Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-02-17
WHITE HOUSE DINNERS.

Description OFFS State Dinner-The
etiquette Observed in Seating the
Guests, etc. .ss>&HS ,.,rS;~} .s~,>
A Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Journal, writes as follows:
The past ten days have been very busy
ones In society, the most so that the sea-
son will see, for lent viii soon cut short
the festivities. The ball at the British
Minister'S, the dinners at the white
house, and the public reception by the
president, have been in many respects
very interesting events.
The st tie dinners at the white hotse
are somewhat changed under President
Arthur. Formerly the great east room
was not much used ON these occasions,
the guests being received by the presi-
dent in the blue parlor, and thence es-
corted to the state dining-room. Now,
however, the guests are received in the
east room, and spend some time there
before going to the state dining-room
promenading slowly down the broad hall
as they pass from the reception-roem to
the tables.
The details of these state events are
Qul interesting, and as your CORE
spondent haSrecently had opportunity of
witnessing them, 1t may not be inappro-
pirate to tell how it is done. The table
the state dining-room in the white house
will seat, Ivy close crowding, thirtv-siX
people. This, then is the limit of the
aumber invited, and usually there are
not less than thirty on these occasions.
Where it is convenient to do so, as many
ladies' as gentleman are invited. though
at diplomatic dinners, where all the for
eign ministers here are to be present, it
Is found impossible to seat as many at
the table as this plan would require, so
that the rule is not followed.
The table is usually very handsomely
ernamented with flowers, huge floral de-
sign of some sort appearing as a center
piece, and smaller ones near the ends.
Two large golden candelabra, or branch
ing candiesticks, holding perhaps dog
en- candles apiece-reminding one very
much OF the pictures of the golden
candlestiek" in the old family bible,
occupy places on the table, one at either
end of the floral center piece. These
contain the finest of wax candles, which
are lighted just before the dinner begins.
Near the ends Of the table are smaller
Sandelabra, with perhaps half-dozen
candles apiece, each having a little
pink-lined shade at the top supported
by silver rod, which clasps the cam
die near the bottom.
The plates are placed fright side up
with care about thirty inches apart
around the table. On each plate the
g2apkin is laid, and on the napkin the
Snnnnnf nf nj
lilies of the valley; for the gentlemen
usually u single half.opened rosebud.
Besides these is laid card, one on each
plate, and on it the name of the person
who Is 10 sit at this place.
The head of the table, on these occa.
sions, is not at the end. but in the mid
die. The seat occupied by the president
Is half way up the side OF the table, at
which the guests enter The lady
whom he escorts to dinner sits at his
cight, and the honored guest on the
OCCASION sits directly opp, site the presi-
dent, with his lady on his right. Those
who arrange the table, and the order in
which the guests sit, CT course, arrange
so that gentleman and wife do not sit
side by side under any circumstances.
For instance, if Count Lewenhaupt
should be delegated 10 escort Mrs. Secre-
Eary Chandler to dinner it would be IN
error to designate to Secre-
tary Chandler the second seat at the
right of that occupied by Count Lewen-
haupt, for, as the Counts partner, Mrs.
Chandler would occupy the seat at his
right. that arrangement would bring
Mrs. Chandler and Mr. Chandler neigh
oors. So that the person who arranges
these features of the dinners often finds
q nc no
fourteen" brain-Tacker of year or two
ago.
When the arrangement for seating is
and each person has been
assigned to his place, card Is prepared
for each gentleman and placed in an en-
velope bearing his maine. On one side
of this card is a plan of the table, with
each seat numbered. On the other side
Is the name of the lady whom he is to
escort to the table. and the numbers of
the seats they are to occupy. These en-
velopes are handed to the gentlemen as
they enter by g gentlemanly usher
named Alien, and as soon as the gentle
man has ''shNd" his outer garments he
examines his card, curses or blesses the
zates which have consigned him to an
partner for the evening, and
aies him to the East Room, where, after
paying his respects to the president, he
hunts up his lady, and prepares for the
evening. Meantime, the Marine Band
has taken its place in the vestbule.
After half-hour spent in converse
Eion in the east room, the President |
gives the signal to an attendant, who
passes it on to the band, which strikes
up some appropriate selection, and the |
President, giving his right arm to the
lady whom he is to escort to dinner,
leads the way to the dining room The |
others follow, each gentlemen giving his
arm to the lady designated by his card. |
The President usually takes to the |
table the wife Of the Secretary of |
State.
The. promenade down the long hall to |
the dining-room IS very slow, and is a |
and beautiful spectacle. The
ladies, of course, are in evening costume |
1.-The handsomest that money and in
genuity can provide-and the gentlemen
in dress suits; the lights brilliant, the
hall lined with flowers and tropical |
plants, and the music enhancing. Ar
irving atthe table the guests are seated
in their order, and the dinner, which is
usually in twelve or fourteen courses,
with half dozen different wines, occu.
pies fully three hours, and, it may be
added. is good.