Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-26
STATE DINNERS.
How Men nfue On Great Occasions
az the White House.

At state dinners and other cere-
monious occasions here there is the
strictest observance of the rules of
official etiquette as regards the or
der of precedence. The secretary
of state and his wife rank next the
President and his wife when the
Vice President is unmarried. AS
Vice President Wheeler is a widow
er, the two ladies of highest rank
among the guests at the dinner ta-
BILE on the 29th were the wife of the
secretary of state and the wife of
the senior justice Of the United
States Supreme Court; so these two
ladies sat on either side the Presi-
dent, the most honorable positions
at table for ladies. The two gentle
men of highest rank were the Vice
President and Secretary Evarts; so
the former sat on Mrs. Hayes right
and the latter on her left. She
went to the table with the former.
To avoid confusion a small envel-
ope is handed every gentleman when
he enters the CLOAK room before
dinner on these occasions. In this
are two cards. One has a diagram
of the table, with his own name
and that of the lady he will escort
to dinner written opposite the num-
bers at the seats they are to occupy.
On the other is the name of the
lady he is TO escort.
There is always a little excite
ment abOutopening these envelopes
of the same description as the trem-
or of expectation which seizes ore
on opening a prize package. And
well there may be, for three hours
| is the usual duration Of a White
House state dinner, and to be bored
for three hours is no joke, and the
little envelope contains the solution
of the problem each man has anx-
/ iously asked himself on his way to
the scene Of the feast: "Am | to
have an agreeable partner or not ?''
Mrs. Fred Grant used to be con-
sidered, while she lived in the
White House, the choicest prize on
these occasions, and the man who
found her name in his envelope wai
envied by all the rest.
Gail Hamilton is also invaluable
at dinner parties. She is one of The
readiest and brightest takers II
Washington-one Of the rare class
of takers who do not monopohzC
the conversation. She draws Others
into it, enabling them to show to a
great advantage as herself the sub
tlest of flattery. She is never di
dactic, but is always original, anC
falls readily into the light veir
which is most agreeable in society
THE CABINET.
The iolliest man to meet in com
pany is the postmaster general, wht
always seems to be thoroughly ell
ioying himself lie takes grea
pride in speaking of himself as th,
cabinet curiosity. "Wben | trav
eled around with the President,
he says in glceiul tones, half laugh
ing at himself the while, Z" the peo
pie took almost as much interest il
looking at me as at him. 1t wa
Just because | used to be a naughtl
boy" lie takes humorous deligh
in regarding himself as the repent
ant sinner the symbol of the con
ciliatory policy aud his mirth-loy
j ing face radiates the refulgen
CLEANS Of peace. 1t did not destroy
his self-gratulatory temper when
reminded him that he was not tn;
! first ex- Confederate who had beel
in the cabinet, as Akerman was il
Grants cabinet. "0h, yes" h,
answered, "but lie was recon
structed; l have never been.
Them" | responded, "you hay,
been conciliated. He represented
the hard doctrine Of reconstruc
tion, you the gentle one of forgive
ness and peace" To this he CAV
q pleasant assent.