The Portland daily press., 1897-04-23
WASHINGTON ETIQUETTE.
Exacting Obseryances of Official Life at
the Capitol. q

|
the Capitol.
(From the Philadelphia Times.)
| The etiquette Of Washington life in it's
fetal, diplomatic, and social phases is
truly exacting, even to those who keep to
the head and front in the obligati ons OF
their own small circle. Therefore how
much more puzzling it of necessity must
be to one who like Mrs. Mckinley, has
been practically transplanted from the
environment of invalidism to the position
and duties that devolve upon the wife
of the PRESIDENT To her there must
come manyImoments of indecision, and
faux pas committed is heraldad from
oneTend of the United States to the other.
Therefore it lis we'll for all American
women to beltold what would be expected
of them if some day they should become
first ladies of the land, for In this demo-
cratic country there is chance for all of
them to occupy the exalted position Into
which Mrs. Mckinley has just stepped.
| The wife Of the President ia the one
|
ing a frat call, as, during her hus band's
Administration, she is the first lady of
the land, upon whom every American as
we'll 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
shesmust at once make. the first call at
the White House. The Presidents wife
must then return that call within the
period of three days. The courtesy is
greater when such call Ia returned next
day,
When member of royalty or person of
any exalted rank arrives in Washington it
is etiquette for such person to make a
first call at the White House. This cere-
monial call generally lasts about five
minutes, and in the event of such Ecaller
being woman hns to besreturned by. the
wife of the President within threeIhours.
In official circles.dinner cards designa-
ing the place are written with the name
of the office of the person for whom in
tended, as "The Vice President, ""The
British Am hassador, etc.
| AT the beginning of each season, gem
orally in the latter part of December, the
official list of dinner parties to be given
at the Whits House is made out by one
of the private secretaries after due con-
sultation with the President. the order
of official entertainments at the White
House is given each seaso n as follows:
Jan. 1, the.President's reception, from II
a. m. to p. m. The first state dinner is
in honor of the Cabinet. The first state
evening reception Is in honor of the
Diplomatic Corps, fromS9 to II O'Clock
The second state dinner is in honor OF the
Diplomatic Corps. The second state re-
ception is in honor of Congress and the
Judiciary. The third state dinner Is in
state reception is in honor Of the army,
navy and marine corps. The fourth even
ing reception is In honor of the public.
| For the public reception no fcards are
issued. At the state dinners LIMITATIONS
are generally sent to. aslimited number of
the resident society of Washington or
other large cities such as may be selected
by the President or his wife for that
/ dinner. An invitation to a.state dinner
is equivalent to command, inasmuch
as it should be accepted, even iDsso doing
another previously accepted invitation
has to be declined. When, on account of
illness, death in the family, or absence
from the city. it is found impossible
to attend state dinner, the reason
should be stated in the reply to the invi-
tation. At state dinners the President
does not make his appearance in the
East Room, where the guests are received
until ,thesexaot hour at which the dinner
takes place. The Presidents wife, on
such occasions, preosdes him to the East
Room five or ten minutes in advance of
theItime set for the Fdinner in order to
grest the guests as they arrive. When the
signal is given for the company to pass
down the corridor to the state dining
room, the President leads with such
guest Of honor az has been selected in ac-
cordance with the requisite official rank
necessary for the occasion. The Presi-
| dent always leads tine way at any dinner
or entertainments 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 sselection of the
Presidents dinner companion. The
Presidents place at table on the occasion
OF state dinner Is the middle seat 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 Presi-
dent and his wife are the especial places
Oh honor 1t is etiquette for the guests
TO stand until the President and his wife