The age-herald., 1902-04-27


 buy their way in, much as they buy sleep ing-and-eating places in the Aldorf- Was toria and the New Willard, fondly imag- ming that to be the swell thing to do, while those born to place seek the quiet exclusiveness of the Roland Rouse and the Seaham.
 Still the angriest women you ever saw unless you severally and collectively are husbands who have gotten into bed with your boots on at o'clock in the morn ing (some of you may have been there man a time before)-the angriest women, be it said, are some three hundred and fifty lovable and admirable wives of representatives in the Congress who are now slowly packing their mammoth trunks for the homeward hegira- By George-as Mr. Theodore Roosevelt and many another sinful man swear-by George, they are hopping mad," these fair women; and it is ali on account of Society. It is not a vulgar ''social war;" as the space-killers call it. in endless "specials' over '1eased wires'-it is a violent protest of society indignation. and the cause of it is a mandate issued by 'the daughter of a man of very hum ble backwoods origin who amassed mill lions in trade more or less honest" as the dear women say.
 Since-this Washington society strife has become to some extent national issue which is certain to figure largely in parti- san politics, it is well enough to give the precise words of the decree of Mrs. John Hay-''Mrs. Secretary Hay, as the unlettered persons in and out of Wash ington call her. This solemn decree, as published by one of the two rival court organs here, reads:
 ''The coming of Mime. Cambon, wife of the French Ambassador, will be made the occasion of a new code of official eti- quette that it is hoped will relieve the vexed question of first calls as regards the wives of ambassadors. Mrs. Hay, wife of the Secretary of State, has once more taken up the reins of leadership and has had cards prepared requesting certain la- dies to call at the French Embassy on special day. It is assumed that Mime. Cambon acquiesces in this plan by which she will at once meet those women of of ficial position entitled to the entree of the embassy. According to the recent plan the ladies to whom the notices which are virtually commands, are to be sent, in clude the wife of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the wives of the Asso- ciate Justices, the Cabinet hostesses, the wives of Senators, certain matrons from the ranks of army and navy circles, and in some cases the wives of the Assistant Secretaries.
 '"The line is said to be drawn absolutely at the House of Representatives. the members wives not being expected to wis 1t the wife of the ambassador. In view of the fact that there are many Senatorial families who take no part whatever in society. while some of the smartest most interesting, and attractive of official homes belong to the members of the lower house, the result of this innovation is awaited with interest"
 Now isn't that quite too utterly utter?" ''The line is said to be drawn absolutely at the House of Representativesl
 While the Washington newspapers are probably unequalled in the world for snobbishness, as they are unsurpassed in this country for their gross violations of the grammar of the English tongue, the decree of Mrs. Hay as 1t is herein quoted may be accepted as authentic and entirely official, for the woman who re- ported it for the Post newspaper is a thoroughly honest, conscientious and painstaking newspaper worker. Doubtless she handed in the ''copy' as it was given to her by Nus. Hay or Mrs. Hays sec- retary.
 q demand of you to tell me if our House of Representatives is not upon the average as high in' good-breeding and decency as the House of Commons or the popular branch of any other parliament in Europe?" said the charming wife of a most influential Republican member of Congress to me on the day Mrs. Hays decree appeared in the local court organ. She was, worry wrathy. and after express ing the belief that I had some opportuni-