The Washington times., 1895-02-17

son, and the feeling is one that does not d.
minish as the weeks go by. At the present
time it has voiced itself in the most unmistaka-
bic manner, which is the more unlocked for.
as there are some curious inner complica-
tions in the matter The fact is that society
the exclusive set of upper tendon. has arisen
in its wrath not so much against the Cabinet
women as against certain members of its own
body elect.
Ever since the Cabinet receptions were be-
gun early in January, the various hostesses
have been in the habit OF asking number of
the resident society women to assist them in
receiving the callers. This has been all very
well in its way, and would have worked to
perfection had it not been that in many nota-
bic cases the selection of assistants has not
been OF the happiest. Those asked to assist
at the reception have responded TO woman,
and donning some very fetching gowns have
gone and thus far done honor to their host
esses.
There, however, the majority OF the society
assistants have evidently considered that their
duty and obligations have ceased. The fact
that as acting assistants in the receiving parry
! at official houses entailed upon them any
| courtesy toward those making the round of
calls does not seem to have entered into their
! thoughts.
The plan OF operations has been for these
same elect to gather themselves together IN
! the receptioD-rooms and converse together,
| totally ignoring The fact that the hostess,
utterly unaware OF the rudeness to which her
callers were to be subjected was passing
them over into the hands OF the social PhilIs-
| lines as rapidly as they entered and went
through the form of a presentation TO her.
! Either this. or the callers have been made
aware that they were being made the subject
| of al lll-bred examination by the receiving
party until. stared out Of coGntenance and
routed by the fire of none too silent criticism
| from the social lights of the receiving party,
| they have left the reception in wrath and dis
| gust.
The reason given for this remarkable rude
ness TO the hostesses-for it is nothing short
! of an insult to a hostess 10 treat with rudeness
| or contumely any caller under her roofs
that society does not know those who have
| made the rounds Of calls, or, having a pass
ing acquaintance with many OF them. does
| not care TO allow that slight acquaintance to be
presumed upon by any familiarity at the Cab
| met receptions With this kind of feeling such
members of society should have sent polite
regret to the invitation of the hostess and re-
| mained away from the receptions that were
Instituted and have always been kept up. not
| for society," but for the purpose of allowing
such OF the public as desire that privilege OF
| entering the Cabinet houses and greeting the
hostesses once week during the winter sea-
son. Whether this is sensible practice, or
one which should be discontinued, is quite
| another matter.
Even at a private house it does not behoove
the receiving party to offer any Incivility to
callers or to discriminate between indiyidu-
ais. That is a matter for the hostess, and for
her alone. to manage. When one of the re-
ceiving party is rude to caller. she Is then
and there rude TO the her hostess and further
more proclaims herself ignorant of the funda-
mental laws OF good breeding. BY such ac-
ton she deliberately places herself below the
social plane of the humblest caller. In an
official household il is especially necessary
that the receiving party should conduct itself
with civiity toward all callers alike.
Inyidious distinctions will never be made
by the really elegant woman of the world.
Because a caller at the Cabinet houses does
not come armed with armorial bearings and
escutcheons to present herself to hostess and
receiving party with formal Introduction
from some mutual friend of standing, does
rot by any means place her in a position In
which rudeness is to be offered her.
In many instances the receiving party have
hudded themselves together In one room,
whore the eye OF the hostess has not had
time or opportunity to penetrate, and, gather
ing about them such members of their es-
pecial set as wandered in from time to time,
have held little receptions OF their own en-
tirely apart from those for whom the recep-
tions are really intended-the public.
OF course, there have been exceptions to
this rule, but for the most part there is good
ground for the general feeling of indignation
and dissatisfaction on the subject.
The singular part of the proceedings is
that the openly expressed dissatisfaction has
come not from the public, who seem to have
quietly accepted the fact that the selection OF
receiving parties has for the most part fallen
upon worthy shoulders. but is the common
talk IN the great body of society itself. The
well-bred members are the only ones who
have expressed their indignation in no meas
ured terms.
Those who have been making the rounds oil
Cabinet calls this season have been for the
most part well dressed, well hammered per-
SONS, evidently in the majority of cases
wealthy strangers in the city, from the leading
hotels.
The blizzard week since brought in its
train some most trying social experiences
that have not yet faded from the minds of en-.
tertainers. One OF these who gave a dinner
on the eventful Thursday evening, on which
the blizzard set in, has cause to remember the
occasion, as have also those delinquent guest!
who neither put in their appearance nor sent
their regrets. Invitations for the dinner were
sent to ten persons, but owing to the severit,
of the storm on the night in question only five
of the expected guests sat down to enjoy the
good things provided. The other five never
arrived, neither did their regrets, although
the host and hostess waited some time fo
them until there was serious danger of tht
entire menu being spoiled by any further de
lay. Those who attended the dinner wer,
feasted royalty and felt repaid for bravini
such storm.
Another hostess was reused on Sunda,
morning by the announcement that the pipe:
in the kitchen had frozen, that the fire wa
blazing away in the range, that the kitcher
was filed with steam, that the boiler wa
mighty with buildings and seethings thai
port ended dire and Immediate disaster ent
that the cook having gone on a high-priced
strike was preparing to vacate the domain oi
her culinary triupphs without further eere
mony. This announcement was one caIucu
lated to strike terror to the breast o
the average housekeeper, even ire
spective of the fact that dozen guests hae
been asked and had accepted invitations fo
dinner that evening. Her dressing that morn
ing was not the dilatory, luxurious matter o
ordinary occasions. 1t was decidedly on thu
hit and miss pattern with haste as the watcl
word
When she finally descended to the kitchen
she found, only too truly. that matters were a
reported. Plumbers were not to be had, a
the entire force of the District were either al
ready busilY engaged upon similar jobs o