Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-01-15
society iEa SashiNgion.

A correspondent Of the North An
erIesn writes of Washington D. G.,
society as follows, under date of Jan
uary 7.-Oa the lSt of January the
busy social season at Washington BE-
gins, and social observance is more a
business at the National Capital than
IN any ether Anerican city. 1t Is in
fact, more a business than q pleasure.
and few people who are familiar aith
the details Of socisl life at Washisg-
tOH know what a stupendous task q
woman undertakes when she joins the
flsaionabl2 set. This season the SO
ciety woman must crowd the fulfilsont
Of all her social dutles-of entertaining
and being eRtertained-into less than
TWO months. Ii she did not make c
business of it, she would never fulfil
her chosen mission. In the session
which Is about to open, every hour
Which the society woman can spare
from sleep will be nesded for social
duties, aod she will be fortunate if she
does not owe nature big debt when
Lent comes. As for being Il mother to
any one, that is something for which
she will have no time, aud If sse is G
true representative of her type no ir-
clination.
There are few buster woman in the
social ranks thaa the wives of the
United States Senators. Ihsy are
not necessarily leaders because of their
husbands high official position On
the contrary, they occupy middle
ground socially, even under the most
favorable conditions. 10 fact, unless
they come to Washington with other
claims to social prominence their hu.-
bandI official position counts for very
little. The wife of the Senator from a
large eastern oity, who has the advan
tages OF good birth, culture and wealth
has little difficulty in becoming not
only prominent, but leader in society.
while her sister from the interior, who
has led quiet, domestic life at home,
and Peahaps BY her struggles and
economies in early life bas helped L,r
husband to bis high position, is seldom
heard of or seen outside a small official
circle. The fact that tie Ssuater's
wife occupies this middle ground makes
her, il sha has social aspirations. all
the keener to secure her place, and to
DO this she must follow TO a most absurd
exuenc the unwritten law of Wash
iDgtOn. No feature OF that law is
moro impressive than that whish regu-
lates precedence in calling. The SEN
ator's vile must call on the PresideEt'.
wife and the families Of the Cabinet
otfeers The latter calls muat be made
on Cabinet day, which has always been
ON Wednesday. She must call at the
homes of the Justices of the Supreme
Court, On the wives of all the more re-
gently elected Ssnators whom she 10
prom to patronizs), and she must leave
carda on those members Of the corps
diplomstique who are married-or rep
resent themselves to be. She then draws
the loug satisfied sigh of the good and
faithful servant, and having given Of
her time and strength and of her gra-
cio1snsss she fKs, her day and pre-
pa. fer the lsss blessed mission of
receiving.
In thi. sba must yield her own pre-
ference to the comfort sui convenience
of that tyraDt, society.
To maks her receptions popular and
we'll attended she regulates her "day"
according to the reighboorhood in
which she lives. Thursday has always
been given up to the Senator's wives,
but should che live on Capitol Hill she
is expected to receive on Monday as
every body who is any body-on Capitol Il