Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

YSSNNtvtSAS A President OF the
E3(SSskNf United States does
.L.IFENNtSS not eat in the house
800 HV of a foreign minister;
but the departure re-
Gently made by Uncle Sam in raising the
rank Of his ENJOYS abroad has radically
altered the situation OF affairs in this re-
gard. 1t is a serious question whether the
chief executive of this nation could refuse
such courtesy without placing himself in
the attitude Of deliberately insulting the
power concerned. For an ambassador. when
he represents a monarchy, is regarded as
an incarnation Of the sovereign, and must
be treated in all respects as il he were a
king. Sir Julian Pauncefote, for example
has right to consider himself the equal Of
Mr.. Cleveland. and any disregard Of his per-
sonal dignity by the latter would be an in
suit to royal majesty.
Mr.. Gresham made first call upon each
Of the new ambassadors That was a novel
departure Ministers from abroad have al
ways first called upon the Secretary of
State hitherto, because that is the rule in
all countries. But an ambassador is a bird
Of a feather very different from a minister.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, like any Of the three
other ambassadors at Washington, has q
right to consult officially with the President
In person, while no minister plenipotentiary
could safely venture to talk with Mr.. Cleve-
land on matters international. Similarly,
Mr.. Bayard may appeal direct to Queen
Victoria, representing the sovereignty OF
100000 people. His predecessor. Minister
Phelps, could do no such thing, being
merely accredited as an agent Of the gov
eminent Of the United States.
Mr.. Bayard has far greater RESPONSE
= - 49,
tanned by a minister from this country to
Great Britain. He commits the United
States by his acts, whereas his predecessors
have merely acted as Intermediates. The
same remarks apply equally to our other
ambassadors abroad. 1t will thus be seen
what a very important new departure this
government has made in the diplomatic
line. Save in the already mentioned partic-
ular Of visits, however. no change in diplo-
matte etiquette at Washington has thus far
been made; no foreign ambassador has in
vited the President to dinner. or demanded
an opportunity for Official conference with
him. Yet there is no telling what trouble
might not be stirred up at any time over
these trifing questions
The Question OF Precedence.
The diplomatic dinners at the White House
have made trouble on more than one occa-
sion. A familiar instance was that OF the
British Minister Merry. who made a great
row because some other lady was taken In
to the table by Thomas Jefferson before
Mrs. Merry. During the Garfield admins
tration Mrs Blaine actually left the Prest-
dents board in anger because she had not
the place to which she considered herself
entitled. The plan adopted of making the
order of precedence among diplomats de-
pend simply on length OF service here is an
admirable solution OF the problem on the
whole.
But Mr.. Cleveland is too phiegmatic to
bother about such matters. The diplomats
V Winter. This their date falls on Janu.
airy Is at pm. About fifteen minutes
before that hour they will begin to arrive
Will viii be shown upstairs to the second floor.
where a man in evening dress will direct
the gentlemen to the library and the ladies
to one Of the bed rooms, in order that they
may remove their wraps. &c. AS on any
similar festive occasion anywhere they will
presently go down to the parlor-that is
to say, the east room. where they will
| times too large for general CONVERSE
.tion. so that It will be rather a relief
steward, opens the door and bows. catch
| ing the Presidents eye.
Mr.. Cleveland. offering his right arm to
with her to the dining room. Sir Julian will
follow with Mrs Cleveland. and the other
guests in proper order by couples. On en-
tering the BANQUET hall the President will
pause at his seat in the middle of the side
| of the long table and will remain standing
| until his wife has passed around the fes-
tive board to the seat opposite him. BY
that time the remaining gentlemen and
| ladies' will have found their wav to their
respective places. and Mrs. Cleveland's sit
| ting down will he the signal FOR every one
else to DO likewise. No mistakes as to the
| ARRANGEMENT of the people can we'll occur.
ImDosstble to Make nm Error.
On the center table in the library, before
going down to dinner. each Of the gentle
men will have found a small envelope ad-
dressed to himself-unsealed-with the
American eagle in gold stamped on the
nap. Within 1t he has discovered a card
with beveied and gilt edges. bearing the
name of the lady whom he is to take in to
dinner The name is written across the
middle Of diagram Of the table, with the
seats numbered. that Of Mr.. Cleveland
being marked '"The President" Two num-
bers are struck out with pen. indicating
ner for the evening are to occupy. The en-
trance to the room Is also shown on the
plan.
Thus, It is hardly possible for a diplomat
| escort: the seats which he and she are to
occupy are marked. and at each Of their
places at table is a big card bearing the
All this business IL carefully managed be-
forehand by a gentleman Of long expe-
rience at the White House, who employs
an ingenious dummy table Of pasteboard
| for arranging dummy guests in dummy
seats. In this way he puts together the
+, future BANQUET as II II were to be enjoyed
by paper dolls. the latter being shufYfed
about until each one has his or her proper
| chair. With the aid Of the dummy the
| cards are made out.
| For some years past the italian minister
Baron Fava, has been dean. because he
was the eldest minister in length OF service
| at Washington. but ambassadors take rank
above ministers.and so Sir Julian has taken
his place Of precedence. NJ. Patenotre, the
| French minister. desired the honor greatly,
and there was an Interesting race between
him and Sir Julian as to which should gain
1t. But the Englishman was able to present
| the papers making him an ambassador at
| the Department Of State one day earlier
| than NJ. Patenotre, and so won. This sys-
| tenn Of precedence by seniority works fun
nily sometimes. Not long ago the Mica
raguan minister here was high on the list,
but political troubles at home caused him
to resign. Being reappointed. he was Obliged
to start again at the tail end Of the diplo-
matte roster.
The cabinet dinner at the White House
IL announced for January 4. At that re-
past Gen Gresham will sit at Mrs Cieve-
lands right and his wife will be placed al
i the Presidents right hand. Then Follow In
| the order ofprecedence established Secretary
Carlisle, Secretary Lamont Attorney Gen.
| eral Olney, Postmaster General Bissell
Secretary Herbert Secretary Hoke Smith
and Secretary Morton. This is the order