The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-12

In visiting the White house under
the present regime one must observe
almost as many rules and regulations
as when being received by czar or sui
tan. One of the latest laws made by
our autocratic president concerns
women and rules that they shall not
appear at any evening affairs at the
executive mansion wearing hats, bon
nets or wraps. At least so says a New
York paper. This rule, while appar-
emily a very simple one, may cause
much inconvenience to older women
who are averse to going even to even
ing receptions without their bonnets.
The order created a good deal of
amusement in Washington, where they
are now saying that even the dress Of
women is to occupy the attention Of
the president, and one woman resented
the order, saying that she regarded it
as an infringement of her personal lib
erty. 1t was at one of the regular
public receptions that the woman re-
ferred to above baked when she was
ordered to take off her hat before going
up stairs; the man in charge informed
her that if she did not remove her
chapeau she could spend the evening
in the dressing rooms. So the woman
surrendered her personal liberty and
her hat and joined the hatIess crowd
above. This all seems very trivial and
foolish, and it is difficult to understand
why the president cares whether wom-
en- have on hats or not, but at the
same time it is always proper for
women to wear full dress without hats
at an evening reception. In ST. Paul
very few women even wear hats at
night; those who do are forgiven on
the score of age or because they par
ticularIy want to cover their heads.
In reality, it is no more proper for a
woman to wear street dress and hat
to an evening party than for a man to
do so. The laws of society in these
matters are arbitrary and in some cases
very unreasonable. For instance, the
woman who was invited to tea and
yet not asked to assist, and should
take off her hat, would be committing
a dreadful sin against social usage
Also the woman who should take off
her hat at a formal luncheon, would
show that she was not thoroughly in
formed in these matters. Some one
writes us and asks if there is any way
to let the waiter know that one does
not take wine at luncheon or dinner
save to refuse it courteouSly. This
department knows of no other way;
the correspondent wants to know, fur
ther, If she should turn her glass up
side down. 1t is not necessary When
the waiter reaches you it is easy to
tell him by nod of your head that
you do not care for any Wine although
If you allowed him to fill your glass
no harm would be done, for you need
not drink it. Let it stand; it is much
better manners than to announce that
you never touch wine which would
tend to make those women who do
take wine feel as If they were in need
of the Kelley cure. Tact above and
beyond anything else is necessary
when entertaining and being enter
tanned; tactful woman is always in
demand at dinners and luncheons. for
IL anything In the way of a contretemu
occurs, she can cover it up and make
every one comfortable. To be ufac-
quainted with some of the minor laws
of society, which often differ in differ
ent places, is not a sign of ignorance
or lack of experience for there are
many intellectual women whose minds
are absorbed in things that are OF
much greater Importance than the
trivial laws relating to society But
unfortunately, there are women with
small minds, who judge a woman by
her knowledge of the petty customs OF
society which obtain in the town in
Whlch they may happen to reside. Cor
rect department and small graces OF
manner are very often an instinct with
Wen-bred women, and the arbitrary
rules made by the smart set any