The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-16
WASHINGTON LIFE
Capital Is Torn Up. With Troubles
Over Precedence-The Diplo-
mats Are to Blame.
The New York Society Women Re-
fuse to Recognize the Wash
ington System.

Other parts of the country may be
amused by the wranglings and heartburn
ings incident to the coronation Of King
Edward, but Washington follows them
with serious and sympathetic interest.
Only a very few Americans have any idea
Of the rigid system of etiquette which has
grown up at the national capital. The
other day high officer of the government
said: my daughter went to lunch with
the daughter Of Secretary - yesterday
She did not come home until long after
she was expected, and her mother asked
her what was the matter. 'Oh,' she said
Secretary IS daughter was there, and
none Of US could go until she left, and we
thought she would never co. And I find
that precedent is carried out In the strict
est possible way all through Washington
society in all Of It's sets, down to the very
children" r.
If there are any persons in official life in
Washington who do not attach Importance
to precedence, do not resent being seated
out of rank at table, or being An all other,
| ways given their exact official amount Of
| Difference, those persons keep extremely
| quiet. In washington one ceases to be
surprised at hearing persons Of national
| reputation complained fiercely because
| they have been subjected to some trivial
slight in this matter of precedence. , IT.
| initiates a cabinet officer to be put a shade
| out of his rank just as much as it irritates
a congressman from nowhere or govern
| ment clerk. : .,
Precedence is killing Washington as
place of residence It is destroying its
chief charm. If one thinks Of going there
| to live it is because he expects to have
the opportunity to meet in the easy cir
cumstances Of social intercourse people
who are interesting or amusing or curious.
| That social intercourse is becoming prac
tically impossible. No one giving any sort
Of entertainment, however informal, ,dares
to arrange his or her guests according to
congeniality. The same people must al
ways be put next to each other The same
man must take the same woman in to
| dinner. The same youth must dance with
| the same girl And as official life expands
| the blight Of precedence spreads. 1t is
| difficult for an outsider to listen without
laughing or showing irritation, as the
| Washingtonans discuss precedence and
| relate incidents Of national and 1nterna-
tional catastrophes almost brought about
| by violation Of it. But as some Of the
persons who most strenuously insist upon
it are otherwise high above the human
average, 1t would be well, before utterly
condemning the Washingtonians, to reflect
whether the craze for precedence 1t not a
universal human weakness, latent-hap-
PLY latent-in most of us because it has
no chance to show itself.
/ However, If Washington is to be saved
as residence oity some scheme must be
devised whereunder precedence and its
complications and its depressing influen-
ces shall be confined to formal interna-
tional functions for the diplomatists, who
are primarily responsible for the present
state Of affairs.
It is said that the diplomats and all
the Washington sticklers for. precedence
are much irritated because New Workers.,
whether in their city Or country or sea-
shore houses, refuse to recognize the
i Washington system, and insist upon ar
i ranging their parties on the old-fash-
toned American plan of trying to give