Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-11
Rennhlicnn Efinnetre.

Washington Post: The President and his
wife will receive all calls and return none.
During the session Of congress stated re-
ceptlons are given, which all may attend. A
morning reception should be attended In the
usual morning reception costume, hut it is
not considered respectful to appear In less
than evening toilet at an evening reception,
ana for an evening call merely denai toilette
is preferable. When entering, your name is
announced by the usher, whereupon the
marshal of the district introduces you to the
President, and afterward to other members
of the family who may be present. 1t is a
yexed question as to whom properly belongs
the second place In the SOCIAL grade-the
chIef-justice or the President Much
may be said on both sides. The significance
of our social etiquette is not personal, but
political, and it simply resolves itself to the
question, which is OF more political import
ance, the chief-justice or the Vice President?
The first named is certainly, in some respects,
much more responsible and digni6ed. He
holds the ultimate power of appeal; he can,
at times, control the executive, and, holding
his Office for life, he is fixed star in the ma
tional armament. The Fice-President,
simply as Vice President, has no special DO
liticRl significance. His greatness is antici-
patory rather than actual, consisting in the
remote contingency OF his becoming Presi-
dent, and the dignity of his position arises
from his being president of the United States
senate. A social congress should be called to
settle these weighty matters Of the law, and
until that Is done the dilemma may be met
as distinguished Washington lady meets it
by not inviting these two dignitarIes to her
table at the same time. The fourth planet in
our social system is the speaker of the house,
who is three removes from the Presidency,
and is often a political power of the first i'm
portance. All these dignitaries are entitled
to the first visit. In regard 10 the cabinet,
tlS
as to the question of social precedence,
and though 1t is d question which needs
be settled only on occasion OF State
dinners or official receptions, the Post would
not be fulfilling the whole duty of man un-
less it stated the case fully. The order to be
observed is the priority in which the offices
were created, viz: The state, the treasury,
the war, the navy, the general postotfice, the
interior and the department of justice The
difference of opinion as to who should receive
the first visit, the cabinet officer or the sena-
tor, is gradually being decided in favor of the
senator. The first visit" seems to have
been an apple of discord at a very early date.
It is of this that Mr.. Adams's letter, before
referred Go, chiefly treats, and he quotes
unanimously from Mrs. Adams, what she
did and did not do. After all it is the wo-
men who watch the social boundaries, and
carry on In Washington parlors the wars Of
the political arena. For this senatorial claim
to precedence is based on the argument that |
the senator represents State sovereignty, !
while the cabinet officer Is simply APP |
pointed and depends on the confirmation of |
the senate. Still, the senator is also |
subject to the State legislature, and so-of |
course-and yet, such Ic the dignity and re-
sponsibility of cabinet ofncer that-welI,
the massive brain of the Post reels under |
such a weight of argument, and can ealy fee
bly, suggest that official dining-tables be made |
like that celebrated table in John o 'Groat's |
house, where eight jealous brothers of the |
house of O'Groat sat down, each one at the ;