The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-01
WHITE HOUSE NEW YEAR
Gen. Badeau Writes of What Most Nearly
Approaches an American Court.
The Presidents New Years Reception-Eti-
quette Established by Washington and
Administrations in Older Countries.
enecia, TO the Indianapolis Journal.

was instituted in the early days of the republic,
and Washington himself after consulting with
Adams, the first Vice-president, established
Of the etiquettes that still prevail. In the
beginning. however, there was general recep-
ton, and the people rushed to the Presidents
presence in such numbers that the foreign min
listers declined to attend with the crowd. and
then the arrangement was made that the dipio-
matte corps should be separately received. After
this it became necessary to determine the rela-
tive rank and precedence among the foreign
functionaries and our own great officers of state.
Washington again consulted not only Adams,
but the entire Cabinet, and system OF prece-
dence was arranged which became the founda-
ton of all the official etiquette OF the capital
The order in which the dignitaries approach
the presidential presence is we'll known.
The President and his wife, with sometimes
the other members of his family. receive, first,
the Cabinet officers and their wives, who consti-
tute the official household of the head of the
State; then the judges OF the Supreme Court
presented, with such ladies accompany
them; next the diplomatic corps, in the order Of
their seniority, the chief of legation who has
been longest in Washington acting dean
doyen, without regard to the Importance of the
country that he represents; and it sometimes
Islands heads this procession, or sometimes
the sable Hayden envoy, while the British min
lister and the French representative follow far
behind. This rule obtains at all European
courts, and was established at the Congress of
Vienna. In England for many years the Turk
ish ambassador was the dean. and when Turkey
was the sport of contendiDg states the sick
of Europe, 1T strange to
Musurus Bey marshaling the ambassadors
of Russia and Austria they went in TO
the Queen. / remember we'll how disgusted
own Minister Motley was because he had to fol
low burly black general. who was plenipoten-
tary from st. Domingo to ST. James. After the
oiplomatists, at the American court. come the
Senators and Representatives; then the officers
of the army and navy; and last among the priyi-
legged personages--a number of government
officials below the highest-assistants secretaries.
judges of the Court of Claims. and the District
courts, etc., etc. The diplomatic corps
always in court dress; the judges of the Supreme
Court wear their gowns; and the army and navy
officers full uniform. In Washngtons day and
for time afterward civilians knee
breaches and swords; after this dress-coats
were not unusual; but of late years all but
those entitled to uniform wear ordinary morn
ing dress. l recolect that some years ago the
diplomatists were very loath to put their
trappings for the crowd at the entrance often
scoffed at the unfamiliar fnery. Immediately
after the war few, if any, of the army officers
wore equalettes. Grant never owned a gener-
ais pair until he wen: to Europe in 1877; then
qured at courts which he had never worn at
home. AS the general-in-chief went in plain
shoulder-straps his example was followed by his
subordnates; unless. perchance. some young
lieutenant, anxious for all the adornment the
law allowed, decked himself out finer than the
head of the army The naval officers have al
ways worn equalettes on the occasions of
mony. being accustomed to their abroad.
By degrees. however, as the war days and the
war veterans passed away, tinsel came more In
vogue. In Arthurs time every body was encour-
aged to wear his smartest clothes; and to-day
the parade il the East Room, far the men
are concerned. is worthy of comparison for gilt
ter and lace with that of many real courts-that
is until the real eovereigns, the people, come in.
For after the official crowd has passed, and
those who contrive to accompany 1t to see the
show, then the democracy is admitted, and cab
drivers with their whips and workingmen in
shirt sleeves can be in the halls where the
of and sultans have just
aired their nobility.
~ In one respect the etiquette st the White
House is more stringent than at the palace of
the Emperor of Germany. The diplomatsts aud
Cabinet Ministers are all expected at the ex-
rcutive mansion, but in Berlin New Years day
is peculiar fete-ordnans- fest it is cailed-al-
most the same as ''collar-day" at the English
court, when everybody must wear all his orders.
In Germany everybody who has received a |
decoration of whatever degree or for whatever |
cause is privileged to go to the palace and into
the presence of the Emperor; the hum blest SUBJ |
ject citizen, the merest private soldier, if he |
mas been decorated, is admitted on this day, |
while the most important functionary. foreign |
excluded. In this way the American minister |
9 seldom able to pay his respects to the En- |
oeror on the LIST of January Mr. Pendleton has |
10 decoration and may not go to court to-morrow. |
put if his interpreter secretary has happened |
% have been decore he makes his bow. When /
General Dix was new at the Tuileries. in the time |
If the second empire he attended one of the court
on New Years day. A great deal of
tate was kept up by the imperial parvenu, and
he palace carriages were sent for the American
minister. For this politeness however. one of
a a
The grand piqueur was in the
labit of accepting 500 francs from the ENJOYS
md ambassadors who went to court in the
ware of this delicate etiquette, and did not
omply promptly with the custom But the
breeding that prevails in palaces was not to be
hwarted by republican simplicity, and the day
Ifter the ceremony a superb bouquet was sent
o the American minister The Democrats
ooked upon this as still another attention from
he head of the state and General Dix imag-
ned the bouquet came from the Emperor for |
lrs. Dix; he even make his ackno wled gements, |
md only then discovered that the flowers were
rom the servant not the master, and had been
Intended to remind the plenpotentiary, with all
lue delicacy, of the douceur which was the per-
uisite of the grand piqueur.
These high bred customs are not French fash
ons only, nor confined TO imperial precincts.
When General Grant went to Belgium he dined |
With the King. and the royal carriages were sent
o convey him and his party to the palace in
eed, they were placed at his disposal as long as
lie remained in Brussels. The American minis
or notineo me OF the usage, and said that 200 |
rancs would be expected by the chief officer of
he royal stables. informed General Grant of
he punctilo. but he refused to comply; he said he
vas the guest of t he King. and he would not pay
he servants of his Majesty; it seemed to him like
n insult to the royal hospitality. But he got
YER his scruples before long, and purchased the
ourtesies he received like every other potentate
r ex- potentate of them all. 1t usually cost him
lore to visit anc be entertained than if he had
aid his own charges. Our White House. it will
e seen, IS behind in its etiquette. The Presi-
nt a1h oprju f0rt ha
rho make him their compliments; but then his
oachman doesn't charge them for their drive;
nd | suspect they prefer republican plainness
D the courtly and costly compliment.
But it's strange how the aristocrats of Europe
box upon themselves as in reality servants of
the royal caste. They not only take wages
hen they courtiers, tine ladies and gentle
len in waiting all paid from the royal purse;
ut they accept perquisites; literally tips
ne best of them. When the Gar of Russia or |
ne Shah OF Persia visited England, great noble
and panflAmAn Wa data led frnn har |