The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-21
A SMALL BIT OF PAPER.
Yet There Is Much Begging, Bluff
flng and Hard Struggling
10 Get Il
Il Conveys an Invitation to q
Reception at the White
House.
The "Pusher" In Washington society -
How lie Succeeds by the Aid Of
Great cheek.



WASHINGTON. Jan. IS. The White House
h NOW the center Of attraction in the social
world. IL Is the sun Of the social system Of
the capital. All eyes are turned toward
the executive mansion, and unhappy the
persons Of social prctensions who have no
invitations 10 the presidents receptions. IL
4 at these receptions that one meets every
body worth meeting. IL r. In the east
room and the corridor OF the old house that
one may touch elbows with the hundreds Of
men of fame and women 81 distinction who
compose the official circle Of the American
capital As may be easily supposed, there
Is great anxiety 10 secure these invitations.
One Of the most difficult tasks which the
presidents grand chamberlain has 70 per
form is the making out Of this list Of guests
at the annual receptions.
! suppose you knew the president had n
grand chambeJlaini At any rate that is
the most important part Of his official du-
ties. In any country but this he would be
called a Chamberlain. zoo. hut in our sim
pie republic, whers Nt i..Ist make pre-
tense Of simplicity and avoidance Of ali ap-
pearance Of imitation Of foreign customs,
we call him a commissioner Of public build
ings and grounds Nominally he has charge
Of the big structures in which Uncle sam
houses his great executive machine at the
capitol, the grounds round about them and
the Washington monument These things
take little OF his time. IL Is as functionary
in chief TO the president Of the United
States that he finds his most exacting and
important employment.
The willy Pusher.
The present grand chamberlain Is Colo
mel Wilson Of the army. lie knows his
business. Washington society is nn open
book to him. He is familiar with every
face of Importance, masculine or feminine.
lie knows the "pushers" as well as any
man in town, and by long experience has
learned how 20 deal with them gently, but
effectually. The "pusher," you should
know, is distinctively "A Washington insti-
tuition. IL is a term conveniently used for
designation Of the man or woman-gener
ally "a woman-who has no official or other
claim to social recognition and yet insist.
upon getting IL. He or she is "A person who
deliberately and persistently pushes" III
where Desire leads, but Right does not oper
the door
The 'pusher" has an easy time Of il al
the pablic receptions given by the ladies o.
the cabinet and the wives Of senators. Their
the "pushern needs no card of invitation
and may walk in with head high and par
take of the best that is offered. BY a LITTLE
manipulation Of diplomatic sort he or sh'
If did not desire to avoid ungallantry
would drop the che" altogether-may ever
have the pleasure OF seeing his or her mann
In the newspapers in the list Of guests.
Where the Most Fun Lies.
The wife Of the chief of a division, or Of I
mere clerk, or of a tradesman, for that mat
ter, finds the afternoons Of the cabine
and social circles easy to conquer. But thl
card receptions at the White House are no
10 speedily mastered. There is "a way o
doing IL which has been employed, but IL 4
not a satisfactory method. II is more O
less hazardous and likely 20 lead TO annoy
ance. This is by going without an invita-
tion. OF course IL is not necessary to show
cards Of invitation at the White Hous
door. A rule requiring an exhibition o
tickets, just like a theater, would be aw
fully awful bad form. And yet there hav
at various times been serious discussions a
10 the advisablity of adopting such a rule
At every card reception in the execuuv
mansion there are hundreds of people VIII
come without cards They simply walk II
at the front door and make themselves a
home. They do not know many peopl
there. but this makes little difference
Without acquaintance they can have al
most as good time as withit. After all, tn
most fun at a White House reception con
sists Of watching the diplomats in thei
uniforms and court outfits, Of having nea
views of great men and women, Of close in
-pection of the gowns and persons OF distin