The Republican journal., 1876-01-06
of be at home, turn down

side Of fine card. On leaving the city,
send YOUR card with the letters P d. A.
(pour dire adire) OF 2. 7. G. (pour prendre
conce> marked in the left hand lower cor
nor On arriving in the city, if you have
any acauaintances, you may notify them
of YOUR arrival by sending your card with |
simn)o name and residence, but one must |
not expect a first visit from any official
biqh or low. except as matter OF courte- |
.v. whatever their social position On de-
Gree Of acquaintance at home; since here
the laws of society are different from any
other place, and as fixed as those Of the
Medes and persians The President re-
ceives ALWAYS the first visit from everyone
else. and is not expected to return them,
thoroh his wife may, il she chooses but
usuallv does not; and the only cards is
sued from the White House are thosn for
dinners.
Next in rank to the President is the
Chief Justice, who receives by right the
first visit from all others, but is expected
to return them either in person or " a
card sent After the Chief Justice, the
Vice President, and then the Speake OF
the House, exact the first visit and must
return them. Then the members OF the
Cabinet, Senator'S and Associate Ju'geS
in the order they are named, and alter
these the Representatives in then urn
have the right to the first call frompN
lower officials and civilians. The lac, OF
knowledge or sufficient appreciation OF
these rules leads to more belligerencv md
heart aches than might be supposed, and
many has been the life long quarrel gov
inc out Of a neglect OF too exact colpli-
ance of these rules 1t needs a dear
brain, a ready tongue and an untaling
courtesy to steer clear Of the shoals and
| quicksands that threaten ON every side,
especially from constituents who mcy
they have 4 monopoly of mans time
and home, because they gave him aTote.
A little polite concession on both sizes is
frequently better We remember O see
inc one morning as ilate a woman Il ever
crossed our vision, and OF hearing her
pour out the uncomplmcntary adjetives
upon the name of her offending members
wife in the most unsparing mamie Al
| home her social position and her husbands
wealth and influence We're far ab0v, that
Of the members and his perverse spouse,
and coming here a stranger she hadreck-
oned not alone upon that stumblingblock
the first call, but drives and sundry other
attentions and introductions. BIT the
in her life the opportunity to air he CON
sequence, stood upon her dignitr and
right. and let the eXpectant lady severely
alone. The sequel proved that she had bet
ter conceded the contested point, whether
right or wrong, for the indignant woman
raved over the insult until she set her hus-
band by the ears and enlisted him in the
quarrel in defence of his Sighted wife.
At the next election he threw the weight
of his wealth and influence in favor OF
the opponent of the honorable gentleman,
and beat him largely for the coveted po-
sition. Now don't think by this that the
women are all to blame for these quarrels
and teuds, Tor | am willing to affirm that
| if is nNnprippPp tbat n 10 Inv far
the greatest sticklers for precedence and
etiquette, though as in q great many
other cases it is the rule to blame the so
called weaker halt of the creation. From
Adam down, these chiyalrous knights have
been shrinking behind the woman and cry
ing oat in hypocritical tones "Oh Lord, it
was Eve did it 1t was Eve did i'll" |
always did hate old Adam for that mean
ness and contemplate lack Of courage,
and ] think if had been Eve | would
have then and there given him piece OF
my mind.
But to return TO the cards and the call
ing. Etiquette demands that YOU never
refuse an invitation to dinner, unless there
be sickness or death in the family, rs to
be invited to dine is the highest compli-
ment that can be paid you therefore all
other engagements may be safely broken
| to keep this one Invitations to dine are
issued eight OF ten days in advance, and
must be promptly answered within TWEEN
tv-four hours. And within three days after
the great event you are to call IN person
upon your host and hostess All cards OF
invitation to dine as we'll Us other formal
notes, must have the letters H. S. Y. r.
(respondez 81 vous plato inscribed upon
the right hand lower corner. In address
ING notes, except upon strict business,
write upon the envelope the words cen
ville,n instead Of ''prcsent' as il common
in some other cities. Lastly, but not least
| ly, your cards must be engraved not writ
ten or printed.
And now | wish had time and space
to describe to you how gay and crowded
| luz SlICClo .tiC lltlt lO-uti w IN Whiting
carriages, and probably some whirling
heads, and 90 into details OF some of the
perfectly lovely dresses that are seeing
society for the first time on this occasion,
But alas, if | once get entanglcd in the
mysteries and beauties OF lace, Jewels,
satins, silks, bright eyes and bewitching
glances where should end ? | tear me
the editor would have to be persuaded to
the issue of an extra, that should be as
large rs his office floor. But may lust
tell you that the prettiest girl in Washing
ton is bright and radiant in u simple dress
of white muslin trimmed with white satin
and natural flowers. She is herself the
daughter of 4 prominent newspaper man,
and will receive all the members of that
honored profession as her most favored