The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-03-18
GOING DOWN TO DINNER.
The Rigid Laws OF Precedence In En-
pIlSl Society.

As a rule, scant Difference is shown to
Americans in this patter of precedence.
Neither hospitality nor courtesy is said
to be in question, but the law. Now the
law may be very we'll for Englishmen,
by whom and for whom it was made,
but it can hardly apply to foreigners.
who are neither referred to in its pro-
visions nor comprchcnded in its denom-
nations Or degrees. The English, how
ever, habitually apply their own rulos
and their own ideas on every subject TO
everybody else. They recognize neither
military. nor literary, nor even political
distinction among themselves when there
Is question of rank; u general goes be-
hind his ai,l-lc-camp If tho latter is q
lord and the general is not; the greatest
writer in the land, Browning or Froude.
or until the other day, Tennyson. would
be proceeded by any blockhead of ba-
ron; and the prime minister, If COM
moncr, gives way to peers Of his own
creation. So American gentlemen and
ladies'. too, of whatever consideration at
home, are usually sent TO the foot OF the
table, because they possess no English
titles. European dignitarics are recog-
nlzcd, for they correspond to .hcso in
the English peeragc, but our unofficial
countrymcn do not usually fare SO well.
Both eX-Presidcnt Fillmore and oN-Presi-
dent Pierce wcre in London soon after
the expiration of their terms Of Office,
and dined Mt different times with differ
ent ministers of foreign ailairs. Each
was sent to the table without a lady and
behind tho rest Of tho company. "I'hey
wNle plain gentlemen, IL was said, and,
Il the Americans give their cX-prcsidents
no rank, why should wee" TO General
Grant, II Is true, except in ono consr.cu-
Gus instance, was given precedence of
everybody In England except the royal
family, but his case had neither parallel
nor precedent,
There arr. however, English houses
where simply M strangers the place Of
honor is given 10 Americans. This Is,
Of course, among people who havo seen
much OF tho world and discovered hat,
even In civillgoi nations, usages may eX-
ist different from those Of England, and
that persons Of consequence can DO found
In other countries who yet arc not the
bearers oi English titles, The greater
the house tho greater tho consideration
an American Il likely to receive. II he
dimes with a duke, tho chances Me that
he will 60 In with q duchess; u the host
II n recent arrival In the great world,
he may have no lady, and Will probably
enter last.
But the rule docs not always hold. !
was dining once with woman oI lank,
who was also u personal friend, Tho
company included two mar9ulses, one of
whom was q cousin of tho hostess, and
a man Of cosmopolitan breeding. Be.
fore dinner this nebleman eamo up 10
me aud said;
II have been telling my cousin that
you ough, TO take her In, 'bnt sho says
'No;' sho likes you very we'll, but you
can't 80 before q marquis, l Insisted
that, as u foreigner and nm official,
you should preeedei but she will not
yield"
"Mr. Ltcky, the historian. wes pres
ent, and was then new In Eng gllsh So
cieiy; so, with all tho simplicity of re-
publican, replied
"Mr. Lecky is tho most distinguished
man IN tho room. Shouldn't ho take
Lady Maryw
But the liberal Marquis at once OK.
claimed:
''Oh! Mr.. Lecky Is an Englishman.
He must take his place"
So Lady Mary went in with vapid.
youth Of 22, because he was marquis,
and the most eminent person ut dinner
Ind no lady, and went last.--Ada,n
R0dcdtt, fn N. y. Sun.