The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-28
SOCIALPRECEDENCE.
A QUESTION THAT IS DISTURBING
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
Difference of Opinion Between Femihi"'
Authorities - Mrs. Hendricks 10
Claim Her Rights The Charm
ing Miss Bayard.

CINCINNATI, May 2S-The Enquirers
Washington City special says: There mas
been considerable agitation In society CIR
cles over the question of who is the first
lady Of the land. A society writer says, IN
regard to the all absorbing social topic, that
Miss Bayard has convictions which she ex-
presses without fear or trembling In the
presence of social autocrats and dowagers
who have hitherto been law unto them
selves. In reply to a question on that sub
ject, she said:
aThere can be no question on that point.
The lady chosen by the president to have
charge Of the social regime of his domestic
household becomes the hostess of the execu'
tive mansion, and as such she becomes tho
first lady in the land. This is the first law
of social etiquetts in a private establish
ment, and it must be so in the social sur
roundings of the president 1t would be
absurd to think of the president sending out
to have another lady to come in to pre-
side at his table or at his leyees.
On the purely official or ceremonial occas-
ions at the executive mansion the same rule
would hold good. The nature or object OF
| the occasion would determine the lady whom
the president should escort If given in
honor of distinguished guest it would be
| that persons wife and the first guest would
escort the hostess of the mansion, or in her
absence the next lady in rank present. do
not think that the vice-president or presi-
dent pro tenn. OF speaker is entitled to the
social privileges of the presidential office or
of the presidents family until he has posses
sion of the office"
In addition to her beauty and home and
social accomplishments Miss Bayard re-
minds one of the noble maidens of England.
She is a daring equestrienne. She can out
ride and outleap her train Of gentlemen ad-
mirers and often delights in striking thrill
of horror among her timorous courtiers by
some dashng exploit Freedom from
prudery, yet a womanly reserve, degree
of radicalism, yet a thorough mastery OF
her environments, are among her gifts.
! An intimate friend of Mrs Hendricks says
MRS Hendricks Is representative woman
and will not submit to this overriding of
her presidency. Mrs Grant never held re
: ception without inviting Mrs. Colfax to assist
and in her absence Mrs. Colfax was the first
lady. The western people and press hav
come to the support of Mrs. Hendricks AM
they will see that she has her rights-1 NEAR
, socially. Miss Cleveland is nothing socially
At state dinners the president should escor
: the wife of the vice president. who shout
,, sit at his right, and the vice president shout
escort the wife of the speaker. We want n
more of this Arthur rudeness. In
stead of taking Mrs Carlisle on hi
l arm at a certain state dinner b
= took Mrs. Frelinghuysen, and Mrs
= Carlisle would have left the building ha
: she not been too much Of lady. Whe
Mrs. Hendricks came to Washington aftt
; the inauguration, Mrs. Carlisle called upc
!. Mrs. Hendricks, and yielded to her Il
n honors due to her station But Mrs. He
l. tricks has never been invited to the Viii
House, not even to the first reception. Wht
Miss Cleveland is hostess it is her duty
>. stand at the presidents right, and shou
:, present the guests to the wife of the vi
4 president.
Il A prominent society lady gives the ord
Of precedence in capital social life: "Firs
=. the wife of the president; second, the wife
a. the vice president; third, the wife of Il
>. speaker, and fourth, the wife of the secI
nt tary of state"
~ 1t appears that the feminine mind is
10 worked up about this matter that M
bee Cleveland has been much annoyed by ano
as ymous letters disputing her right and I'll
VA to the first ladyship.