The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-06

I the supreme court and dipiomatists, in
/ Guiding ambassadors. must kick their cold
| heels in the lineup while he passes into
the presence chamber.
Harmony is heavens first law every
where except in political society. For an
entire century, the supreme court has a
claim pending against the government for
third place in the social order. 1t began
with John Marshall and it is doubtful if
it can be settled for another century II
is an old score and an old score that
breaks out anew every year. Chief JUS
tice Fuller and Justice Brewer are argu-
ing it now and il is absolutely pitia bic
TO see how they fret over il. The Sc hon
orable judges, as their predecessors did
before th~hn, claim the right TO a social
place, or status, above that of the diplo
matte corps and annually decide that they
shall have it, but a mere clerk in the
White House, with the rank of major in
the marine corps. annually reverses them,
for he is the chief justice Of the law of
social etiquette-the court of last resort
as it were-and there is nothing left for
1.-The greatest judicial body on earth" 70
do but 10 fall in behind greaser from
Central America or a kindly haired son
Of Santo Domingo or pick up its ernine
wraps and hike oVt for home. This major
or marines is attached to the Office Of
Superintendent Of the White House and
White House grounds and is the factotum
who takes your name or your card. which
ever is most handy. and introduces you
to the President.
ing the social season, which exists be-
tween New Years day and Ash Wednes-
day. They are given in honor of the cabi-
net, the diplomatic corps. army and navy.
and congress. The order of rank IS de-
fined. according TO the order of official
creation. For instance, the secret ary OF
state pTecedes the secretary OF agricul-
ture because the department of state was
created before the department of agricul-
ture. In like manner the army has the
edge on the paYy, because il is an older
institution. The same rule prevails So
cially in all the departments and in the
case of the diplomatic corps the oldest
member in service. near the American
government has first place in the ranks.
Eight o'clock is the proper hour to as
semble for a reception at the White
House The guests must be in evening
dress except the officers OF the army and
navy and who must appear in fuIl-dress
uniform. The ladies must be in evening
costume The line is formed in the base
ment of the White House and it moves,
in the order of rank. up stairs into the
eliptical room. where the marine band
discOurses its famously sweet music and
thence into the private dining room. into
the state dining-rOOm. and through the
green, blue and pink rooms, into the
red room. There you are introduced to
President and Mrs. Roosevelt. and after
the President shakes your hand. telling
you that he is delighted to see you. you
pass on into the east room where you
can talk 10 some one if the delay has not !
been so long that you Immediately want
to go down to the nearest place on Penn
sylvania avenue Ito see a man"
One thousand invitations are usually
issued for these receptions and it is not
hard to attend some of them. Nor is it
costly, either. The man or woman who
has evening clothes need not be at any
expense whatever. for IT is not necessary
to ride to the White House in n carriage /
III d iiAiiS Visit 10 lIle W fllle House,
all YOU need wear is a plain business suit /
but the moment the sun crosses the !
meridian it is not in good form to wear
less than a black frock coat, light trou- F..
sers, silk hat and patent leather shoes |
An evening dress visit demands Tux !
edo and if there is a reception or a din /
ned YOU must be in evening dress. which /
can be owned for from So to Sl25. or rent
ed from s. to $ a day. by making a de- I
post Of the fun value or by giving Sc
curity. If you are in a position that YOU
do not need to do chores in the morning
or the evening. you can get along very
well in Washington with only six suits /,
of clothes. five hats. three pairs Of shoes /
and other garments in proportion
In the good old days of Andy Jackson.
people could attend the White House in (
overals. and it is on record that driver .
of coal cart hitched his team to the
gate post-one New Years day. walked in. /
shook the hand Of the hero Of New Or .
leans and went away without eliciting
any evidence of establishment But what I
could YOU expect from President who. /