The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
A LETTER FROM WASHINGTON


terested In social and other matters at
the Capital OF the Nation choose this
as my theme for q brief communities
ton. Women particularly will be in
terested in the varied and somewhat
peculiarly distinctive features OF social
life In Washington. In one respect q
novel difference from society usege
elsewhere perplexes and embarasses
the new conner into official life, for the
ladies' of members of congress, have
their rounds Of daily duties, which are
quite as exacting and oftentimes as
wearisome as those Of the sterner sex
who congregate in that vast windmill,
known os congress, and located under
the dome Of the capitol.
OFFICIAL ETIQUETTE.
When strangers visit or locate in other
cities, they expect the residents of the
places to make advances In cultivating
their acquaintance. In official life here.
this custom Is exactly reversed. An in
stance IL given Of q representatives.
wife accustomed to social leadership at
home, who spent several weeks In neg
lected seclusion at her hotel. until at
last learning the custom Of new mem
bers' families taking the initiative and
making first calls, she began to un-
derstand why she had no attention.
The new members wife coming here
q total stranger, and being obliged to
confront large receiving parties, In
crowded drawing rooms. must undergo
an initiation far from agreeable or in
viting, and a sensitive woman would
rather face cannon's mouth, than the
critical eyes Of so many of her own sex.
Washington IL largely an official city,
and the regular weekly receptions by
official families are open to the general
public, and are made attractive by num-
bers Of young lady assistants. by re-
freshments, and music They are at
tended by hundreds In q single after
noon, etiquette requiring that each Of
these calls be returned presumably at
least once during the season, which ne
cessitates much clerical labor In re-
cording the names and addresses of WIS.,
itors, dates Of their calls, and time re-
turned. After the first call is paid,
subsequent visits are optional. New
comers must commence at the top, and
visit everyone in official society, the
family Of the older members and sena-
tors must call on those ranking them In
term Of service and dignity Of their
office. OF course the presidents wife,
Mrs. Cleveland. being the first lady Of
the land, and o most delightful and
Cgracious hostess. must have the first
call.
MRS. cLEvELAND's RECEPTIONS.
She receives" every Monday after
noon after i've o'clock, and holds other
public receptions during the season.
Next comes the vice presidents wife,
Mrs. Adlai u. Stevenson and her two
charming young lady daughters Then
the lovely wife and daughter Of Speak
er Thomas B. Reed-both families hold
ing their eceptions on Wednesday as do
all the members Of the cabinet Then
comes the senator's wives, whose days
are Thursdays.
OFFICIAL PRNcHDENCH
1t has long been subject Of contro-
versy whether the cabinet ladies
should call on the senators wives first,
or vice versa, 1t has recently been de-
cided in favor Of the senator's wives,
they being here six years while the term
of office of the cabinet 10 only four
years, or during the presidential term.
1t Is told Of Mrs Lamont, who is the
wife Of the secretary of war. that she
called on one Of the senator's wives this
winter. who has been here for a num-
ber of years, and was accosted in this
fashion by the hostess: "Are you one
of the new members wives making her
duty calls?" "Oh, no. I am Mrs. La
mont" she replied. WELL" said the
other. had you done your duty years
ago, and called upon me. I should have
known who you were" Comment Is
unnecessary The representatives.
wives receive on Tuesday, and the
heads Of the various bureaus, and de-
partments bring UP the rear Of the list.
-
SOCIAL CUSTOMS AT THE LEGA-
TlONS.
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~, .h..~sai,,os tho,, 49, S,eearsnt DO Ss
~ 49, $1,000 Saao+;nn. $500 80 49,,
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