The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-04
WASHINGTON
Its Social Rulers, De-
mands of it's Etiquette.
Who takes PRECEDENT, many
absurd requirements.

The etiquette of Washington calls is al
| dimcult to new comer's comprehensive
as are the whimsical parliamentary rules
OF the House of Representatives. Certain
ladies, by Writ ne of their husband q officia
status. have certain invariabie DAYS on
which to receive calls. The wives OF
mem bers do not nor are they obliged to
have any day at all for conveniepcss sake.
but they soon learn that thew must In
order to be systematic. Then they gener-
ally choose Tuesday, though some take
Friday, some Monday or Wednesday, il
they live on CapitolHill or near some prom.
inent supreme court or cabinet family: or
they adopt the day of the hotel where they
are boarding. The House of Representa-.
tives is the least aristocratic of any official
body here, while at the same time it is the
most powerful. from the fact that all leeis.
iation which involves the expenditure of
money must start in its committees. But
the status Of memh er's wife ia that Of III a
rank and file of privileged orders. To use
the words of our 'gildsd youth" of these
days, she may be a swell but she 10 not
a "howling SWELL Monday is the
invariable day for families of the supreme
court, for ladies living on Capitol Hill Tex
cept the wife of the Speaker). or at the Ma
w Yard, or at the Riggs house or National
hotel. except ia the case of any Senator's
wife at these latter places. who teDacously
retains her Thursday, OF the supreme
court justices wives. the newer ones must
gall first, each year. on the older ones,
except, of course. the chiet Justices wife.
who ranks all the rest. aud like the Pre-
sident's wife, and the Speakers wife, 10
excused By her husbands high Office from
rnfry noli 81
to do so. Tuesday is very generally mem
bers' families day, by custom. 1t ia also
the day at the Arlington. Wizards, and
Ebbitt hotels. where most of the ladies' 10
official life are members wives
On Thursday the Senator'S wives receive.
They arss entitled to first all from che
associate Justices wives. and from cabinet
ladies. on the ground that the Senate con-
firms both the cabinet and The supreme
court. They also reeeiye lrst calls from
the foreign minister's wives, and from the
wives Of newer Senators. and, of course, of
members,
At least once during the season each
lady who ordinarily receives skips her
day. and goes out to make calls On the
other ladies who receive Oh the same
day. Many delicats constitutions are
broken down by the exaction of official
society life. Calls are made and retured.
not by the dozen but by the hundred. All
the afternoon receptions refreshments
are generally set forth at the houses of |
supreme court justices and of cabinet of. |
ficers and diplomatic families, and of the |
Speaker; but not elsewhere. The dining |
room will be presided over by daughter |
Or young lady friend, who pours chocolate
ialntlly into tiny cups aud sable attend |
ant hands it around to each caller who
may be inclined to take REFRESHMENTS;
picked oysters, cake. and
sometimes punch, are served. The many
iaughtered secretary of state il fortunate
IN reception days. There is no need OF
Ealing III outside feminine aids at his
louse. At the supreme court houses,
= hich have degree more OF statliness
han any other. coiored attenosnte. grave
md handsomely attiEed, alone are usually
cen 10 the dining roon--no member off
hat family.
Ladies whose husband business pro. !
pinence gives them status quite inde-
)endent OF their position in Congress.
20 alone in their own carriages, or accom- I
panied by a daughter. In all the above I
asses the rule for daughters mere who
axe the place of. their dead mothers in
.eeping up social relations for their busy
athers,
Democratic and Republican households |,
xchange these calls of ceremony, unless
hey wish TO be ruled out of each
theirs social lists. At state dinners at
be White House there is no distinctioni
+ party permitted This is one of the
unwritten laws" of the Republic.
The above are the perfunctory and un-
estricted receptions, TO which all the
7orld may come. though not very many
ut society people do. Card receptions
re different. in being at night only to
avitt d guests. They are like any oh r.
rand party. aud their nominal hour is 9 II
'eiock though few gather till nearly 10i
'elock: : Harper's Magazine