Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28

cial or otherwise. is the promotion OF good
will and fellowship. In ordinary NE age
and talent are given precedence. In OIL
cial etiquette a mans official position gives
him a rank which places him temporarily
ahead of others. His wife shares in this
precedence over the wives OF other men
whose position is lower in official import
anCe. These exalted positions are or the
peoples own making. Certain Difference is
due to each, and to extend such courtesy Is
what makes official etiquette. There are
accepted rules as will be- indicated, but
the trouble with their complete application
lies in the fact that there is but one
public official whose pre-eminence IS strlctly
defined.
After the President.
The President. as the head of the nation,
is entitled to first place whenever he mingles
in social life Whether the second place be-
longs to the Vice President or to the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court has not been
defined any better than whether the Speaker
of the House is entitled to precedence over
members Of the cabinet. In the popular
mind the second place is accorded to the
Vice President by virtue of his right or sue
cesson to the first place in the gift OF the
people, by the death, resignation or dis
ability of the President.
Since the passage of the presidential sue
cession bill January ~, 1850, by the same
process of reasoning. members of the cabi-
net take precedence over the Speaker of the
House of Representatives:
. The program of the New Year reception at
the White House would seem to establish
line of precedence inasmuch as no changes
have been made in it since its first arrange
ment. The President first receives the Vice
President, followed by the cabinet and the
diplomatic corps. After them are received
Senators and members of Congress, officers
of the army and navy, etc.
State Functions.
The official social season extends from
New Year day until Shrove Tuesday, the
day preceding Lent All the formal hospi-
talities at the Executive Mansion occur
within this period. On New Year day the
President holds reception, beginning at II
clock and terminating at pm, the last
hour of which is given to the public.
During the season three card receptions
are given the first in honor of the diplo-
matte corps, the second in honor of the jul
dietary and the Congress, and the third in
honor of the officers of the army, navy and
marine corps. A fourth reception is for the
public. The President is assisted by his
wife, the wife of the Vice President and the
cabinet ladies. The hours are 9 to IL, and
the reception is held in the blue room.
Advance notice is given in the daily papers
of each reception. Invitations for the whole
series are sent out about the 1st of January
to the diplomatic corps, all high officials in
the executive and legislative branches of
the public service and officers of the army
navy and Marine corps. The latter, as well
as the diplomats, wear their uniforms All
other guests come in full dress. The dates
for these receptions in the coming season
will be Thursdays, January 8 and q. and
February u and b. The last Is for the pub
lie.
The state dir ners alternate with these
receptions. The first Is in honor of the cab
met, the second the diplomatic CORPS and.
the third the judiciary. Upon these occa-
sions the President and wife receive their
guests in the east room. When the butler
announces dinner the President giving his
arm to the lady whose husband has the high
est official position among the guests of hon
or, leads the way to the state dining room
II diner Of more than forty covers is
given. the table Is laid in the corridor An
invitation to dinner at the Presidents table
is construed as summons. Prior engage
ments give way to it. If regret must be
sent, the serious reasons which forced it
personal illness or illness or death in ones
family-should be stated.
The Presidents Wife.
The wife Of the President receives first
calls from all and returns no visits She in
Inmates the hour at which she will receive
visitors. Mrs. Cleveland, in addition to the
public reception ordained by long custom,
has also given an afternoon card reception
to ladies each winter Persons desiring an
interview with her at other times express
the wish by letter. In return thew receive
an engraved form with the date and hour
indicated. These rece ptionS are held in the
red paror from II to l o'clock two DAYS
each week. are entirely informal and are liza
bic to change. Guests are introduced by
the usher and remain but short while.
At suitable seasons Mrs. Cleveland is also
in the custom of receiving her personal
friends after o'clock one afternoon each
week.
1t is entirely at the option of the President
and wife whether they accept invitations.
For the last ten years the cabinet circle has
been the limit and dinners the occasions but
previous to that the Presidents and their
wives accepted Inequalities generally I'm
der no circumstances. however, will either
a President or his wife cross the thresh-
cid of any foreign embassy or legation but
members of their families are privileged to
do
The Vice President and wife make only
first calls on the President and wife nor
are they expected to return calls The
same courtesy which forms of the cabinet
the official family of the President includes
the senatorial circle in the official family
of the Vice President. The Vice President
and wife, therefore, return all senatorial
calls. They receive on New Year day at
their own residence official callers and then
the public. Throughout the season, the
wife of the Vice President receives callers
On Wednesday afternoons, from to 5.
At the Cabinet Houses.
The cabinet ladies receive the public on
Wednesday afternoons during the season
from to 5. They are usually assisted in
these formal Inequalities by a number Of
ladies-young girls predominating-who are
expected to address visitors and to en-
deavor to make their stay pleasant. AS
these receptions are frequently attended by
from 400 to 800 people, who for the most
part are strangers the reason for not ex-
changing good-byes with the hostess Is OBJ
v.ous. Visitors leave cards with their ad-
dresses If they expect further recognition of
their call. Persons in the city temporari-
ly should indicate that fact on their cards.
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