The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-12-08
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.
The Basis on Which it is Held in
Washington.

Washington.
"One of the most radical differences be-
tween Washington and New England ct
iuuctte" said Mrs. j. II. Walker Of
Worcester, will be discovered by the
wife Of a new member at the very be-
ginning of her residence i'll the capital.
The way in which she builds up a call
ing list is unique and entirely different
from the way she would do it at home.
The wife of every new member has the
privilege Of calling first on whomeyer
she wishes to become acquainted with.
If she waits for wives of other mem
bcrs to call on her she will wait in vain.
Il think this is very good arrange
ment. 1t enables the newcomers to Sc
lect their own friends. Representatives
wives also call first on the wives Of the
senators, the cabinet ladies and the lady
Of the white house. Their calls are re-
turned either by card or in person; the
Presidents wife. of course. makes no
calls, and is not expected even to return
cards; the cabinet ladies send cards, but
seldom return calls personally. Senators
wives are ut liberty to call or send cards,
while when it comes to the wives of the
representatives it is considered the best
form for them to call in person upon
the newcomers who have called upon
them.
at is seldom that some acknowlcdg
ment of Il first call is not made. Though
the wife Of a newcomer may not be de
sired as an acquaintance it would not be
in keeping with Washington etiquette to
slight her by neglecting to acknowledge
her visit.
with the wife of the new-coming SEN
ator the same social rules obtain. She
calls first upon the wives of senior sell
ators, upon the cabinet ladies, and at the
white house. But she is not expected to
call upon the ladies of the representa-
tiyes' families without first being called
on by them.
Last winter. when I was in Washing
ton, there was a discussion as to whether
the wives of the senators or Of the diplo-
mats should take precedence in this social
scale. 1t had been the custom for the
wives of the senators to take precedence
EVER the wives Of diplomats. but after
Sir Julian Pauncefote was created am
baSsador a question arose. Sir Julian
himself felt that the increased dignity r.
his rank called for greater DISCERNING
ton. Whether the dispute has been fl
nally settled or not do not know
But who settles questions of this
sort?' Mrs. Walker was asked, land
how has this system grown up?'
Mrs. Walker replied that the system
had built itself up; that it had been a
growth, keeping pace with the demands
of society. There is a manual Of con-
gressional etiquette, she said and this is
Of great assistance to the newcomers,
who have few friends in the capital who
are able to tell them the ways of the
Washington world.
THE wives of the representatives usu-
ally receive on Tuesday afternoons"
went OIL Mrs. Walker 1.-THE cabinet
ladies receive on Wednesday, and the
= -
not always true, however. In some
cases the ladies receive by streets. All
those living on certain streets will receive
on the same day. When a lady wishes
to call on other ladies whose reception
Jay comes the same day of the week as
her own she omits her own reception
day for a week or two. Usually she pub
fishes this in the papers, so that no one
need be disappointed in not finding her
at home. This putting notices in the pa
per of reception days is quite a favoritc
custom.
''By no means all of the wives of con-
gressmen go into society. Whether one
wishes to or not is quite a matter of
Taste and temperament. A woman can
own friends, of course, but mingling
very little in general society. There
have been notable instances when the
wives of very high officials, who might
be leaders. have preferred quiet and
domestic life. These have attended a
few official receptions and have given the
receptions required Of their positions.
Otherwise they have kept as much as
possible out of the social rush,
Mrs. Walker was asked if the cos
tunes worn by the women in Washing
ton were more elaborate than those worn
in New York or Boston.
IL think not" was the reply. AT the
public receptions given at the white
house and at some of the other official
residences, everybody goes. 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 decollctte gowns are worn. but
it is III equally good taste to wear high
neck gowns. They are acceptable al
most ANYWHERE
as there much entertaining done on
Sunday, Mrs. Walker?' asked the re-
porter.
u So was the reply, II did not know
Of it. Very likely. i'll diplomatic circles,
there may be dinners or other social
functions given on Sundays, but among
the Americans | should say that Sunday
is very well kept. The Washington
churches, Of which there are a large
number, are very well filled on Sunday.
quite as much as anywhere else. "-Bos-
ton Post.
Restaurant Ice Cream.