The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-12
TIED, A SOCIAL ARBITER.
kffuNRAVEL THE TANGLES IN
EHICH wASHINGTON'S OFF,
CIALDOM HAS BECOME
30 INVOLVED.

dent. but HIS ElBce VIII ne a
seriIous One, for Washington Is
Mined and COuntermined with
Feuds, OncinI and Personal, and
nm Explosion Is Likely to Be Pre-
tcipitated at Any Time by Little
MismanaGement Some Instances
where Trouble Was Caused by an
Ilnhappy JuxtnpOsitiOn of War
ring Elements.
copyright. 1902, by Walden Fawcett)
Washington, Jan. 10.-Not in many
years has official society in the nations
capital been involved in such tangle
as at present. 1t required all the
remarkable diplomacy Of the late Pres
ident Kinley-undoubtedly the most
tactfnl chief magistrate this nation has
ever shad-to preserve even the appear
ance of peace in the big official colony,
ana then his success was but partial
Most of the trouble arises from ques-
lions of precedence. When Congress
CHANGED the order of succession to
the presidency some years ago there
was a kaleidoscope shifting of social
positions, the beauty of which failed
TO commend itself to certain of the
shifted in fact, some of the dignitaries
who have been reduced in rank have
declined to accept the new order or
things, and as the officials who were
advanced strenuously demand all the
horiors and social emoluments of their
newly gained positions there is a per-
rennial and fertile source of picker-
jngs right there. The action Of the
principal European powers in raising
the rank of their ENJOYS at Washing
ton to that of ambassador infused still
another element into the many sided
struggle, and finally, to still further
connnlicate matters, the recent expan-
sioIliiof American governmental inter-
ests has necessitated the creation of
numerous new posts, the occupants OF
which do not propose to allow the filch-
ing, of any of their social laurels.
All this has brought, up again the de-
mand for social arbiter of official
dom Every European court has such
an official. He is known as the intro
Queer of ambassadors, grand chamber
lain or master of ceremonies. He is
a recognized authority on all points
of official and social etiquette, and his
decision as to the order of precedence
to be observed at state functions and
other similar questions is accepted as
final. The man who should attempt
such a role at Washington would need
ciaI etiquette in all the principal ma
tions of the world. His knowledge
of social customs would have to be
absolute; he would be obliged to know
the ms and outs of Washington So
ciety to a Tall it's feuds, antipathies
and quarrels, both political and per-
sonal-and he must be a man of infinite
tact. And if such a man could be
found and persuaded to undertake the
of hn would rrOha h1U n SIInh h
loQuy. contempt and hatred as could
hardly be paralleled in history. The
WEARING ladies of officialdom would
attend to that. Nevertheless, there is
a growing belief among the leaders of
Washington society that only the APP
pointment of an absolute arbiter can
avert swift social chaos. and there is
a constantly accommodating list of prob
lens for him to solve as soon as he
shall assume the wand of power.
The responsibility for many of the
worst complications lies al the doors
of the accredited representatives of
foreign governments at the American
capital. When Mexico raised the rank
of her envoy at Washington to that
of ambassador the diplomat was treat
ed with decided GOODNESS by his am
bassadorial colleagues. The alleged
cause was some infringement of diplo-
matte privileges by the Mexican dip
lornat. but there was suspicion in
many quarters that the treatment was
designed as a protest against the pre-
sumption of a republic in creating am
bassadors who are supposed to be the
personal representatives of monarchs.
Until within the past year Austria
maintained no diplomatic relations
with Mexico, and, in fact, did not rec
Ognize the existence of the republic.
This led to many troublous incidents
in Washington, and indirectly to the
most sensational episode which ever
occurred at a social gathering at the
White House. The Mexican ambassa-
dor and the Austrian minister and his
wife CHANGED to be guests at a state
dinner rendered by the President, and
a laundering official assigned the Mex
lean envoy to escort to dinner the wife
of his Austrian colleague. The repre-
sentative of Mexico hesitated, but fin
ally went up and offered his arm to the
lady. She abruptly turned her back
upon him, walked over to a chair and
seated herself. When remonstrance
was made she said
g'For me there is no such nation as
Mexico. We do not officially admit
its existence or that of it's represent
tative. 1t is an insult to ask me to go
1nfwith person who does not exist"
The matter was hastily amended by
a readJuStment OF the table.
Not infrequently, too. personal quar-
refs have figured in official entertain
ing.as The Mexican and Belgian gov
ernments are on entirely friendly
terms and regularly maintain diplo-
1natic relations, but the former Bel
gian minister at Washington, who has
just been recalled, conceived dislike
for the Mexican ambassador, and re-
fused to attend any social function at
which the latter was to be present.
Occasionally a social blunder has it's
hemorous side, as when at a White
HOUSE reception some wag, noting the
approach of the British ambassador
at the head of the line of departing
guests, instructed the colored man
who was summoning the carriages to
call for the Irish ambassadors car
riage, command which was sung out
in, stentorian tones to the amusement
of the vast concourse of people who
lined the streets.
When a dinner is to be given at
which a number of diplomats are to
be quests there usually precedes IL a
correspondence as voluminous as that
of a business house in order to insure
for the various guests positions at the
table in accordance with their rank
and position. Several times American
women, ignorant of diplomatic usage,
have 80 transgressed official etiquette
that international complications were
narrowly averted. Not long since a
hostess who had just taken up her
residence in Washington and was en-
pertaining her first dinner party Of Of
hcial folk realized after the guests had
assembled that she was wholly igno-