The Washington times., 1904-11-27

OF ladies. more particularly those OF the
Cabinet, 10 stand IN line in the Blue
Room and assist her IN the reception.
She sends out Invitations which she eX-
poets the recipients 10 acknowledge. Al
ter the acceptances are in there is
list made out of the names. ana plates
/ are Lid in the private dining room for
supper which is given after the re-
ceptiou. The names OF tine guests are
placed at each plate. and the supper Is
provided FOR definite number, For
this reason. il for no oth-r. an accept
ance OF deClinatiOn is most essential,
and those invited 10 receive are not
supposed 20 take any OF their friends
with them.
Instead Of the teas that Mrs. Cleve-
land gave, Mrs. Roosevelt has adopted
a scheme Of giving musicales, 10 which
she invites those members Of society
who have paid her the courtesy Of
calling at the beginning Of the season.
She receives her guests, and when tley
have taken their seats, occupies a chair
which is placed especially for her. The
admission is by card and seats are ar
ranged for the number Of the invited.
At the end Of the evening light refresh
AlAtliAr AAN SUI hNA IA NA'h ''NtANN NtAAA+tAt
room.
It is by no means certain that Mrs.
Roosevelt viii adhere 10 this plan foI
the coming season. 1t Is authoritatively
stated that she has reached no definite
conclusion, and the hostesses Of society
viii reserve the arranging or their en-
tertainments until they know her plans
and can be sure that the dates they
select will lot conflict with her days
Another change in the customs OF IN,
past which is most important but which
at present is merely rumOred, Is tina
The Cabinet ladies' will not stand in line
in the Blue Room during the ofhcia!
reception. This rumOr is insistent but
not confirmed on good authority.
Who Calls First?
A most important point which remain
10 be settled is the question Of whethe.
the Older ladies of the Cabinet are
call on the wives of the members moro
recently appointed, or wait 10 receiv.
a FIRST call from them. The precedents
Of the past will not govern the comm
season. For example, Mrs. Shaw called
on Mrs. Wynne soon after the appoint
n4ent OF her husband as Postmaste.
General She intended calling on Mr.
Norton also but on the day before sh,
selected, Mrs. Morton took the initiative
and called on her.
one Of the many points OF difference
that distinguish Washington etiquette
from that Of any other American city is
the regulation governing calling. Wives
OF officials are in duty bound 70 return
the FIRST call. This holds true in the
Diplomatic Corps If you receive "a call
from someone you have met, but for
whose further acquaintance you are not
solicitous. you are bound by the usages
Of society 10 return the call After that
you are not held 20 any line Of conduct
II does not matter if the person should
continue TO make an indefinite number
Of calls upon you. you have done your
duty and the persistent caller should
take the hint that you are not willing
30 continue the acquaintance.
In New York. or in almost any other
city of the country, II is considered good
form 10 drive from house To house and
send your cards 10 the door by the foot
man. In Washington the wife of an am
bassadOr, a Cabinet officer. or a Sena-
tor may do so Ola the occasion Of "a frs;
calf After that IL becomes the essence
of bad form and is likely 10 bee consid-
cred an insult by "a thorough-going
Washingtonian. The explanation is that
in this city everyone has a day for re-
Ceiving. one is supposed 10 can on that
day. Ii is necessary 10 descend from the
carriage and inquire i'm person whether
II not the lady OF the house is receiving
If she is. the caller must enter ana spend
a minute or two In conversation. leav-
ing cards in a tray provided Tor the