The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-28
THE "FIRST LADY" QUESTION

Social Excitement in Washington Over the
Important Topic-Mrs. Hendricks's Wrath.
Washington Correspondence Philadelphia Times.
In regard to the all-absorbing social topic, the
first lady of the land, Miss Bayard has convic-
tions which she expresses without fear or tremb-
ling in the presence of the social autocrats and
dowagers who have hitherto been law unto
themselves.
In reply to question on that subject, she
said: There 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 executive mansion.
and as such she becomes the first lady of the
land. This is the first law of social etiquette in a
private establishment and it must be so in the
social surroundings of the President It would
be absurd to think of the President sending out
to have another lady come in to preside at his
table or at his levees In the absence of a wife.
his sister or any near lady relative would be an
eminently proper person for him to bestow that
honor upon. AS long as Miss Cleveland re-
mains the hostess of the Presidents
house, she must be the presiding lady
there, and as such the first lady in the
land. On purely official ceremonial
occasions at the executive mansion the same
the occasion would determine the lady whom
the President shouIdiescort. If given in honor
of distinguished guest it would be that per-
sons 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 Vlce-presldent, or president pro tenn, or
Speaker is entitled to the social privileges of the
presidential office or of the Presidents family,
until he has possession of the Office"
The honors conferred by the President upon
bad lad he
of his first public reception have aroused much
feeling among the matrons who have been in the
habit Of dominating everything in the social
line. The particulars of this breach between
the presidential and the vice-presidential social
forces was first mentioned in these dispatches
and since that time the feeling has increased in
intensity.
An intimate friend of Mrs Hendricks, in
speaking of the so called indignity, exclaimed:
Mrs. Hendricks is representative woman,
and will not submit to this overruling of her
rights of precedency. Mrs Grant never held
reception without inviting Mrs. Colfax to assist.
and in her absence Mrs Colfax was the first
lady. The Western people and press have come
to the support of Mrs. Hendricks, and they will
see that she has her rights--I mean socially.
Miss Cleveland is nothing socially At state
dinners the President should escort the wife of
the Vice president, who should sit at his right
and the Vice-president should escort the wife of
the Speaker We want no more of this Arthur
rudeness Instead of taking Mrs. Carlisle on his
arm at certain state dinner he took Mrs. FIRE.
linghuysen, and Mrs. Carlisle would have left
the building had she not been too much of q
lady. When Mrs Hendricks came to Washing
ton, after the inauguration Mrs. Carlisle called
upon Mrs Hendricks and yielded to her the
honors due her station. But Mrs. Hendricks
has never been invited to the White House, not
even to the iirst reception. When Miss Cleye-
land is hostess it is her duty to stand at the
Presidents right, and should present the guests
N "a yUifa M ha
Manning, the wife of the Secretary of the
Treasury. came to Washington, she said to o
prominent lady in society i may understand
the etiquette of New York, but I am not ia