Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-03
ETIQUET.
Proposed sociat Reforms

Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 27.-Mrs.
Blaine proposes 10 revolutionize former
customs, and it is understood that the
edlct has been promulgated from the
mansion the Secretary of state, and is
acce pied by the ladies of the Cabinet, that
the families of the Cabinet Ministers stand
on the same footing with the Presidents
wife. and will not return calls in person
during the term of the elevated position of
their husbands. Those persons who think
that the exalted men of this Administers
ton are doing all the working, planning,
and maneuvering, and that their wives and
daughters are living in ease either mental,
moral, or physical, are mistaken. It may
have been so In past times, but now the
strain on these tadies consciences, minds,
and bodies is telling on society at large, for
ly, and more feminine Cabinet meetings
have been held than the President knows
Of Alter everything was arranged by The
head of society, the wife of the Secretary
of State, the other ladies were admitted to
the confidence, of course they all agreed to
anything their head had planned. Then,
on Monday last, lady, the widow of an
Admiral, and the acknowledged authority
on State etiquet the author of a man.
u.
ington. telling ju t where to 90, how to
act, AMI what to say on every occasion
really one of the kindest aud most helpful
and satisfying friends that ever a plain.
quiet woman called higher by a husband
election found-this nigh authority was
invited Informally to dine with Mrs
Secretary Blaine. The subject was deli
cately preached to her, and it is presumed
that none of the etiquetical authorizes
clsshed, and that the lady spoken to
thought the way safe for the innovation,
for 1t has been whispered about. although
not yet made really public, that the
Cabinet ladies, during this Administration
will not return calls. and will hold similar
public receptions to those held BY the
Presidents wife on Saturday from to D.
m.
1t is really sensible reform, whether
born in the stalwart brain of Mrs, Blaine
or, caught second handed from Miss
Dodge. The receptions of the past have
been hard enough, but when to this lone
day In seven" toll the work of returning
each week. the hundreds of calls, which
mostly are only by number, that is, the
numbers of the residences are copi,d from
the callers cards, and Driver, next to 2O3,
then to 2O5, 2O7, and 2 g." and then there
is sigh of relief as the ladies in the car
riage say. Thank heaven. only fifty more
to, day and We will be through" The fact
of cessation of this work, which here.o.
fore has been considered indispensable to
high breeding, will be relief to the little
coterie of the upper circle surrounding
Mrs. Garfield. Win not some talented
person, with genius for unraveling tan
giles. get Mrs. Dahlgren's consent to ex-
tend this reform, 50 that gradually the
official life will be shorn of some Of its
terrors. and at last even the wives of
members Of Congress can visit whom they
please, and be let off from running around
with calling list, three days at least of the
seven, returning the visits indicated by
cards of people whom they have no knowi-
edge of, no recollection of ever having
seen, or desire ever to see? If this reform
can be accomplished by woman's wits, the
Gordian knot of Washington society will
have been cut