Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-01
RICHMOND, JANUARY l. 1899.
ETIQUETTE. &c,

ETIQUETTE, &c.
The following letter refers 10 some of the canon
Contained in the system of etiquette, which ha "
some reason tn believe is observed 1T Wa slington
The author asks place for it in paper, and we
are not at liberty To deny his request.-IIe says
:" If YOU think it would dspcase, where YOU wonl,
not choose give oencc--I hope you will return the
paper to mel assure you haze not been desrou,
of olcnding-hut really tliuk some, they will
prove TO he disagreeahe truths. Though stranger
10 you, have taken this liberty, the result Of be-
Iei, that YOU were the most likely person to attack
the folly OF the times without fear of the irowns
any."-We mean to make no llourishcs but we GER
tainly intend to keep the press open can to
public Investigation. We certainly should not have
selected in every the forms of expression which
ne has employed Tor conveying his ideas. We have
no hesitation IN saying that the distinction said TO he
drawn at Washington, among foreign ministers, Sc
cretaries, senators, representatives and citizens, is
IN our opinions extremely odouS. 1t accords but H.
~ with our professions of republican, simplicity If il
docs not squirt al state o! things but little ed
from the pomp, parade and false notions OF Eu opean
governments. The code OF etiquette proposed for
the government otthcse public fictionaries, has no
douht jealous, II not many advocates, there
are for the m0gniEcence, spieao,a, and supremacy OF
shc general government itself We The tern,
1aacfioiuyy IN preference 10 the old fashioned one
serrdt, rs less likely 10 wound the feelings of any
representative OF the people who chances to pride
iimseliupon being cirstened honorable" &c.
Washington City, Dec. %, 1891.
SIR have long believed it the best way to
obtain information, and fix IT on the memory,
III
with our anusements. have, therefore, by
way of Il Christmas gift sent you this disserta-
ton upon the science now mostly studied i'm
this wonderful place.
In the first place, | think it but just, to say,
that things move on here much after the old
sort, without any thing to disturb the tranquil
lty of the man Of business, who can, never
fheless, when he chooses, find plenty ofamuse-
lnent to beguile the lsiless leisure of a Ions;
NInf..t .I.el.f -
the much improved science, almost new here,
called etiquette; the value of which is well
understood, and called by that name, by all
who are skilled in '.foreign affairs
Easy as this has been, and pleasant as il
used to be considered by all who have had
their intellect sharpened by visi. To E,l-
rope, or who came from Europe, or can talk
frencll-this last by the bye, is the principal
qualification looked 10, in choosing 4 man
To so Oh a foreign misson.--lt seems of
+ late not to be without It's danger, if the re-
I cent occurrences in this Imperial City, can be
relied upon. But alas ! every sweet has its
bitter.
When got here, heard great deal about
etiquette, and applied 10 some of our members
OF Congress for information on that subject
which seemed to be considered of so much
Importance: | soon discovered they knew
nothing at all about it. then applied 10 the
Speaker, who you know is frGm our state,
and To my utter amaZement, he knew no more
about it, than one of his brother members
j must confess, then felt a little mortified as
that is the only science of which he is thought
10 he ignorant.
didinot despair though, as [ knew this va
iuabe information was somewhere to be had
next examined the library, but not one sim
gle author on the subject could find | won
der how Mr. Jefferson got along without such
!, book. then made an enquiry wherever
had Il chance, and at last found the only do
e,Iment on the subject, was in the hands OF
the Vice President of the u. States, who has
not yet arrived, and of course, | have not had
an opportunity Of inspecting its Sc provisions;''
but all can learn of this interesting science is
this.
The Senators few winters ago, thinking
more of themselves than became men who
mad never been in Europe, and could not tall,
French, expected when they arrived in this CT
~, 10 be visited by all who reside here, Just
as gentlemen call on each other in Virginia
How could such distinguished men, make such
COMPOUNDED blunders
his was So gross an error in the Senators
that 1t required the nterposiiion of the Secre-
taIyof Staie-oh he isa priuce,- his able pen
-sooE produced that Invaluable document, and
placed things upon Il nobier foundation. But
as it was not "priDtCd for the use of the
members" or g laid upon the table," the Vice
President 10 whom it was addressed, being a
plain honest man us suppose, as he is cal, ed
ia his own State, " the farmers SON." put il
luto ms pocket, where expect it is yet. But
Ut was not lost upon the Senators, some oI
whom had been in Europe, knew lis value
and indeed some of the politicians here think
Ut the abest State paper the Secretary oi
State has ever produced, and in point of wit
grandeur ofdesign, and sublimity oils figures
most people think it equal to his fourth of Jul
ly ortion.
Did you ever know that il made any differ
ence which side of the table gentleman sat
10 eat his dinner But neel not ask you
that question, though, if you knew all about
etiquette, you would know, that to eat your
dinner with the President, there is as great
q difference, III getting chair No. / and chair
No. Q, as there might be, in getting No. or
No. at Ben. Tylers Lottery Office.
Now it SO happened, the President found il
convenient to givea" diplomatic dinner" where
all the foreign ministers were feasted and with
them, the Secretary of Statc-take notice you
northumberland etiquette, for when all the Sc
cretaries dine together with BIN, il is " court
.dinner'--this {" diplomatic dinner" happened
a few nights ago, as IL is out Of character to
eat by day light, where all the royal represen-
tatives were assembled in full uniform--Mark
the science-when dinner was proclaimed
that's wTOng--it was done BY AN elegant bow
Just from Paris-Monsieur Parlczvous,N being
al sight of foot as most of his cOuntrymen, got
the seat of honor, No. /, at the right hand OF
che President, which greatly offended Mon
sieur Goddamf-the latter gentleman but in
their own country, they are all considered gen
tlcnen made some offensive remark which
however, did not then put an end to the har-
attl in liz