The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-10-29

isSSb SOcleLY else mere are liable TO
End themselves at sea in the national
capital. The social code there re-
sembles the British constitution in
that it is unwritten. 1t comes down
from Gene, ii Washington. who
though stan IA believe" in Democ-
racy, was'a mighty sticklcr for rank,
precedence ana the rest, and he was
backed in this by Alexander Hamil
ton. NOT many people know that
Alexander Hamilton who was
secretary OF the treasury and
also general n-chief of the
United States army once. found
time to frame a code. or "sct of rules
touching precedence and social de-
gree. for the benefit of persons of
quality and that these rules were
privately printed and are still ex-
taat The only copy known by the
Washington Post to be in existence
now is in the collection of curious
books made by the late James Lenox,
of New York The rules laid down
just about 100 years ago are still in
force in Washington, having been
handedJlo from one generation to
another of the women OF fashion and
position Under this code the presi-
dent and his wife are the first per-
5onages in the Land. and have the
PASS arerywhere. A tremendous
dignity surrounds ti4, shief maCis-
t-rate of the nation. and it ou5b. to-
f1e cannot accept invitations to balls,
receptions or dinners, nor can his
wife Though the ladies of the
white house occasionally break
through this rule, their husbands
never do. Thus. Mr. Cleveland never
accepted an invitation to anything at
u private house while he was presi-
dent the first time. Mrs Cleveland.
however, used to dine out quite often
with Mrs. Whitney. Mrs. Wilson and
one or two other friends. Even Gen
eral Grant, who certainly could not
be called q stickler for social rules.
followed this one. Mr.. Arthur did
moro to make permanent certain
features OF White house ctiQuctte
than any other president in the
writer's time. For example. it was
he who established what il nov the
fixed usage-~that no man who be
longs to the better bred ranks of
American society will make an even
ing visit to the White house in any
thing but full evening dress Of
course, Mr.. Arthur did not ere ate
this rule, for it has been in exist
cnce and a we'll understood ucage
since Van Buren's time But Mr.
Arth 1rAwas fond of state and pomp,
a. eved that the president was
citizen of the republic for
al term. and should 'alway
s such.
the president and his wife
chief justice of the United
premo court and the vice
and their wives. if they
For years it ha; been a
as to which OF these per-
vas entitled to precedence
still dOu btful; but etiquette
o the vice president. be-
may succeed to the presi
But there arc stubborn peo-
ecall the fact that President
on, on a great occasion.
IF Justice Marshall prece-
b jefferson. who was vice
thereby creating bad feel
pa the two. The fact was
Justice Marshall was pop
phe federalists, while JEFF
not. Marshall had served
ersonal staff of General
Il in the revolution and
1fidence of his chief and of
no appointed him chief
eferson, on the contrary
4 OF having imbibed the
can ideas of the French
of the time and had de-
democratic simplicity"
well as in private life.
pes the speaker of the
fter him the judges Of
States supreme court.
enators The fercest
or time out of mind. is
as precedence. senators
minister's. Of course, it
IN, but the women of the
great personages who
touching this matter
People say that they are
ent, the official staff OF
he state. and that each
small sovereign in his
can dispense no little
his own account, and
light be added But the
men (it is the women
this, remCm berl retort
eaning their hus usbands.
represent sovereign
were meant by
when the senate was
punterars the influence
lloi, We ratify trca-
pntirm or re jcct NOM
nc cabinet. Can the
he cabinet do any of
This was the argu-
ctary Cha sc's brilliant
she was the wife of
rue of Rhode Island.