Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-28
WOMEN OF WASHINGTON.
THE STRICT ORDER or SOCIAL
PRECEDENCE.

of the Nations CapitaI-some of the
CharacteristiCs of the Wives of the
Members of the Csbinet-How the
Leuten Season is Observed.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-Iesterday
afternoon hired neat little coupe with
8 neat, round, fat, little c0achman IN Nv
cry, all for the little sum Of 81 an hour,
and went out to pay calls. The system OF
visiting that prevails in Washington is
most fascinating. curious person, one
disposed TO be looker-on at the various
booths OF Vanity Fair, does not readliy
tire OF the rounds of calling, and although
tie semi-obscurlty and silKen gloom OF
Lent has settled over the social world
there is still enough OF social oIhclal lie
going on 10 make Washington very at
tractiye. You know, as matter oi
course. that Washington society IS d.
vfded into one or two sets, or factions.
There are the old Washingtonians,
who look down with supreme
dlsdain on the terrapin suppers-the 5000
strong entertainments-the lumtl riddle
de-hO-Ofthe official ladies, When these
old families who live in Washington who
are not at the capital OF the great I'M
washed voters OF this or that state. MN
=
they believe they give it a higher tone,
and it is really not often that you ind the
vestal virgins OF the body un-pOlitic adorn-
ing the feasts Of the high priestesses OF
political society.
The most unique code O. etiquette pre-
walls amongst the official ladies. The
wife OF q member-or Of anV lower Ottcer
must always make the frst call. Tnus
the wife of a member must call first on
the wife Of a Senator. The wife Of Sec
rotary must also call first on the Senate
rial women and these in turn must call
on the ladies Of the Judiciary. The pre-
cedence is as follows: Miss Cleveland. the
wives Of the judiciary, OF the Senators, Of
the Cabinet. OF the members. These ladies
all have their particular days OF being at
home. Toe members day is Tuesday,
judges day Monday, Cabinet day We'd
Besday. Senator'S day Thursday. and Miss
Cleveland receives Informally on Tues
DAYS and Thursdavs. Mrs. Speaker Car
Isle receives on W ednesdays at her par
tors in tie Riggs house. The ladies OF the
Cabinet and certain Of the Senatorial
EIves have had the most calls this year.
Mrs. Whitney, wife Of the Secretary Of
the Navy, mas given the grandest enter
tainments OF any body in Washington this
winter. Her three parlors open into a
large dining room on one side, and at the
back into a large suDerbiy beautiful ball
last year. This ball room has a lovely
marquette floor, deep crimson walls,
and at one end a magnih-
cent $1,000 fireplace. The room Is
lighted by stained glass skyhghts,
and On one side there is a deep recess or
oTiel window, hung from the room like a
balcony and reached BY two little flights
OF steps. Tue piano and other musical in
struments are placed In this recess. and 1t
was taere that Mrs. James Brown Potter
stood when she Tecited "'Ostler joe" and
straigntWay became famous frOme Maine
10 California. Fine pictures adO-n the
walls. as we'll as wonderful tapestries,
and it is always possible to get a card OF
admission TO view these beauties. At
which are covered by great umbrella
shaped shades made OF yellow and red
roses, aud which have a most charming
effect.
THE WIPE OF SECRETARY MANNING
is the least popular Of the Cabinet ladies'.
She has a sharp eve and a scant smile for
a shabby gown, and Is politician rather
than a diplomat. Mrs. Villas is pref
~ little brown-haired wOman-last year
the shyest woman in Washington, over
whelmed by her position. She smiles and
looks inOfiensiyely pretty, and knows no
more about politics than the quietest
little rustic buried away in the heart of
the country.
Mrs. Endicott is a true Bostonian.
She is tall. with dark eyes, a fine
face and lot Of sIlYer-white hair banded
back from her brow. In her manner she
fairly eXudes elegant culture and grace.
She dresses well-her prettlest dress is a
rich opal-tinted white satin made perfect
iy plain, with a reverse at the surpliced
neck OF black lace, and with deep cas-
eades Of black lace falling from the waist
line over her hips. Mrs. EndicOtDs house
is one OF the handsomest thrown open 10
the public. In the hallway there is a
lovely arched gothic porch under which
the Oaken stairs run in broken fights
and with two or three landing
places to the upper rooms The
parlors are birds egg blue with
tiny, narrow, milk-white marble mantel-
shelves, and on reception DAYS these are
hung with swings of smiax ropes.
Attorney General Garland lives In a
shabby looking old fashioned frame house
that sets back in a bare and dismal yard,
His little, old fashioned mother, Mrs. Hub
bard, known all over Washington as
Grandma Garland, keeps house for him.
She is a silvery, sweet little body, remind
ing one Of an old fashioned French pink,
Her self possession is well known and
she explains it by saying: "MY dear, at
my age there are no great men,"
Grandma Garland says truly that her
sons heart is buried in the grave Of his
wife. He has a most inexpressitly sad
face-a look as il he were set apart from
the rest OF the world, as If he walked
alone in mist and dim obscurity OF woe.
Those who know him respect his grief,
and never venture 20 joke with him on his
Well-known aversion 10 dress coat and
60 society generally. Bayard, Garland,
Hawley, Morgan and Barbour are
group Of the saddest looking meus in
Washington. Senator Morgan has only
just returned from taking his beloved
young daughter back 70 their desOlated
Southern hOme-an invalid, with the
awful calamity OF insanity lowering like
a thing OF evil over her. A year ago
Senator MOrgan's son was drowned in
the Potomac, and the daughter has
grieved herself into a most distressing
condition OF mind and body.
DURING LENT THE HIGH OFFICIAL
ladies leisurely dispose Of their calls.
Now you must know that TO exchange
calls with an official lady does not pre-.
cisely establish social relations with her.
She returns your call either in person or
by the card, as IL we're, which she sends
around 10 your house in a neat little en-.
velope directed TO you quite as IL IL were
q grand invitation. This call In person,
Or this card, squares OF all her duties TO
you. IL Is true she will always be glad
10 see you on her reception day. because,
If1rn aWaru nfhar onfraaa ahf. "a, foua