ever since. ..
Every newcomer to Wasnlnsl
does not receive the desired soelal
recognition. and closed and disman-
fled house may tell story OF soc1al
failure A woman who had inquired
IN a sensational divorce trial In new
York. announced her fntenGon ..
making her future home in Washins s.
ton after her re-marrtage. house
was rented for her, while 9 paiatl lsI
residence was being erected ana snF
issued Invitations lavishly. ehpectlns
atI,ara IN return. But the divorces
question was receiving much atten-
tion at that time. The mistress o.
the White House took the stand tina.
~ tl,e oueen of England declined TO
,-acaJve divorces In court, II be-
booved Americas Official leader to pc |
equally circumspect The invitations
TO the White House were not rortn-
coming, and this determined the pro-
cedrre Of the whole official set. BENG
fms denied admission to the charmed
circle she had hoped to enter. Ma
dame took revenge by keeping her
new house closed, so that its darkened
windows might annoy the neighbors