The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-11-04
Etiquette in Washington Society.

lady in the land. and takes precedence
of all others. She holds receptions and
receives calls, but she alone is excluded
from all duty of returning calls. The
life of a lady in society at Washington
is exceedingly onerous, and more espe-
cally so if she be the wife of any Off
cal. 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 gem
eral receptions, at which time the White
House is open to the public, and every
niZed right to pay his respects to the
President. On the days of the regular
levees, the doors of the White House
are thrown open. and the world is in
discriminatory invited to enter them.
No court dress is required to make
one presentable Mt this republican court,
but every one dresses according to his
or her means, taste or fancy. The fash
iOnable carriage or walking dress is seen
side by side with the uncouth home
spun and homemade of the backwoods-
man and his wife. Neither are there
any ceremonies to be complied with in
gaining admittance to the Presidential
presence. Iou enter an official an
nounces You, and you proceed directly
to the President and lady, and pay your
respects. They exchange few words
with you, and then you pass on to make
room for the throng that is pressing be-
hind you. You loitcr about the room
60 81, al, I,
tances, or watching the shifting piano.
rama OF faces; and then you go quietly
out. and the levee is ended for you. If
any one wishes to make private call
upon the President, he will find it nee
essary to secure the company and infiu
ence of some official or special friend of
the President. Otherwise, though he
will he readily admitted to the White
House, he will probably fail in obtain
ing n personal interview
The ladies of a 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
number of servants are provided. The
refreshments for these receptions may
he plain, consisting of chocolate, tea,
cakes, etc. Every one who has called
and left Il card at II Wednesday recep-
ton, is entitled to tw o acknowledgements
of the call. The first must be return
ing of the call by the ladies of the fam
lily, who at the same time leave the Off
cial card of the minister. The second
acknowledgement of the call is an invi-
tatiOn to an evening reception. The
visiting list of the family of cabinet
minister cannot contain less than 1000
to 5000 names. Cabinet officers are
also expected to entertain ut dinners
Senators. Representatives, Justices of
the supreme Court, tho diplnmatc
corps, and many other public officers,
with the ladies of their families.
The season proper for receptions is
from the first of January to the begin
ming of Lent. The season for dinners
lasts until the adjournment of Con-
gress.
The President is not expected to offer
refreshments to the crowds who attend
his receptions. The Vice President and
Speaker of the House are also freed
from the expense of feeding the hungry
public.
1t is optional with Senators and Rep
resentatives. as with all officers except
the President and members of the cabi
net. 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 officers are fairly
appalling. To stand for hours during
receptions ut her own house; to stand
Mt series of entertainments ut the
houses OF others, whose invitations
courtesy requires should he accepted ;
and to return in person all the calls
made upon her, are Il few of the duties
of the wife of II high official. 1t is
doubtful if her husband, with cares of
state. leads so really u laboriotls life
In Washington society, one end of n
card turned down denotes call in per-
son.
DETECTING Thief By MEANS OF A
TOY SNAKE.-A Richmond, Va, paper
says: A gentleman of this city, who sus-
pected servant girl of stealing small
articles, determined to set trap for her.
So he put jointed toy snake in his bu
reau drawer, from whence the stolen
articles had been stolen. On Saturday
morning while the members of the fami
~ were at breakfast he heard scream,
and in came the girl with eyes as big as
dollars. and declaring that Il snake was
after her. The gentleman asked where
the snake was She told him she saw
it on the steps He then accused. OF her
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