The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-02

MEMPHIS DAILY
husbsnd hsd been President nearly
two years, first established the price,
dent OF not returning the visits OF any
one. Before that a Presidents wife
had returned calls in person. The
following is from the diary OF John
Quincy Adams, written in December,
1918, he then being Secretary OF State
In President Monroe's administration.
II shows what a stir this course on
Mrs. Monroe's part made in Washing
ton society. Adams had gone 10 see
the Presidents vile to tax over with
her some much vexed questions OF ct
iquetIe, which had also been formally
discussed at a Cabinet meeting by the
President and the heads Of depart
menis. Said Mr.. Adams:
Mr.. Monroe made some remarks
about her own determination not
to go to the French Minister'S ball
and about the multitude OF questions
concerning first vi.is, which are as
numerous as there are individuals
Among the rest she told me that the
] inhA0o VI EOlO DGuhlJl5 AON NAbiA
her because she had adopted the rule
OF not returning visits, but they
accepted invitations to her house.
Another exhact also from Mr..
Adams diary, OF the same date as the
above, will serve to illustrate what
vexsd questions of etiquette may come
up to perplex Miss Cleveland after
her brothers marriage. As the pre-
siding lady OF the White House, she
has been conceded the same privileges
and also immuniits that PresideLt's
wife has had, bat there clnnot be
| two first ladies, and there is no rule
in the recognized code of etiquette as
to the place in society Presidents
sister can claim, when he has a wife.
President AIthur's sister, Mrs. Nc
Elroy, did accept invitations to balls
at the homes even of foreign ministers,
but this Miss Cleveland has not done.
TO GO OR NOT TO GO.
The following gives Mr.. Adams
account OF the discussion as to whetbe'
or not President and Mrs. Monroe
could go to ball given by the French
Minister, and what a complication
there was when the question was dis
Cussed as to whether or not the Presi-
dents married daughter, Mrs. Hay,
could claim the same exemption from
social duties out ide the White House
conceded to her mother. Secretary
Adams wrote December 10, 1878:
81 mentioned to the Pie 3ident Mr.
Hyde de Neuville's extreme desire to
hu,,a l. 10. an1 Me- Mn-.Aa akNaHI bic
bail next Monday. The President was
disposed to crafty him, II there had
been an example since the existencs
OF the present constitution of a PIesi-
dent going 10 the house of a foreign
minister He faid he would send 10
ask Maj, Jackson, who bad been Presi-
dent Wsshington's private secretary,
what his practice had been, and he
would consult the gentlemen OF this
administration concerning it, for
which he appointed a meeting at l
o'clock tomorrow. Mr.. de Melville
came to the Office in high anxiety
about it, and l appointed to see him
tomorrow at o'clock. On the 18th
the President told the Cabinet that
Maj. Jackson said President Washing
ton had never been at the house of
any foreign minister Nor had any other
President. He determined, therefore,
not to break through the established
usage.
A GRAVE CAsE.
with regardto Mrs. Monroe, it was
left to her own decisions, but when
the President went from the Cabinet
MEETING and consulted her, she said
she did not think it proper for her to 90
any place where it was not proper for
her husband to 90. The President
said he would request his daughter,
Mrs, Hay, to go. On retusning to the
Office sent for Mr.. de Melville and
gave him the information. He was
apparently much mortified at il, but
suppressed his feelings within bounds
of decency. The hightiness OF his
head often amounts t) absolute men
tai arrangement. And he is always
a tempting to mlnage political affairs
by the aid of women. This is the way
in which he has been endeavoriDg to
intrigue with Mrs. Hay. But among
the numberless questions of etiquette
aud prudence here, which the want OF
all established rule has occasioned,
one has arisen between the ladies' OF
the foreign ministers and Mrs. Hay,
the const quence OF which is that now
they do not Wis t..
Ga the 18th he received note from
Mrs. Hay requesting him to call upon
her before SEEING Mr.. de Melville to- |
day. He went and found her with
her mother, Mrs. Monroe. Mrs. Hay
told him to inform Mr.. de Melville |
that she would, ct the request OF her
father Though much against her own
inclination) 90 to the ball next Mon
day, but upon conditions. First, that
IT should leave her position with the
ladies of the foreign ministers pre-
ciselY where. 1t was, that she would
afteawrrd neither visit them nor re-
ceive visits from them, nor accept of
any invitations to their parties. Sec
ond, that no rank or station should be
assigned to her at the ball-no pre-
tense of distinguishing her as the
Presidents daughter; that at supper
she would find her place somewhere |
among the Commodores' wives, but
she must have no distinction shown
her. Third, that Mr.. de Melville
might write to his own government
whatever be pleased upon the subject,
but II an account OF the ball was TO he
published in the newspapers here her
name should not be mentioned as hay
ing b en- present.
Mr., Adams noted the same day hav-
ing told De Melville OF Mira. Hays
conditions upon which she would 20
TO his ball, and added, "He put up
with them mora coolly than l ex.
pected"
What nonsense all this seems now
adays