The Washington times., 1920-04-26
By Mrs. Larz Anderson.
Copyright. Houshton. Mifnin Coz
CHAPTER j.
Iookfux Back.


Looking Back.
In washington, there Is always
something new under the sun NO
other place Is just like IL In this 10
spect-perhaps our republican form
OF government with its constant
changes is responsible. Prominent
men arrive, take up their duties for
a time and depart again; only the
Justices of the Supreme Court re-
main for life. Watching the admin
lstrations come and go, we have
seen no two alike, what with the
shifting group OF foreign ENJOYS
and the men whom our own states
send here to represent them. lnnu-
enced by climate and the various
racial strains that people their part
OF the country, the Senator'S and
Congressmen are strongly dinereh-
rial = descendants of Kentucky
mountaineers, New England sea
faring men, Nebraska pioneers
FLORIDA Crackers-men of the North
and the South and the East and the
West, met together here to frame
laws and incidentally to make the
Capital the most interesting city In
America
There are many points of view
from which to write about Wash
ington indeed, no two people
would be likely to describe IL In
The same way ] am no historian
to dive into Congregational archives.
no politician to record the disputes
of House and Senate. no diplomat,
no sociologist humorist, nor REFORM
tv.t nf via nf
one who has lived here for twenty
years and who has met and lis
tened to the Senators. honorables,
Judges, generals, commodores. gov
eronrs, and the ex's OF all these, as
thick as pickpockets at a horse
race or women at a wedding In
( church - ambassadors, plen-
! ipotentiaries, lords. counts, barons.
cheyaliers, and the great and small
frySof legations" who make the life
hero so varied and fascinating.
Some politics, touch of history. q
dash OF description, with q flavor
Of social affairs--such are the In
Gredients of my "pie," which. what
ever it's faults, / hope may not sit
heavily on the readers digestion.
= or all the cities in the country.
washington is the one where the
social life is most important. This
Is true, obviously, of any capital.
for sucn regime IL absolutely
necessary for carrying on much of
tho diplomatic and political busi-
ness Of the nation. But 1t Is es-
pecially true of Washington. where
there are only a few hrst-class res
taurants or theaters, and little good
art or music. To be sure, an ar
list may appear for a few weeks
to paint some political celebrity,
and we do have a week OF opera in
the spring, the Philadelphia orches-
ira and the Boston symphony oc-
casionally come, and singers give
concerts now and then in halls or
private houses; but that is about
all.
Many Chances To Meet.
As a consequence, one dimes out
continually. This gives people
chance to see each other under the
-pleasantest circumstances, and af-
fairs of state and OF international
importance may be talked over in
formally and in that best Of humors
vhioh comes after good dinner.
The diplomat secures most of his
information or quietly spreads his
propaganda either at table or af-
terwards in the smoking room,
When official conferences are held.
Il. certain procedure and precedence
nave to be maintained, and the ap-
pointmcnt is sure to be published