The Washington times., 1904-11-27
Mrs THEODORE Roosevelt
No City Can Be Compared to the National
Capital in Matter of Reducing
Rules of Hospitality to
Exact Science.

diately next the person OF the king OF
emperor. 1t is true that the heir ap-
parent 10 the throne would rank the
ambassadors at a dinner. and on that
precedent they concede the right OF the
Vice President TO be placed above them.
The Cabinet officers are the appointees
Of the President and are not elected by
the people. Accordingly they do not e1-
pect 10 rank the Supreme Court or the
ambassadors, but expect 10 be placed
next 10 them. The Secretary pro TEN
Of the Senate. especially In the absence
OF Vice President. has decided ideas
OF the position 10 which he is entitled
and great judgment must be exercised
70 determine his proper place OF course,
the Senators rank the Representative.
but when the list OF army and navy Of
ficers is reached there Is fresh trouble
in sight
A lady Of the Cabinet or the wife OF
a Senator who wishes To give a dinner
TO members OF the official set Of Wash
ingtOn during the coming season Will
find that she is treading on exceedingly
dangerous ground. AT the place OF hon
or 10 her right must be seated the man
she considers entitled 10 the first con-
sideration. On the right OF the host is
reserved a place for the wife OF this man.
or in the event that he is unmarried the
wife Of the next in order Of precedence
The man next In order takes the place
at the left Of the hostess and his wife
that 10 the left Of the host The third
in rank takes the second place to the
right Of the hostess and his wife the sec
ond place to the right Of the host. and
so around the table the guests must be
seated without mistake. And more i'm
porant than that, there must be no pos,
sibility OF a clash Of opinion.
An Unfortunate Situation.
II the hostess has been so far forget
ful Of the tragedies OF the past as to in
vite among the guests the Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States and Count Cassini, ambassador
from Russia and dean OF the Diplomatic
Corps. she has invited a situation that
only a trained Washington hostess can
fully appreciate. Some authorities con-
slider one man and some the other en-
titled 70 the place Of honor at her right
II she has also invited the Speaker OF
the House OF Representatives there is
confusion worse COMPOUNDED" IL would
only need the presence OF the President
pro TEN. Of the Senate OF the United
States 10 make the situation completely
dramatic.
II one desires 10 understand the sue
cess OF a few gifted women In Washing
toms official set il is only necessary TO
secure some lists OF her guests at din
Hers and study the names and rank OF
the invited. For instance there will be
found the name OF the Vice President.
that OF the Chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court OF the United States. a Cabinet
officer an officer OF the army or navy.
and so on down the list You will never
lind the names Of two men who might
by any chance claim the same seat. It
IL quite probable that where the Presi-
dent pro TEN. OF the Senate IL the guest
OF honor there are few II any other
members OF the official set
There Is another complication that
must be kept in sight The ambassador
from Russia is unmarried The young
Countess Cass!ni presides over his house
hold and very many Of the American
hostesses knowing that Count Cassini Is
the dean Of the Diplomatic Corps insist