Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-02-06
Washington start
Etiquette Of White House Dinner

The arrangement of the table is with
| ioral decoration on the plateau In the Cen
| ire with confections and cakes and orua-
: mental pieces. AT each place are the
glasses fnr water and four or five wines
three forks and knives, a napkin aud a ca
ratfe with iced water. Upon the latter
rests the plate card, upon which Is written
The name of the person to occupy that
place at the State dining board.
The usual hour for a State dinner Is 3
2. NJ. A. the guests arrive, which should
be fifteen minutes before the hour set they
sre shown To the rooms for the removal Of
wrappiugs. and descend nv the private
stairway to the grand corridor, and pro
coed direct to the East Room. where the
President aud hi, wife await them.
Each gentleman upon entering the room
is handed by an usher a small envelope,
containing card inscribed with the plan
Of the table and hearing the name Of the
lady he win escort On the diagram the
number of the seats he and his lady will
i occupy are marked
Af.er being received by the President
| and wife he examines the cards and imme
dialely joins the lady whom he will ac-
company To- the State dining hall His
own lady remains with him until her escort
appears.
All the guests having arrived. at the ap-
pointed hour the steward announces that
HE dinner l. IN readiness. The President
"Ith hi> first lady guest, leads the way To
the State dining room. followed by the re-
naming guests. The presiding lady. es-
corted by the principal gentleman, closes
the line The Marine Band meanw his
performs a march
In the Il ming room the guests lind their
places and take the seats assigned to them
~ he plate cards, which correspond in
location With the diagram handed them up
on entering the East Room.
There are four services AT all State din
rcr> The dishes. in their order are
served on silver platters by walters, the
guests helping themselves.
The chief waiter serves the President
first and then proceeds toward the right,
aud the second waiter toward the left.
The same course j. observed on the oppo-
-itc side Of the table beginning with the
presiding lady.
No one j. ever served twice. The plates
of one course are removed aS soon a. each
guest j. finished and The plate for The next
j. put ID IL place
Al the close Of tire dinner which lasts
about thrce hours. 1t has been the custom
of late wears, for the gentlemen To leave
the tabl, with the la'tie~ and not return
The custom during the earlier Admins
trItjnn~ was tur the la'lIc- 70 have their
rufrA served ju thr drawing room and for
tllt gentlemen ~ rrturu % drink single
git>- ~ win" tn The health Of the Prr~i
drut, Grn,irmrn wishing o. enjoy a cigar
retire during the coffee 10 the corridor at
the foot Of the privat" stairway. hut join
the ladies when IN pre,idin. lady makes
tnr motion - retire.
iiicr uIr promenade through the suite
pf par.ur- The gentlemen surrender their
Ladies' tp the gentlemen with whom they
came, and with their own ladies take leave
nl the President and his lady
Iflry should receive their wrapping>
and lrayr the building quietly and prompt
ly The last oi the guests should ha,r re-
iirr'l mthu thirty minutes after leaving
the table.