New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-31
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON.
LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IF FROM THAT OF
EUROPEAN CAPITALS.

TIE IMPORTANCE OF DlNNER'lN iN' SiNiH
DINNERS At THE WHITE HOUSE AND AT
wINDsOR-IAPANEsE POWER OF AS
sIMIIATloN-1HE PROGRAMME
FOR NEw-yEARs.
Washington. Dec. 30 (SpeciaD.-Society at the Cap
iial is neither unique original. Il was doubt
less both al the beginning Of the century, ana me
Efforts Of the poor young Republic To maintain the
court ceremonials OF the old World At the
same time pathetic and amusing. To-day its social
lie is like that Of any OF the great capitals Win
strong English flavor. II has s fox hunts It's
pink balls. its breakfasts at the country ciups' ana
the ; O'Clock tea-table. which struggled so many
years for existence Is a, last an established fact
FOREIGNERS complain that ii has not enough local
coorng to make it interesting. But this Is true
10 the superficial observer only. There are sun
many primitive and Characteristic things wnich 90
not appear the surface. Society Is no o"se'
sad as some foreigner said Of il years ago On the
contrary il is merry and gay enough. with
natural merriment and gayeiy.
From the beginning when giving dinner was
tremendous undertaking and meant ac'u'i har'
work for the mistress dinners have occupied as
tnciive and unlisputed place in the political rs
well as the social history Of Washington. They
nave been the favor.te social functions Win me"
since before Cleopatra toasted Antony. Inc "e-
tails Of treaties have been arranged. oihciaF APP
in,rlgues have developed under the seductive infu
o-ce OF pate and champagne. and mea become
brothers over canvas-backs and burgundy. Amh-
tous women have gained coveted social prestige
by the excellence OF their menus. and. from 'fh'
irnmcmoriaI dinners have been more telling welp-
ons in political and social warfare thih s''e' anu
cannon
Dinncr-gving has become fine art IN "aSh'"b-
ton. Ilusirlous statesmen and distinguished won'"
have interested themselves in H. Every other per
son is an epicure. cooking Is a frequent topic vi
conversation. and there are no baFhe'''' ''"S'T
The menu dinner here Is II question % 'ih""
u,forilncc beside that II precedence. about when
there Is rs much pickering and Jealousy a. a. "'E
court in Europe. II * u very delicate matter mo
Senate ana Supreme Court were always at S"oris
points until the Law fixing the PRESIDENTIAL success
sion put an crl these pcasa@:rcS ana setr'n me
matter beyond further appeal There i no one J"
Wasnncion thoroughly verse In Official etiquette
or more properly speaking. our oiicai e''l''''' -
50 elastic that it is frequently stretched to suit the
wans Of those having the matter in chdrg" me
Diolom,tic C,rus therefore. accustomed 20 the
firmly established rules which obtain Al European
Courts and insstent on their own nghiN anu P''F
logns have had many differences 81 oplh"n VIII
the master OF ceremonies. Tee promotion "' on
agents 10 the great Powcrs from Ministers 10 N"'-
h.ss,,lors and the consequent elevation OF ina rep
rcscn;aiives " those Powers In the United state
crc,tel grca, STIR AZ the time ircy were made me
rev. order WAS denounced by some as undemorr"u''
and the imaginai.ons OF many good people e'''u-
lishcl a court IN republican midst Win "'''''''
in crrnine and purple and laokeys IN Eo'd i''''
There Is a constant tendency among certain o'"S''H
:, wave the flag ami make the eagle seteAm ID
truly Chalyinlstic manner. Rui the excitement '''
long since subsilol ami the change has ''mpi'''
matters i'm dealing with the Diplomatic corps f''-
,oerlv precedence determined oy Length "i f,r
vice. an } There were continual questions HtlSi'N "'
crl 20 dispose r. SOW re Ambassador AK nee n
INK o. tn..i creation. AMI there j. ID '''''"" ~
dispute about precedence.
.rn, c,,s,o,ns Governing dinners have changed
sorevbat during the last ten y'1ra. i Is 10
LONGER considered complimentary 10 'h' ""'fF ~
eli Tor hours al table. and the intricate r''"'"
dishce with impossible names have gwen I'''' ~
...,,.... o-.r The caterer. Win hls hii'"'' '"'-
...il.us and professional AIR. is 10 LONGER '"'''
cred good form. Exquisite service '''
menus IN" fuir ,
At the White House there are generally '"'i "'.'
cai dinners given each year an numb. 81
official orcs. which are ~ hrif1' ava ''J'. "'''
th. official one. aye somnre ana 'rl'""S VIC
,,o,,,l harIlv choose 20 attend official dinner
e, tho .,v.,v OF IT, Arranged gs ~ is ~ necessary
gft.r 4 certain form the result from S'''"' '''''
OF view cannot always b" satisfactory
,,,ft, calls 10 tho lot - American. VINO SPEAKS
III, language hut his oNi. 10 Dc placed '''"''" ~
foreign women. who understand not " ""'' ="
ENGLISH and ar general conversation is iinp"'''''"
a.. mus, make 70 solitary meal win 4" 'h''""
,a,fotnl;nlc Efforts to entertain hif h'%h'''@. w
dr.arv az our official dinners are. u'y cannon
,,,,.. -. t,carlness % tho stat" dinners At when
or.cu Victoria prcsidcs These. sald l"' "''
preventative u the Court o: 81 James ar" '''
.., u,gt,brous occasions w Our diplomatic
,,,,.s The royal lcrsonag"s are IN "Nil'h'" d"
one end OF the Table. and chat among h''hS''''s'
but rarely engage the guests IN CONVEX" 'loh anu
gag ones ncishbors are rarely known TO h'h' '''
fi. -
result is no, a merry one. Here. Al le'T, me ''''
ii.,, and his wife are frankly cordial as pos
.,i and nIngle with their guests both b"i'i"
and after dinner The official dinners Al inc "hI''
House take place IN the state dining room ''a"'
old place made gay on there occasions ~ "''"'
decorations which come from the c"hr'''''"''''
attached To the house. and are beautiful ara
annie Thirty-six the usual number at the t"Dl'
.hth ie .s,ociallv arranged for these dinners Tx"
.I~' ~ either end. The steward. who Is pa1 ny
the Gov crnmcnt has these official hHhfH III ''''@''
but the expense Of them ana All s'"''"' c>''"'
are met by the President win" ~ h''"''"'S
scrvcd and always has been. except duf'"s '"'
U,vcs Administration when Mrs. Haycss "ouiSr
a. the mntter created much comment i'oih MrS'
Garfield and MIS- Cleveland share Mrs haye' =
r,eiudiccs but they have not felt II risht 10 80
,loit their private views In m" matter Inc de'o'n
lions are usually very handsome ana so''e'"''
National In character The shield the >'''o""'
..,lo The Maynower under full sail. are faNorho
ou,iocts for the florist who superintends these
decorotlons The dinncr-cards are engraved win
49, ,tn.riran coat of arms, ana IN" bouquets az
he uIaccs OF the women are often tied WIN me
The dinners given 10y the Cabinet officers TO the
prrsid.nt are private. rather man oiri'I anu "ir
rrnnch les stln and formal than the stat" dinners
80 the white House. The rules OF precedence are.
,',.r strictlv observed. II Has remarked ny ~
,sr,.,n,r as consistent and fitting that az me
,i,ner The Secretary OF state recently gay" ." VT
ayard our Ambassador TO Englnnd IN" p'ccr de
n,ssis,ancc uas a turkey. stuffed win oysters "h'h
,e can certainly claim as "A National dish
nh" most magnificent and snmptuous dinners
,.hirb have been given In washington are those
", "a hich visiting Embassies have been the hosts
a,t,n Governments recognize the potency OF am
nrrs In diplomatic negotiations. ana MAKE large
.un,.anccs for this purpose. The Japinese I'm
tlio ,,hich visited Washington In 1871 10 mako
,roaiios with us and the European Powers stayed
for SIX nlolllIH' a,|,,., ., , cOp neorIc which