The Irish standard., 1904-12-31
Glittering Officers in Gold Braid March
Before the President Where He
Makes His Appearance.
Something in the Formal Etiquette Which
Hints at Court Rather Than the
Home of President.

and assist in the doings there are:
Colonel Bromwell, Corps Of Engi-
neers, u. S. A., superintendent of
public buildings and grounds; Major
Charles McCawley, U. S. M. G.; Lieu
tenant Henry Lay, U. s. M. c.; Lieu
tenant Cameron MGR. Winslow, U. S.
N, presidents aid; Lieutenant Daniel
T. Moore, Artillery Corps, U. S. A.;
Lieutenant George R. Fortesque, U: S.
A.; Lieutenant U. S. Grant, Sd, U. S.
A., and Lieutenant r. G. Bulmer, U.
s. N.
In this connection it is interesting to
know the growth Of the custom Of
having army and navy officers in at
tendance at the White House.
President Buchanan did not have
army and navy officers at his recep-
tions. When he gave state dinner
the arrangements were conducted by
Mr.. Henry, his private secretary, and
Miss Harriet Lane, his niece, who was
the mistress of the White House.
President Lincoln, being a war presl-
dent. of course had army officers con-
stantly around him and they parucl-
pated in the arrangements for his So
cial entertainments.
President Grant took with him to
the White House two Of his aids,
Colonel Porter and Colonel Babcock'
as his secretaries, but under him the
introductions of guests at receptions
were made by the marshal Of the DIS
trict of Columbia. This continued
through the terms of Presidents Grant
and Hayes, but during the adminlstra-
tion of President Hayes Frederick
DOUGLASS, a negro, was appointed mar
shall of the district. This caused great
en,horra ssment and it was decided
that Marshal Douglass should not per-
form the duties Of major domo. Ac-
cordingly during his incumbency Oh
office the presentations were made pS
Colonel Casey, of the Engineer Corps
and he was assisted by Major Far
ouhar Of the Engineer Corps.
General Arthur, himself a SOLDIER
decided to dispense with military intro
ductions, and returned to the civilian
s;mnlicity of Grant and Buchanan by
having the introductions made by the
marshal of the District Of Columbia
who was Colonel Clayton McMichael
of Philadelphia. Colonel McMlchae'
did not even wear a uniform or sho"
any insignia of Office.
During the term Of President CleVe-
land the custom was reverted to ol
having officers Of the Engineer Corps
assist at official functions, but it never
was a part of the duty of any officer 10
annear at any social affair or semi
official entertainment at the Whlte
| House.
Under President Mckinley there
was practically no departure from the
rules which governed the White House
during President Cleveland. Inere
were never more than two army OH
cers assisting at the White House OIL
c;al functions, and these were never
expected to appear to add eclat or gor-
peousness to the purely social af1a1rs
They have adopted punctiliousness
without precedent at the White House
under President Roosevelt. On state
occasions army officers march ahead OF
tho President and lead the way into
tho dining room. At the table all the
o,ests remain standing until the presl'
don't is seated. In leaving the taoie
all guests rise and remain in thelr
n,aces until the president has taken
his denarture. The president Is in
v,riablv served first. This is true not
on,v of state dinners but OF private
dinners, informal luncheons and fanny
dinners. Not even Mrs. Roosevelt Is
served first.
# is stated that this is an innoVa-
tion and it is also denied that this IS
any change from existing custom IN
tho White House for many years.
II is also said on good authority that
Mr. Roosevelt when he was governor
of tho state of New York was invarl-