The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03
WASHINGTON ETIQUETTE.
Calling Rules of Official Society ut
the National Capital.
Boston Post.

the National Capital.
Boston Post.
zone of the most radical differences be-
tween Washington and New England ETH
quette' said Mrs J. H. Walker, of Wor-
cester, will be discovered by the wife
of a new member at the very beginning
of her residence in the capital. The way
in which she builds UP calling list is
unique and entirely different from the
way she would do 1t at home. The wife
of every new member has the privilege
of calling first on whomever she wishes
to become acquainted with. If she waits
for wives Of other members to call on her
she will wait in vain.
Il think this is a very good arrange
ment. 1t enables the newcomers to select
their own friends. Representatives. wives
also call first on the wives of senators,
the cabinet ladies, and the lady of the
White house. Their calls are returned
either by card or in person; the presi-
dents wife, of course, makes no calls,
and is not expected even to return cards;
the cabinet ladies send cards, but seldom
return calls personally; senator's wives
are at liberty to call or send cards, while
when it comes to the wives of represent
tatives 1t is considered the best form FOR
them to call in person upon the new
corners who have called upon them. 7,
ut is seldom that some acknowledgment
OIL d IlTSI call IS not
wife Of a newcomer may not be desired
as an acquaintance, 1t would not be In
keeping with Washington etiquette to
slight her by neglecting to cknoWledge
her visit.
with the wife of the new-coming SEN
ator the same social rules obtain. She
calls first upon the wives of senior SEN
ators, upon the cabinet ladies, and at the
White house. But she is not, expected to
call upon the-=ladies Of representa-
tives' families without first being called
on by them. rs: -
Last winter when was inr Washing
ton there was a discussion. as to whether
the wives of the senators or of the diplo-
mats should tai precedence in this social
scale It hadaheen the custom for the
wives of senators to take precedence
over the wives of diplomats, but fter&Sir
Julian Pauneefote-+was created afIfbassa-
dor a quest1oHs,aroses Sir Julian himself
felt that the increased dignity ofsehfs
rafa,:; called fer greater .dlscrinfna ton
Whether the dspate4has been finally set
tied OF. not 4! do not Know =
But who settles questions of EtfIfs
sort?'' Mrs. Walker was asked, ''and how
has this system grown up 2,'zzzss'
Mrs. Walker replied that the system
had built itself up; that it had been
growth, keeping pace with the demands
OF society. There is a manual Of con-
of great assistance to the newcomers who
have few friends in the capitol who are
able to tell them the ways of the Wash
ington world. -~s
THE wives of the representative usual
ly receive on Tuesday afternoons" went
on Mrs. Walker 1.-THE cabinet ladies re-
ceiye on Wednesdays, and the wives Of
senators on Thursdays. This is not al
ways true, however. In some cases the
ladies receive by streets. All those living
ON certain streets will receive on the
same day. When g lady wishes to call
on other ladies whose reception day
comes the same day of the week as her
own she omits her own reception day for
a week Or two. Usually she publishes
this in the papers, so that no one need
be disappointed in not finding her at
home This putting notices in the paper
OF reception days is quite a favorite Gus
tom.
by no means all of the wives of con-
gressmen go into society. Whether one
wishes to or not is quite matter of taste
and temperament. woman can live
quietly in Washington, having her own
friends, of course, but ringing very lit
tie in general society. There have been
notable instances when the wives of very
high officials, who might be leaders, tava
preferred quiet and domestic life.
These have attended a few official receo-
lions ana nave given the receptions re-
quired Of their positions. Otherwise they
have kept as much as possible out of the
social rush"
Mrs Walker was asked If the costumes
worn by the women In Washington were
more elaborate than those worn in New
York or Boston.
81 think not was the reply ''At the
public receptions given at the White
house and at some Of the other official
residences, everybody gees, and, Of
course, there is a great variety In dress
there being some very. ordinary gowns
At the more exclusive functions there are
often very elegant costumes Many
beautiful decollete gowns are worn, but
it is i'll equally good taste to wear high
neck gowns. They are acceptable almost
anywhere
as there much entertaining done on
Sunday, Mrs. WaIker?" asked the report
er.
eff So" was the reply, 81 did not know
CT It. Very likely, in diplomatic circles,
there may be dinners or other social func-
tons given on Sundays, but among the
Americans, 1 should say that Sunday IS
Tery we'll kept. The Washington church
es. of which there are large number,
are very we'll filled on Sunday quite as
much us anywhere else