The Portland daily press., 1897-04-23
SNESog1H!NsSzr!sEn

At state dinner it is the duty of the
Presidents wife to make the move to in
dictate that the dinner is at an end.
Until such move has been made the
guests must remain serted.
The question of official rank and pre-
cedence u2on occasions of receptions, and
more especially at dinner parties, is one
Of the. most perplexing, as we'll as one of
the most necessary. for new corners to
Washington to master in an understand
ing manner.
At state dinner given by the Presi-
dent to the Cabinet the place Of honor is
given to. the Vice President and the Sec
ond to the Secretary Of State.
At dinner at which the guests in
clude the members of the Cabinet and
the Chief Justice, the latter can, with
propriety, be seated between the Score
tRry of Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture. Generally this is not done,
but if so desired the seating at the din.
ner can be thus arranged, for the reason
that the law regulating the Presidential
succession was passed prior to the crea-
y .
ton of the office of secretary of agrioul-
turer AS consequence the latter is mt
in the line of presidential succession
net the Chief Justice is entitled to rank
him.
& The Vice President ranks the Chief
Justice at a dinner party, as well as upon
all other state occasions.
Should it happen that at a Cabinet
dinner, 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
a member of the Cabinet or OF the SUI
preme Court is present, the place of honor
must be given the official as mark of
proper respect for the office represented.
Too much care cannot be exercised in
this respect.
In the event Of a host or hostess being
perplexed on this subject, plan Of the
table should be drawn, land, together
with list of the guests. submitted to
one of the officials Of the State Depart
ment or to one Of the private secretaries
at the White House.
The President of the United States
when entering carriage, irrespective of
who may be his companion. must always
enter the carriage first and occupy the
sent at the right hand. This etiquette
is exactly the reverse OF that for any
other official of the Unitedlstates. 4
Should the President be accompanied
by his wife and third person, the wife
must occupy the seat beside the presi-
dent and thesthird person ride upon the
opposite seat.
The Presidents wife, in driving with
a friend, irrespective of the official or
social standing of that friend, must al
ways follow the rule for the President in
entering the carriage first and of occupy
ing the seat of honor on the rig hit.
1t is etiquette to remain standing in
the presence of the President or the mis-
tress of the White House as long as either
of them stands.
When, however, the mistress Ut the
White House invites guest to sit or to
remain after reception and take part
in any informal entertainment THAT NAV
follow, such invitation is in the nature
of command.
In addition to the state receptions, it is
customary for the wife of the President
to designate certain Saturday Eafternoons
duringsthe season upon which, from to
o'clock, the general public is received.
These receptions are not obligatory Eupon
the wife of the president, sand can, in
her discretion. be altogether omitted
from the seasons programme.