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Show THfc MECCA OF LEISURE. A Place For Wealthy People Who Deslr Comfortable Indolence. Washington is rapidly becoming a favorite place of residence for people who have made fortunes elsewhere, and who are devoting the remainder of then-lives then-lives to having a good time in a quiet way. There is a large colony of such families, and they contribute enormously enormous-ly to the general stock of elegant and comfortable indolence for which the city is noted. Then there are the retired re-tired army anil navy officers. Their name is legion, and "Washington is their favorite place to live. You see them in great numbers in the clnbs, on the thoroughfares, in society. Nor must the widows bo overlooked. There are ; moro widows !n TVasliiston. .tlua in any other city in this country, size for size. The widows of public men, of army and navy officers, of private citizens citi-zens in all ranks of life, gravitate to the Capital City as the pleasantest place they know of to pass the autumn of life. The diplomatic corps comprises several sever-al hundred more or less idle and fashionable fashion-able men and women. Literary and scientific men, especially those enjoying incomes and independence from inherited inherit-ed or other sources, are numerous in Washington. Always the city contains thousands of visitors attracted by the peculiar interest which attaches to the seat of government. Is it any wonder that we have here an ease loving and an ease enjoying population? popu-lation? Are you surprised that Washington Wash-ington laziness has become proverbial throughout the country? Do you marvel mar-vel that our streets and avenues are rial-toes rial-toes in which comfortableness, fashion, superficiality, even insincerity, are constantly con-stantly displayed? The street life of Washington is always al-ways interesting. The good dressing gives an air of elegance to the thoroughfares, thorough-fares, which, with their famous shade trees and pavements smooth and clean as a floor, are themselves elegant. The number of noted men and beautiful women to be seen in any given walk or drive adds to the charm of the scene. The bicycles, numbered literally by thousands, thou-sands, add the spice of rapidity and whirl to a picture that might otherwise lack somewhat of action. Washington Letter. |