The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-31
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON.
Who the First, Second and Third La
dies are.

iyhe New York World has E0SS1py cores :
pondent who calls herself or himself ''Mlss
Grundy." and whose letters are specially inter-
esting to the ladies. Her, or his, last Is devo-
ted to the question of female rank, as recog-
nized by the wives and daughters Of the Off
GERS of government, from the President down.
The Presidents wife, as matter Of course, Is
considered the "First Lady, and the wife of
the Vice President is the sSecond Lady" the
seThird Lady" being in dispute, and quite
questio uerata. On this point, Miss Grundy"
amplifes as follows:
It is well known that etiquette, like fashion,
rises superior to all creature comforts, and
couid never be supposed to make or mar
: law simply for the sake OF convenience. In
this country, however, some reason, good OF
bad must be given, even for social rules; pure
. Iy arbitrary Intentions do not secure ready &C.
i quiesence. Therefore, reasons are given for
the acknowledgment OF rights to first calls.
The usual one, given always In perfect good
faith, is truly appalling. a"We mike the Cabi-
net" says the Senate, 1--WE confirm Its mem
bers; therefore we are their superiors. "We
swear them in,' says the Supreme Court,
sstherefore we take precedence Of them" 1t
Is; however, to be remembered if this return
to first principles and Difference to creative
power proves anything, It proves too much,
and s'we, the people, should have our supre-
macy acknowledged above all.
Il is impossible to say how much bitterness
has been caused by this decree, made so long
Of State, wrote letter on the subject to Daniel
T. Tompkins, then Vice-President, in 1919.
Mr. Adams could not 'ssee" the point; he wrote
mildly, but forcibly, his convictions that a first
call from himself or his wife should be de-
maMded by no one save the President or Vice
zskl- = H. Il s% 80
on account Of his office; he thought the mat,
ter should be regulated by circumstances, and
no general rule on the subject should be
adopted. His opinion. however, did not set
tie the question, which continued to be agi-
tated with so much vim that he sent the
telltgencer about two years afterwards, and
still the war went on. It seems that the reason
then given for senatorial rank was somewhat
different and had show Ofcommon sense about
It. while it inyokes the great question which
was only to be settled N our time OF bloodshed.
The issue was made on the State rights doc
trine. "As representatives Of sovereiga States
we declared the senators should have the
rights of foreign ministers, and rank next to
the Vice-President." But even more than this
was claimed, for it was as superior order Oh
foreigners the senators wished to be consider
ed and to take precedence of all members OF
the diplomatic corps In a volume of miles
Register" published many years ago in Balti-
more, reference is made to this fertile source
ofsocial pickering, which speaks of the aglta-
ton of the fashionable mind In Washington
during the winter Of 1920. People were divid-
ed Into two parties and took sides with great
bitterness.
tThe amount of it all" says the writer, "was
whether the lady of q secretary or the lady Of
senator should first drop courtesy and say,
how do you do, ma'am ?? to the other. Sena-
tors are entitled to be called honorable, both
parties admit, but some contend that secreta-
ries may be called their ercellencieS, superior
grade. It is agreed that the wife of repre-
sentative Of the people Tor member of the
lower house) holds inferior rank to secre-
tary's wife, but it Is contended that senator
renresenting the sovereignty of State, his
wfE must be on par with any other lady eS-
cent the Presidents wife" From that time to
the present the question has been revived with