Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
to cut loose with a declaration Of indie
pendence If 1t but dared.
The Professional Diner Out.

| IQS PROFESSIONAL inner OuC.
This odd state of affairs has bred the
diner out. usually of the masculine gender.
| Despite the number of statesmen and poll
| ticians who throng Washington in season.
| there are many social gatherings where
| men are at a premium, and if he be courtly
| and an entertaining conversationalist the
| unmarried official or the congressman who
| has left his wife at home. need seldom be
| under the necessity of paying for his diner.
| Even in the case of a married man, the
| ability to pay back does not figure at all.
| For instance, there might be cited the case
| of Gen. Miles, who, this season. and par
ticularly since he was reprimanded by the
| President, has been one of the most extern
sively entertained men in Washington. Yet
| the head of the army is in moderate cir
cumstances and not in position to return
| the compliment to more than a small por-
| ton of his hosts.
Even in the securance of the more desir-
able of these professional diners out the
spirited rivalry between the wealthy MEM
bers of the residential set and the possess
ors of private fortunes In the official SET
constantly crops out. Thus the young oni-
cial who Is open for Invitations Is often
compelled to choose between two opposing
claimants. and must make the decision with
due regard to future invitations on the one
hand and possible promotions or the for
fe1ture of official favor on the other.
This ''lioniZing' of officials has resulted In
the almost utter neglect by Washington So
ciety leaders of the stage favorites who are
the particular prey of the "tuft hunters in
other cities. The celebrities of the musical
world are somewhat more fortunate, for
they are usually entertained at the home of
Reginald De koven, the operate composer.
who, with Mrs. De Koven, an authoress of
some prominence maintains salon that is
the hub of the literary and artistic set in
Washington.
Diplomatists at the Top.
The enyia b1e poSfffopS in No
ton society are held by the members Of the
diplomatic corps. AS in the case of the
senators, only a small proportion of the
ENJOYS of foreign powers are possessed of
great private fortunes. but practically all
the representatives of leading nations re-
ceive from their governments ample allow
ances for entertaining in a manner COM
mensurate with the dignity Of their posi-
lions. These masters of statecraft are
necessarily among the guests hidden to
every official function of any interest
Importance, and they are also eagerly
sought by the entertainers Of the resfden-
tial set, who prize above all else the cosmo-
politan atmosphere which the presence of
the foreigners lends to a social gathering.
In the shadow of the diplomatic contingent,
with all its glitter and gold lace, however.
turks that omnipresent bugbear. the ques-
ton Of precedence, in the breach of which
is found the rock on which many a social
ambition has been stranded.
After all, the competitive game in which
the official and residential forces Of the
capital are pitted against each other most
keenly Is the highly important one of pick
ing the coming man. The benefits to be
derived by foresight of this kind are well
illustrated by the Roosevelt regime in the
White House. The members Of the official
and residential sets who bestowed attention
upon the Roosevelt family when the Presi-
dent was merely civil service commits
sioner or assistant secretary Of the navy
are now reaping their reward. So, too the
young man who springs into prominence
suddenly, as, for instance, did Senator Bev-
eridge, is watched most closely by the social
forecasters. Coming events cast their sha-
dows early in the social domain at the capt.
tall For instance, If Senator Hanna is to be
the next President of the United States So
ciety in Washington will be indicating the
probabilities while yet the politicians are
moving in the dark
In a comparison, based on the hard cash
expended, the advantage is not all on the
side of the newly established residential set
who have selected Washington as the best
place in which to scatter gold Secretary
Of State Hay occupies one of the most de-
sirable residences at the capital. Senator
Depew pays $1,000 a year house rent, and
Senator Hanna pays nearly much. At
torney General Knox recently paid over
100000 for his house, and Senators Hale,
Lodge and Foraker have homes each of
which is worth fully much.