The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-21
Etiquette in Washington Society.

-, The vile OF the chief justice, and moi
the vile OF the President, is the first lady
IN the land, and takes precedence of ali
others. She holds receptions and re.
celyes calls, but she alone is excluded
from all duty of returning calls. TIE
life OF lsdy in society at Washing
ton is exceedingly onerous, and more
especially so if she be the wife of anv
official. Next in rank comes the wife of
the President.
1t IS made the duty OF the President
TO give several State dinners and official
receptions during each session of Con.
gress. Besides these there are the gen
eral receptions. at which time the White
House is open to the public and every
citizen. of the United States has a
recognized right to pay his respects to
the PRESIDENT. On the days of the regu-
lar "levees the doors of the White
House are thrown open, and the world
ls unfortunately invited to enter them.
No court" dress is required to mako
one presentable at this republican court.
but every one dresses according to his
or her means, taste, or fancy. The
iashlonable carriage or walking dress is
seen side by side with the uncouth
homespnn and homemade of the back
Woodsman and his wife. Neither are
there any ceremonies to be complied
with IN gaining admittance to the Preei-
Dental presence. You enter, an official
announces you, and you proceed direct
~ 10 the President and lady and pny
your respects. They exchange n Tow
words with you and then Won pass ON
to make room for the tlronp that in
pressing behind you. You loiier nbont
tile room Tor short time, chatting with
acqualntances or watching the shifting
panorama of faces, and then you 20
quietly out, and the levee is ended for
you. II any one wishes to make nri
NatA call upon the President he will find
u necessary to secure the company and
Influence OF some official or special
friend OF the President, Otherwise.
though he will be readily admitted to
the Whlte House, he will probably fail
Ill obtaining personal interview.
Ile Indies of o cabinet officer must
hold receptions every Wednesday dur
ing the season from two or three O'clock
to half-past five. On these occasions
the houses must be open TO all who
choose to call. Refreshments and an
extra humber OF servants are provided.
inc refreshments for these receptions
may oe pialn, consisting of chocolate,
TEA, cakes, etc. Every one who has
called and left card at Wednesday re-
cePtion IS entitled to two acknowiodg-
ments Of the call, The first must be q
l,turhlng OF the call by the ladies of
tho family, who at the same time leave
the official card of the minister, The
second acknowledgment of the call is an
invitation TO an evening reception. The
Vi.'e'ilS hst OF the family of q cabinet
munster cannot contain less than 1000
- 'VOO names. Cabinet officers are
"lSo expected TO entertain at dinners
senators, representatives, Justices of the
supreme court, the diplomatic corps.
aud many other public officers, with the
ladies OF their families.
Inc season proper for receptions is
ron the itrst OF January to the begin
ujng of Lent. The season for dinners
Lasts until the adjournment of Con
grese.
Ihe President is not expected to offer
refreshments to the crowds who attend
hs receptions. The President and
speaker OF the House are also freed
from the expense OF feeding the hungry
public.
II is optional with senator's and repre-
sentatlves, as with all officers except the
PRESIDENT and members of the cabinet,
whether they shall entertain" There
IS vast expense in all this, but that is
not all. The labor and fatigue which
society imposes upon the ladies' of the
family OF cabinet officer are fairly ap
Pallln8. 10 stand for hours during re-
ceptions at her own house, to stand at n
series of entertainments at the houses of
others whose invitations courtesy re-
Inlres should be accepted, and to return
III person all the calls made upon het.
are few of the duties of the wife of a
hlgh Official. 1t is doubtful if her hus-
band, with cares of state, leads SO really
laboriOus a life.
In Washington society one end of a
card turned down denotes a call in per-
son.