The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-02
SOCIETY AT TIE CAPITAL.
Engraving Cards and Using Them the
City's Chief Industries.
From the Ns,o York S,sn.

From the Neso York S,tn.
Many may not know that there are two
views OF Washington-one outside, one in-
side
The country regards Washington as the
/ center of legislative power. But Washing
ton knows that its most absorbing interests
are social
No questions Of public interest have ever
/ exceeded its social contests, from the DAYS
or Gen. Jackson down. There are social
feuds, as betweenthe women Of the cabinet
! and senator's wives, between the various
/ families OF the army and navy, which have
equaled in persistence at least the Hatfield
! Mccoy vendetta.
| with each new administration these wax
anew, and peace rests on a species of armed
neutrality likely at any time to be over
| turned.
Paying calls and engraving cards are the
two great industries of the capital Cards
fall like snowtakes and fiutter in at every
! conceivable crevice.
hen the lire burns low it is readily re-
vlVed by the chance cards of the day. With
them thrifty official family might easily
economic in kindling wood
The mere matter of legislation in Wash
| lngton is subordinate to the real business of
life, which rs paying visits. The official
women In Washington have no salaries.
| But they work harder than their husbands
lt would be mistake to consider this
| constant fitting from door to door in the
| light of pastime. 1t is, in fact, the fulfil
ment OF high and serious duties, and is so
regarded.
Washington social life is apyramid stand
ing on It's spex, or rather tee~totum at full
| spin The presidential family, instead OF
being on top, is at the bottom and supports
the structure.
The mass is on top. This alone has all
the rights and none of the duties. The I'M
trammeled private persong is free to pick
and choose his company, to roam from
house to house like wenton bee slipping its
sweets wherever taste and fancy may in
cline.
Such are the only persons that have
everything in their own hands. Official
intercourse exists under certain laws which.
II they are not part and parcel of the con-
| stltution OF the United States, are more
revered and less elastic than the articles of
that document.
Mrs. Dahlgreu has long been the dictator
OF proprietes at the capital, but even she
has found it impossible SO institute certain
changes in official etiquette
All Washington etiquette hangs on first
calls. The junior members wife must call
on the senior members wife, and present
her credentials. as it were. The junior
senator's wife In turn must call on the senior
senator's wife.
The members wives must pay their duties
first to the senator's wives The seuators'
wives, as well as the members wives must
call first on the cabinet women.
The respective rank of the cabinet women
and the senator's wives, as was said above
involves one of the notable contests at the
capital. When senatorial wife with the
elements OF leadership gets into the govern
ment she is apt to take up the old cry and
make an onslaught on the position of the
cabinet women.
But all such attempts have been so far
successfully repulsed. The cabinet women
meanwhile have been ably fortified by the
growing Importance of their husbands as
members Of the chief executives family.
This they did not always possess.
The wives of the Justices hold their posi-
tions without dispute. Everyb body must
first call on these, except the families of the
President aud Vice President.
The position of the speakers wife is
anomalous. The speaker In power and in
tiuence is the second officer In the govern
ment
When Mr.. Keller was speaker during the
Arthur administration, Washington Off
clal life was shaken from center to circum-
ference by an inedvertence on the part of
Mrs. Keller. Even the formation of the
committees for several days sank into in
significance beside the discussion it excited.
Mrs. Keifer, it seemed had chosen Tues
N~J - AVA AOSORoIOAA o1Js ANOWt lut6u6Y Is
members day." That is TO say, Tuesday
Is the official day on which the wives Of the
representatives are expected to receive.
Mrs. Keller was modest, and being the
wife of member, although he was speaker.
she did not take into consideration her Off
cial elevation. The wives of the members
were much more jealous Of her rank.
Socially the wife of the speaker ranks
with the women of the cabinet. For Mrs
Keifer to abate any OF her privileges would
be mistake on the part of the adminjstra-
tlon that IL might take years on the part of
the House to reassert
The archives were searched; the records
OF past speakers wives reception. were
ransacked, and with but one result. They
had invariably maintained their right to
receive on Wednesday, which is cabinet
day, SO long as the mind OF woman runneth
back.
Mrs. Randall, it was urged, aIth ough she
lived on Capitol hill, and Monday every
body knows is Capitol Hill day, claimed the
right to receive on Wednesday, although
hers was the only house open on the hill
ana the COST of an extra carriage had to be
met for her benefit. Still in this there was
quiet assertion Of her rank. which pleased
the most i'm pecunious members wife.
The diplomatic families reoslve first calls
from everybody below the speakers and
cabinet families, and every body has at
least the right OF entrance TO the various
Legations.
The members wives must make first calls
on the families of the general of the army
and the admiral Everybody knows those
exalted positions rank below the lower
house, as do the families of the Judges of
the court of claims and the chiefs Of depart
ments. The other department people are
not supposed to be in society at all. Thus
the matter is regulated in every part. And
though the modest wife of a senator may
desire to know more aristocratic and dash
ing wife belonging to the lower house, she
is powerless unless the lady of less rank
chooses to know her. So the system has it's
disadvantages as well as its advantages.
The times for calling are equally we'll es-
tablished.
On Monday the wives Of the justices of
the supreme court receive.
Tuesday, as has been said, is members
day, and on Tuesday is the day of the fam
lily of the general OF the army.
Wednesday is cabinet and speakers day.
Thursday the wives Of the senators re-
ceive.
Friday is diplomatic day, and Saturday
belongs to the white house.
Different localities have different days
Monday belongs to Capitol bill and to the
navy yard The different hotels have their