The representative., 1899-12-07
WASHINGTON ETIQUETTE.
Calling Rules of Official Society at
the National Capital.

/
| "One OF the most radical differences be-
tween Washington and Ney England eti.
quette, said Mrs. ]. H. Walker, Of Worces.
ter, will be discovered by the wife of q
| new member at the very beginning of he,
residence In the capital. The way in which
she builds up calling list is unique and
entirely different from the way she would
do it at home. The wife of every new mem
| Der has the privilege Of calling first on
whomever she wishes to become acquainted
with. II she waits for wives OF other mem
| bers to call on her she will wait in vain.
Il think this Is very good arrangement
1t enables the newcomers to select their own
friends. Representatives wives also call
first on the wives of senator's the cabin et
ladies, and the lady Of the White House
Their calls are returned 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; sena-
tors wives are at liberty to call or send
cards, while when it comes to the wives
of representatives it is considered the best
form for them to call in person upon the
newcomers who have called upon them.
1T is seldom that some Acknowledgement
OF first call is not made. Though the
wife of a newcomer may not be desired as
an acquaintance, it would not be in keen-
ing with Washington etiquette to slight her
by neglecting to acknowledge her visit
with the wife Of the new coming senator
the same social rules obtain She calls first
upon the wives OF senior senators, upon the
cabinet ladies, and at the White House Rut
she is not expected to call upon the ladies
OF the representatives families without f3rst
being called on by them
Last winter when l was in washington
there was a discussion as to whether tho
wives OF the senator's or Of the diplomats
should take precedence in this social scale
1t had been the custom for the wives of tho
diplomats. but after Sir Julian Pauncefote
was created ambassador a question arose
Sir Julian himself felt that the Increased
olen!ty OF his rank called for great dis
crlminatlon. whether the dispute has been
nnally settled or not do not know"
But who settles questions of this sTnrt >,
Mrs. Walker was asked, "and how has this
system grown up?"
Mrs. Walker replied that the system had
Duilt itself up; that it had been a growth
NJ, neeplhs pace with the demands Of society.
There Is manual Of congressional etiouette
she said. and this is of great assistance.
TO the newcomers who have few friends
in the capital who are able to tell them ~
ways of the Washington world
THE wives Of the representatives nsv-
ally receive on Tuesday afternoons" went
on Mrs. Walker. THE cabinet ladies 70
ceive on Wednesdays, and the wivas g,
senators on Thursdays. This is not al
ways true, however. In some cases the
ladies receive by streets All those Iiv;rs
on certain streets will receive on the same
day. When 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 pauners
80 that no one need be disappointed in not |
dndfng her at home. This putting notices
In the paper of reception days is quite a |
favorite custom.
BY no means all Of the wives of con- j
gressmen go into society. Whether one |
wishes to or not is quite a matter of taste
and temperament. A woman can live
quietly in Washington, having her. own
friends. of course. but mingling very little
n general society. There have been nota-
Die instances when the wiyes of very high
'ficials- ~ho might be leaders, have pre-
'erred quiet and domestic life These
1ave attended a few official receptions and
lave 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 costumes
worm by the women in Washington were
more elaborate than those worn in New
FORK or Boston.
Il think not was the reply. "At the
'ublic receptions given at the White |
louise and at some OF the other oficial resi-
ences everybody goes. and. of course,
here = great VARSITY IN dress, there BE-
Nn9w 80 x 4 -. II