The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25
WARRINGTON ETIQUETTE.
SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS THE PRESI-
DENTS WIFE MUST ASSUME.
She Is Exempt From Making a First
CaII-The Round of state Dinners
How Guests Are Sented-Nice 1.-the
Points of Precedence.

POINTS OF tFecthhNN'
From the Philadelphia Times.
The etiouette of Washington life in its
official diplomatic and social phases Is
truly exacang, even to those who keep 10
the head and front in the obligations OF
their own small circle. Therefore now
much more puzzlng it Of necessity must
he n one who. like Mrs. Mckinley, has
been practically transplanted from the en-
vtrorment Of invalidism to the position
ana duties that devolve upon the we OF
tho President! To her there must come
many moment of indecision, and fauX
mas committed is heralded from one END OF
The United States TO other. Therefore IL
IS wei for all American women to be toid
what would be expected of them is some
d,v they should become first ladies' OF the
land. for in this democratic country there
is chance for all Of them 20 occupy the
exalted position into which Mrs. Mckin-
ley has just stepped.
The wife Of the President is the one wo-
man in Official life exempt from making
first cali. as, during her husbands admin
istration. she is the first lady of the land
upon whom every American as well as
every foreigner OF distinction visiting
WASHINGTON must pay the mark of respect
of first call. When the wife of an eX-
President arrives in Washington she must
at once make the first call at the white
house. The Presidents wife must then
return that cal within the period OF three
DAYS. The courtesy is greater when such
call is returned next day.
When a member of royalty or person OF
n
ii is etiquette for such person TO make
first call at the white house. This cere-
monial call generally lasts about five min
utes and in the event of such caller being
a woman has to be returned by the VIE
of the President within three hours.
In official circles dinner cards designat-
ir1 the place are written with the name
of the Office of the person for whom IN
tended. as 1.-THE Vice President, The
British Ambassador" etc.
At the beginning of each season, gener-
ally in the latter part Of December, the
official list Of dinner parties to be given
at the white house is made out by one
Of the private secretaries after due con-
sultation with the President. The order
OF official entertainments at the Whlte
house is given each season as follows; Jan
I the Presidents reception from II a. m.
to 2 p. m. The first state dinner Is IN
honor OF the cabinet. The first state
evening reception is in honor of the diplo-
matte corps, from to IL o'clock The
second state dinner is In honor Of the
diplomatic corps. The second state recep>
ton is In honor of congress and the Ju-
dietary. The third state dinner is in
honor of the army, navy and marine
corps. The fourth evening reception Is in
honor Of the public.
For the public reception no cards are
issued At the state dinners invitatious
are generally sent to limited number
of the resident society of Washington or
other large cities such as may be selected
by the President or his wife for that din
ner An invitation to a state dinner is
equivalent TO a command, inasmuch as It
should be accepted, even If in SO doing
another previously accepted invitation has
TO be declined. When, on account OF i'll
ness. death in the family, or absence from
the city, it is found impossible to attend
a state dinner, the reason should be stat
ed in the reply 70 the invitation. At state
dinners the President does not make his
appearance in the east room, where the
guests are received until the exact hour
at which the dinner takes place. The
Presidents wife, on such occasions, pre-
cedes him to the east room five or ten
minutes in advance of the time set Cor
the dinner in order to greet the guests as
they arrive When the signal is given
for the company to pass down the corri-
dor to the state dining room, the President
leads with such guest of honor as mas
been selected in accordance with the red
uisite official rank necessary for the occa-
sion. The President always leads the way
at any dinner or entertainment he may
attend. The Presidents wife always
walks last at a state dinner, her partner
having been selected with the same due
regard to rank as prevailed in the selec-
ton of the Presidents dinner companion.
The Presidents place at table on the oc-
aef1 Of Of 70
on the north side Of the table The place
for his wife is directly facing him across
the board on the south side of the table.
The seats on the right and left of the
President and his wife are the especial
places of honor. 1t is etiquette for the
guests TO stand until the President ana
his wife are seated.
At a state dinner II is the duty OF the
Presidents wife to make the move to in
dicate that the dinner Is at an end. I'm
Gil such move has been made the guests
must remain seated.
The question Of official rank and prece-
dence upon occasions Of receptions, and
more especially at dinner parties, Is one
of the most perpleXing, as well as one of
the most necessary, for new corners to
Washington to master in an understand
ing manner.
At a state dinner given by the Presi-
dent to the cabinet the place of honor Is
ond to the Secretary of State.
At a dinner at which the guests include
the members Of the cabinet and the chief
Justice, the latter can, with propriety, be
seated between the Secretary of Interior
and the Secretary Of Agriculture. Gen.
orally this is not DONE but if so desired
the seating at the dinner can be thus
arranged, for the reason that the law reg
ulating the presidential succession was
passed prior TO the creation Of the office
of Secretary of Agriculture. As a conse-
quence the latter is not In the line OF
presidential succession. and at dinner
to the cabinet the chief justice is entitled
10 rank him.
The Vice President ranks with the chief
justice at dinner party, as well as upon
all other state occasions.
Should II happen that at a cabinet din
ner, at which the President, the Vice
President. and the Secretary Of State are
present, the guests include an ambassa-
dor. the foreigner Is entitled to rank the
Secretary of State.
At an unofficial dinner party at which
member of the cabinet or OF the supreme
lie.