The Washington herald., 1906-12-16
THE SOCIAL CODE
Official Precedence.

rr,,,,;,, ons.t,ons Of etiquette viii be solved IN
tbf. column from time 10 time. Inquiries should be
addressed, The ArbiteT, care Washington Herald
The new official or social sspirant who
comes for the first time to the Capital
with an idea that he has only to launch
his bark upon the social seas and SAL
smoothly into a safe harbor is doomed
to disappointment. There Is much 10
learn and much to unlearn before he can
attain the social footing he covets. and 10
become a leader in the society OF Wash
ngton, to gain respectable place eVeh'
requires more than an inexhaustiole bank
account and Official rank. IL demands a
knowledge Of its accepted laws. tradi-
tons. order Of precedence, and nothing
is so difficult 10 obtain. for Washington
is unique IN It's social laws, or lack OF
laws; necessarily so, because Of our re-
publican form Of government, where
might often makes right and Old World
distinctions are ignored.
In the European courts-in Asiatie
courts, too, for that matter-social laws
are fxed-a code Of precedence prescribed.
Every official OF a government knows his
exact rank in the social world. and pre-
cisely what is expected OF him. He takes
the position assigned without comment
OF criticism. and performs his social du-
ties as conscientously as he does his Off
cial work. The social atmosphere Of
foreign capitals is, consequently, rarely
disturbed by discussion of these subjects.
But in America we have no established
social code, no official laws Of precedence.
yet the question OF precedence is con-
stantly and hotIy contested: and since
the foundation Of the government, until
to-day, this subject has caused heart
burnings and bitterness among those
whom it concerns, inspired endless con-
troyersles and acrid discussions, and II
viii continue TO be a disturbing topic until
the proper officials make fixed and i'm
mUtabie laws 10 govern it.
This perplexing su5ject-the law OF
precedence-ls the first with which a new
resident of Washington, whether an or
clal or private citizen. should concern
himself, provided he purposes taking any
part IN social life. II IS a trait with
some Americans, who mistake the defiDi-
ton Of democracy, 10 cavil at etiquette
to ridicule and sneer at precedence as a
matter too small and unimportant TO con-
slider Such a stand Is, Of course. ignorant
and unthinking for society Is like a big
club. where without certain rules. written
or unwritten, its members could have
neither comfort nor enjoyment
Precedence was a subject OF enough i'm
portance to engage the attention OF
Washington and its advisers. who de-
bated the subject thoroughly. adopting
finally a code upon which the accepted
code Of to-day is based. John Quincy
Adams, when he was Secretary Of State
wrote pages devoted 10 the discussion oi
precedence In social visits. which he
spoke Of as an affair OF very little i'm.
pOrtance," but which In the tone and
length Of his letter, the serious way In
which he discussed II, he treated as &
matter Of the greatest importance. JEFF
ferson thought it Of sufficient moment tC
abolish the code established by Washing
ton and form new one along more dem
Ocratic lines, and President Mckinley
who was noted for his extreme courtesy
and punctiliOusness In his social as well