The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-31
WHO'S WHOAQUESTI0N
OF WASHINGTON FOLK
Questions of Precedence Now
Bethering Official and DipiO.
matte Sets at Capital

The question of precedence has
bothered social Washington, also ofh-
cial and diplomatic Washington very
much this winter. Not only who's
who, but who is first, second and third
who. has occasioned much heart burn
ing and endless discussion. OF course
it goes without saying that the presi-
dent, his wife and his daughter pre-
cede always, though some of the OFF,
cial women have considered that the
Princess Alice should follow certain
other ones, but not much fuss was
made about this. The real issue has
been whether the supreme court, the
cabinet or the dean of the diplomatic
corps should follow the chief executive
and the vice president. Society has
been all torn up over this important
matter, and though the persons con-
cerned have to leave the working out
of it to chance, still the question does
not down, but hobs up each season to
bother even the most knowing OF
hoStesses.
OF course it is only within the last
year or two that these questions have
been so prominently in evidence, Tor
be it known to those who may be UNI
aware of il, that we have now in the
white house the first president of So
cial prestige in many years. We have
had good and worthy presidents VINO
did not beat their wives and went to
church on Sunday, but this is the first
time since the reign of President Ar
thur that we have had a chief eXecu-
tive who was socially acceptable to the
smart set in New York. 1t is but
right, therefore, that questions OF
precedence should be discussed and
settled at this time.
1t became known in Washington
during this winter that the president
and his wife did not care to dine in
nv Will of ha 6ITtn a a
corps, and no one could understand
why in the world this should be so.
Various reasons were given by those
seeking TO understand it; one was that
the brilliant uniforms of the foreign
representatives quite put in the shade
the severe and plain evening clothes
of the president. Others thought that
it bothered the latter to have a fuss
made about who was to go In after
him, and he preferred to dine only with
members of his own government.
Equally absurd reasons were consid-
cred, but the real mystery was not
solved. One hostess who was TO en-
terrain the president and his wife at
dinner received a polite intimation
from the social secretary that she was
not to invite any of the foreigners at
the same time.
We are really becoming very frilly
for a republic. Fancy Thomas Jeffer-
ner with him or behind him! We have,
however. travelled a long way from
those days, and then it must be re-
membered that we have a society man
in the white house. That makes all
the difference in the world. Some of
the other presidents were nice men,
but they could never have been re-
ceived by the court set in New
York.
1t is not alone in Washington that
questions of precedence are bothering
the socially elect, but New York's
smart set have also been agitating
there has been a deadlock. Whether to
make the test the amount of ones
worldly wealth, the distinction of ones
blood, or social worth and popularity,
has been the question, and it does not
look now as if it would ever be set
tied this side of eternity.
To settle it by money would not be
altogether satisfactory; certainly not
to those who are not rich, but whose
social prominence is unquestioned.
And to decide the matter by ranking
those of good birth first in the social
procession would simply be to start
rivalry of those with means who could
Guido and outentertain everyone else.
Dear, dear. how many things we
have to bother u.s. Life is not easy
even in the smart set. And as for So
ciety in Washington during the
coming four years, well, no one
can tell what will be doing at the
end of this present reign. Crowns
and ermine robes, and outriders,
equerries and whatnot will probably
be the next development. It is, how
ever very interesting to watch.