New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-17
HOME AND SOCIETY.
QUESTIONS OF PRECEDENCE.

AND MISS DEYER-A WONDERFUL wo-
MAN-THE FAsHIONS-HOw TO MAKE
CITRoN-MELoN PRESERVES.
It is unfortunate that the question of social pres
tige is creeping into Washington society. In our
thoroughly democratic country it is the only place
where that question could arise In all other
cities in each set of society one man ranks as
highly as another unless indefinite value Is
put place upon an individuals millions or
in another upon his ancestors; and these are dis
tinctions that after ALL too vague to formulate
any rule upon. But in Washington 1t is other
WISE and it IL becoming matter of moment as
TO whether for example. at dinner, United
States Senator a Justice of the Supreme Court
should have the seat of honor And now that we
have ambassadors among us, matters VIII oe
further compiled ted. AT foreign courts and In 'he
society that surrounds them only monarch Oh
monarchs may outrank ambassador WIN
is held to represent the person of his soVereis"
An amba ssador of the French Republic OF one
from the United States must necessarily PERSONA
the sovereignty OF the people, as neither h""o,'
possesses a monarch. With diplomats there Is al
ways to be found jealous eye watching OUT lo
their proper rights. A most courteous aihDds'"-
dor has been heard TO remark to his host on iea'
ing the house after Il dinner. Sir regret ~ III
form you that in future unless you eNe III" '
proper place at table. will be unaDie u So
n your invitations" Lord NJ, the aii'u"S'" , =,
X uuestion was not personally annoyed oy N'e III
& fer,or Mace he way forced accept but because
b in the ewes of those present the great hauoh ne
represented had not received que coiS''o' "
IT, on the Con inent, you desire 10 give Ui,'e
for certain friends, you must invite " me- .
rarsonx Of inferior rank to theirs or else your
guests of honor must be content WIN io"ei p'"''
at the table. <,x
why is it," American lazy aSheu d iols ,
prnce that matter how uncohgemai peopie
are you put them side by side? difher Is
social affair 1870, =, !.
at he, vour pardon, my dear madam" he in
terrupted not at all social aftair win u.
. man or n woman would rather be paceu pesiue
bitter enemy than move down one char u si' oe
side n dear friend. A dinner with US Is solemn
function and proper form is much more thoush' Vi
,ban sociability 1t is not strange that you Aiiie'
teams as well as strangers. enjoy your own famous
hospitalty With you there is so little suiiiiv'e
and formality-you can give youiseH W. -
social enjoyment of congenia nelghpois a' az
ord not sit ND bored to death by TWO pross o,u
.,s -, either side trying to entertain yourself
with the fact that no inferior in rank IS placed
above you" , 4.
wasbineton possesses two serious obstacles 10
the overcoming of such social restrictions 'c o"e
uos IN the fact that only here is gathered 0o'
course of men who are entitled 10 the soir 3ia.'
of rank our Government recognizes. and the o'he'
fact is the noticeable influence INTRODUCED py "'e
automatic corps. 1t is to be hoped that 'ne 0"a,
of American hospitality will not De os' III '
uostion Of rank and that at least. where Amerl-
,nh,s that after ALL are fictitious when sooie'F
Iona is considered for the benefit Of sociaplity
and congeniahty
eff became suddenly impecunious sa'u sii' ="
q man of consummate savoir-vivere' i sHoui" -,
r,,r In fact it is the only thing that can thihk
of that | could do well at short notce' ""''.
myself that / could serve things WIN '
STYLE and then should always be III sue" eN00'
lent company -, ,eo;ercv Of
,ho so.caled education of a gentleman 10 com
noand immediate results in the way Oh pr''u "
ming but it is quite true that IL any oi oui &C.
osse dore' were suddenly deprived oil an ihe"''9
subsis,ence and had gain their daily hNlis VIM
out time to look about them Tor an opei ',1
o,I,, commercial value of such man OF the "o'lu
would be either as groom or indoor servant o.
Of which positions he could presuh"oS IL" q"
ought to be filled. And 1t is for TINS reaso"' t
douhtealv that so many prodigais' "he" "'S
- fr,r, ,beir short dream Of pleasure ana
and only husi,s remaining feel IKE 'he Sou''s
Hebrew spendthrft of old, unapie u "'e ~.
ashamed to beg. and that the only i"'heula'
,,ossibilitv omen 10 them is to be servant. yer
,ainlv nolaGy would be not little surprised II sne
LEV, that every now and again on her s'ah oi
domestics she is probably employing not ai'se'' w
awares but men who are her equals Il "o' nv
superiors in social position II Is yer! ui''oi''-
Portable fact but nevertheless true one 'ha' NV
-, hao, Of England are very apt TO float over 10
mic country and not few missing heirs anu los'
scions of good families have been dlscoVe'eu III
service" . ., ,bor,-
Most Of these men are too clever to give then'-
selves away" IN any manner, and II is out seipo''
that they show what they are A few moh'hs say
ing of their wages and they are In IL posi'io" -
look UP something better; ana thcy nave II" won
that their employers should find out .neii SUI
neror,tv 10 their surroundings Occasionally now
-. I, bannens that inquiries made. ana the
,rod,oais are traced anu found; but IN the ma
tori,v of cases these embarrassed gentlemen pre-
serve their ncognlto without dhhculy' anu '"''
EMPLOYERS never suspect their origin
4 fashionable tad Just now Is characler-reauins
from haudwrine and Il is really astonishing "nd'
clever hts in the way OF personal skls' an eNp'
in that Inc frequently deduces from hall a shee'
of no,e-pener covered with the wn,ins OF the yer
.on whose virtues and fnlblcs are under "iscusSioh
-hA.,cr IL &c chance or actual knowledge 1t is I'M
nossble 10 gay, for these wizards OF society h''
very loatn TO communicate their methods anu 'dAe
measure in enshrouding themselves IN mystery d.
,,.b az nosslbe recognizing the fact that to i'm
mess people with their wisdom and to keep up 'hoi
.os,,aa they must affect the occult. While the ma
ioritv Of characterreaders conhne themselves sI,"
nly 10 the salient characteristics expresse" ny III,
80 some go even further, and profess to read
,ost events by the writer's method OF conipi''''s
bic letters and words This, however is OF course
- ,,,hhlerv-but that certain amount OF one
dt.positon and character Is legiDie TO 'hoSe VIII
read between the lines seems 10 De "iihosl ~
acknowledged fact Certainly wheh one hea
60 ovnoncnt Of art give brief synopsis OF th'
si~erent distinguishing qualities that ne sees On
a,gad an a handful of notes ana letters ana one
recognizes many of the peculiarities ana quaii''e
which are mentioned 1t Is i"po''" ~
feel interested Many of the Deductions "'""'i o.
wonderfully true and, after all "ie" o'
that the written characters are direc' ei'''' 49,.
- 49, hrai,, # seems "a plausible enough theory
,h,t these o,Ieer little shapes ara coiip'"''o
that we call letters and words shouid mea" i''"''