The National tribune., 1899-12-14
YESTERDAYS
In WASHINGTON,
Pen Pictures of Celebrities of
the Past Generation.
By MARY S. LOCKWOOD.
Copyrighted, 1899, by The NATIONAL TRI BUNE


SOCIAL PRECEDENCE IN OFFICIAL LIFE
We learned from the previous letters
official and otherwise, that no definite code
had been established which makes the
social laws as clear as the official. There
are certain laws of decorum which Obtain
in official circles, but the rock on which
society has foundered for nearly cen
tUry still lifts its hydra head; men and wo
men may come and go. but the feuds 60
on forever.
1t was as recent as the Garfield Admins
tration that The wife of the Secretary ol
State Mrs Blaine, having recently emerged
from one official flock into another, ano
probably having been obliged to taste
of the bitter waters of Narah while Sena
tors wife, called her official coterle around
her and promulgated the new doctrine
She not only declared in the new code thai
Senators wives must make the first calls
on the ladies of the Cabinet. but thereafter
no Cabinet lady should return calls.
Society was on the qui vive TO know who
should conquer in this new passage al
arms. At last the Senatorial contingent
were invited to hear their fac. and meet
ing was called in the Northwest End. The
Senatorial ladies rebelled against the ruling
bat Mrs. Blaine was ineXorabie. Finally,
Mrs. John A. Logan, who had known Mrs
Robert Lincoln, wife of the Secretary al
War, from child, turned 10 her and said
Mary. this glass house was peopled
long before you We're born: one after an,
other the inmates have had 10 move out
[ advise You to do the same"
As to the ladies' OF the Cabinet, Mrs.
Logan said: "You mead not worry over the
return of calls. as thee will none he made
by Senat 1rS' wives = be returned"
The h ga jDInt com mis- SION res llte1 in a
draw. as all meetings nf tIe Cabinet ladies
and the Senator ) s.iEe5 - ADJUST III )
question "lie | W th q te lpest in a teapot.
As the Cabinet al | all the royal fig.2-
neSSeS have moi bee eIial TO forming =
treaty tn : all concerned could sign, woui,i
il not be sll To call = pc piles parliament
to draw III n cole OF social etiquet? The
people haze clectei them 10 assemble here
and turn .le wheels Of Government; why
not let tn people lay out law Of decorun
for them n follow? Would it not he denG-
cratic? What Il peace Offering for those
VINO are t. sustain the dignity of the Nation
in the ne t century.
HOW T ADDRESS THE PRESIDENT.
During the first session of Congress the
question arose as to what form OF address
would b. proper u a iix TO the Office Of a
President md Vice-Pre5ifient. After SUN
dry high-sounding titles hal been sug-
geste1, il was concluded that Ills Ez-
cellency : ,e President of the United States, =
would be the dig ,ifiei title, but as time
passed @H;s EXcclIency" was dropped. and
it is now ,nsderel an fait TO ad lreSs him
in writing. To the President" droD2ing
the Unite States In speaking, address
him as air. Presjdelt."
The M lbe,s Of the Cchinet in writing
are addre sci az Tine honorable -.
the Secre lry of Sta e; The Honorable
-. the Secretary of War. etc. Inspeak-
ing. address Cabinet officer as Mr.. Sec
retary."
The ord y of precedence in line at state
receDtionS at the White House is regu-
latel by the bill of Presidential succession.
passed during the early part of the first
Cleveland Administration, which reads
as follows:
''In case of the removal. death, or in
ability of both the President and the Vice
President of the United States, the Secre-
tary of State, or if there be none, or in case
of his removal, death, resignation, or in
ability, then the Secretary of the Treasury;
or if there be none, or in case of his re-
moval, death, resignation, or inability,
then the Secretary of War; or if there be
none. or in case of his removal, death,
resignation, or inability then the Attorney
General; or in case of his removal. death,
resignation. or inability, then the Secre-
tary of the Navy; or if there be none, or in
case of his removal, death, resignation, or
inability. then the Secretary of the Interior
shall act as President until the disability
is removed, or until the vacancy is other
wise lawfully filed, such officer being
eligible TO the office of President under the
Goa a5titution, and not under articles of
Impeachment by the House of Representa-
tives of the United States at the time the