Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1886-06-18
GOING powN ro DlNNER.
The Rigid Laws OF Precedence In En-
glfsh Society.

glish Society.
AS a rule, scant Difference is shown to
Americans in this matter of precedence.
Neither hospitality nor courtesy is said
TO be in question, but the law. Now the
law may be very well for Englishmen,
by whom and for whom il was made.
but it can hardly apply to foreigners,
who are neither referred to in its pro-
visions nor comprchended in its den0nl-
nations or degrees The English, how
ever. habitually apply their own rules
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; q general goes be-
hind his aid-de-camp if the latter is n
lord and the general is not; the greatest
writer in the land, Browning or Froude,
or until the other day. Tennyson. would
be preceded by any blockhead Of ba-
ron; and the prime minister. If COM
moner, 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 dignifaries are recog-
nized, for they correspond to these in
countrymen do not usually fare so well.
Both ex-President Fillmore and ex-Presi-
dent Pierce were in London soon after
the expiration of their terms of Office,
and dined at different times with differ
ent ministers of foreign affairs. Each
was sent to the table without lady and
behind the rest of the company. They
were plain gentlemen, it was said, and.
if the Americans give their ex-presidents
no rank, why should we?" To General
Grant, it is true. except in one conspicu-
Gus instance, was given precedence of
everybody in England except the royal
family, but his case had neither parallel
nor precedent.
There are, however, English houses
where simply as strangers the place of
honor is given to Americans. This is,
of course, among people who have seen
much of the world and discovered that,
even in civilized nations, usages may ex-
list different from those of England, and
that persons of consequence can be found
in other countries who yet are not the
bearers of English titles. The greater
the house the greater the consideration
an American is likely to receive. If he
dimes with a duke, the chances are that
he will 60 in with a duchess; if the host
is a recent arrival in the great world,
he may have. no lady, and viii probably
enter last.
But the rule does not always hold. /
was dining once with a woman of rank,
who was also personal friend. The
company included two marquises, one Of
whom was n cousin of the hostess, and
a man of cosmopolitan breeding. Be
fore dinner this nobleman came up to
me and said: st4xgs
81 have been telling my cousin that
you ought to take her in, bnt she says
Mo- she likes you very well, but you
can't 90 before marquis. / insisted
that, as a foreigner and an official,
you should precede; but she will not
yield.''
s.Mr. Lecky, the historian, was pres
ent, and was then new in English So
ciety; SO, with all the simplicity of re-
publican, replied: eszs5
'sMr. Lecky is the most distinguished
man in the room. Shouldn't he take
Lady MaryP'' s i
But the liberal Marquis at sonce ex-
claimed: ..ff 49,
''Ohi Mr.. Lecky is an Englishman.
He must take his place"
So Lady Mary went in with q vapid
youth of %, because he was a. marquis,
and the most eminent person at dinner
had no lady, and went last--Addn
BddedU, IN NJ y. SttH ss4fa.3sst