Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05

WASHINGTON, ApAn A.-Political
hurricanes under the ds'me of the cap
itol have faded from view for the time
being while the shade Y OF soeial
simeon swings low in the 4'ational SKY
For, be It said with fealh ana tremp-
ling. a cabinet minister's tNte, In set
ting up what society term new
code Of etiquette for official "A inctio1s'
has drawn a distinct line be'Ts cen the
ladies OF senator's households sAnd IA
dies of the households of plaiLA every
day members of the house Of rem eseh-
tatives. She orders that serA 'tors
wives may call On Nine. Cambons the
French minister's wife. when She ar
rives here from Paris; but she dem es
the privalege to the wives of represA :
tatives sent here by the common PEG
pie out IN the provinces. And she sayA
the precedent is to be followed here-
after.
1t does rot soften the situation
when 1t Is explained that a higher au-
thority asked the cabinet minister's
wife to issue the orders. The oroers'
have been Issued and the SIMEON.
swings low.
The ediet went forth this week in the
shape of dainty little cards. Each
card requested the aduressee to call on
a special day at the rrench embassy
to me- Nine. Cambon. The cards
were received in the following order:
First, by the wife of the chief justice
Of the supreme court. Then the wives
OF the associate jus -ces of the SUI
preme court. Cabinet ministers wives
came next in line and then came the
senators wives. then the cards stop
ped coming. The wiv> Of representa-
tfves got none.
While few outside of her own coterie
recognize the imperial power herein
proclaimed, the affair has torn the COW
ering OF a wound that has been long
wasting the vital forces Of Washington
official society. 1t may be described an
the simple little question:
Who shall go first?"
The smallest social affairs at the va
rious foreign embassies and tine morei
pretentious functions at official quart
ers have been marked by evidences of.
the fight over the solution of this
problem. About every feminine member
Of Washington's official set who pre-
tends to social eminence has at one
time or another set up her claim TO
first place in the line to greet recei "
ing dignitaries of this or foreign lands.
II has been said they push, pull. shove.
elbow and almost bite in the desperate
attempt to lead the van. Schemes for
nificance, some say. beside the schemes
for leadership in this Official society.
Up TO the present. however, the
struggle has been carried on In an un-
dertone as Il were The muffied blows
have been given and received with
silence. While each held herself pre-
pared TO die before surrendering her
sacred right to be the first to say
"Howdy to the wife of the Chinaman
or the Korean who represents his gov
eminent here. none we're willing. of
course, to shout her claim abroad or
set Il up with brass band accompani-
ment. And this delicate consideration
for the national reputation has been
immensely appreciated by the states
men who knew the situation.
IL is now to observe what the others
will do at this critical juncture; now
that one has stepped out of the grim.
silent struggle to proclaim her right
not only to leadership. but the right to