The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-29

uoSc VINO are especially invited WarIp
their feet under the Presidents mahog-
any. 1t does not seem exactly civil to Off
cially invite the representative of a SOW
ereign 20 call upon the Chief Executive
OF a great republic like the United States
and not to offer him even a glass Of cold
water. but customs come Of experience
and II has been proven unwise for public
officials to keep what is known as open
house on holidays
1t is no longer good form to shake
hands with the President and those who
assist HIM in receiving. The ordeal OF
Misunderstanding has proved too much for
more than one Presidents wife. and even
the Presidents shrink from this test OF
physical strength. and il has been finally
abandoned. although President Roosevelt
insists on giving a hearty hand grasp To
his callers but Mrs Roosevelt Is content
TO take refuge behind the bouquet which
Mrs. Mckinley. who prOfited by Mrs
Clevelands unhappy experience. made
popular There was a great hue and cry
when the Presidents wife quit shaking
hands In good democratic style but those
who remember the actual suffering some
of the women in the White House have
endured from a mistaken sense OF duty
comprehend and excuse the stand that
the wives of Presidents have been forced
10 take in regard to Misunderstanding.
The Arbiter has received n number of
communications asking If it is proper for
women TO make visits on New Years Day.
The subject was mentioned in last weeks
column. It is in the worst OF form for
women to call on New Years Day. the
only exception to this rule is the women
OF the diplomatic corps who invariably
attend the reception at the White House
1t is not customary for the wives of Off
Gals 70 accompany their husbands 10 the
Cabinet houses, indeed for women it is
distinctly an lat home day whether
they formally receive or not.
]. Question-Can sou tell me the reception DAYS
observed by the wives Of the different officials.
and whether It is incumbent ON me- the wife Of a
minor Official. 20 call upon them,
Answer-Tbe wives Of the judges of the
Supreme Court receive on Mondays. the
wives Of the members Of Congress on
Tuesdays, the women of the Cabinet re-
ceive on Wednesday. the women In the
Senatorial circle on Thursday; Friday is
reserved for the residents Of the District
Saturday was formerly set aside for the
White House, but since no regular re-
ception day has been maintained there
propriated by those to whom 1t is con-
venient 1t is not incumbent on YOU 10
call on your husbands chief, unless you
elect 20 do SO.
@ Question: am a widow without a living rpa-
tive in the world. and shortly % be- married
how should the announcement he msdei
Answer-The correct form would be:
Mrs. Emile Smith and Mr.. James Jones
s.rtr sNes.rv.
Saturday. November Is" At home cards
should be inclosed il it is purposed TO re- /
ceive on stated days after the wedding
g. Question-You are such an amiahle person that
! am appealing 20 you 10 know II my mother has
any right 10 scold me in the most shocking way ~
cause | was kissed under the mistletoe. which she
hung m sIndry places with her own handsl What
did she hang IL up for the invitation il extended
was to be ignored: VEN truly yours
ONE WHO WAS KISSED
Answer-You ask difficult question.
and I fear YOU are prone TO take things
too seriously. The mistletoe is only a
joke 70 create merriment at Christmas
No one ever takes the little parasite.
which is hung about for ornament and
diversion. and 10 furnish topic for con-
versation, seriously. II YOU were kissed.
as YOU are wiling to confess. on such a
slender excuse, your mother has every
right to be angry and to scold you in the
most shocking way"
T. QuestOn-It is the old question Of the woman
in office. my chief has seen III 20 make me con
spicuOus by his attitude What shall I 90 about
IT. II I turn him down he viii make IL I'M /
comfortable FOR me. and II / accept his atteu-
tions viii surely be talked about IL Is impossible
70 adopt a middle course Please lend me Jour Wis
DOM should | say. IN conclusion. that the man In
afaF5
am, gratefully yours that dowu-trodden worm
A GOVERNMENT CLERK.
Answer-Yours is indeed. a difficult
question to answer. One can moralize a /
week or two on the situation. but il is
almost impossible 10 suggest a remedy. /
It Is clear that you cannot afford 10 Of
fend your chief. equally clear that You
cannot accept his unwelcome attentions, /
and surely il would be a tragedy If YOU /
should lose your position. NY advice IS !
to be as mild and firm as possible. put /
the matter clearly before him. make him I
see that by paying court 10 YOU he is /
clearly doing you an injury. and try and I
awaken his chivalry.
8 Question-Nay ! beg you 20 tell me who was /
Mrs G7mdy / have been a resident Of Washington
Tor many years. some fifteen 20 be accurate ard am
more or less an cUuI2nt with its social affairs. but
until recently ! never heard Of Mrs G7lndy and 4
was somewhat embarrassed the other evening az din
ner 10 be asked by a diplomat who is now living in
Paris. bat was formerly stationed in Washington !
and IS passing through the city on his way 10 his
new post IN Mexico: DO tell me what has become
Of Mrs. Grundy. II seems 10 ne I should know
this evidently famous lady. bat don't. In fact !
her name means nothing TO me.
Answer: The original Mrs Grundy. or /
Dame GrUndy, as she is called in the /
play. is character In Morton's com
edy. Speed the Plough" which was
written in the latter part Of the eigh-
tenth century. In this drama Dame /
Grundy by the way. never appears on /
the stage, is constantly alluded to by /
her rival. Dame Ashfield. in the phrase.
I wonder what Mrs. Grmdy would say?"
so that the name Of Mrs Grundy has
become the standard for conventional /
propriety wherever the English language |
IS printed MortOn's comedy. however.
means little TO Washingtonians, many Of /
whom have never heard Of it. but the
names Of Mrs and Miss Grundy is for
ever associated with Mrs and Miss
Sneed. for many years the social chron-
iclers Of the capital. who left behind
them nothing but pleasant recollections.
They came Of a distinguished Southern
family impoverished by the war. and.
when forced to work for bread and but
ter, took up newspaper work Their con
nections put them i'm touch with the
smart set and II was only natural thai
they should have become the scribes of
society. The work they undertook was
well and conscientioUsly done. they never
offended against good taste. or published
anything that would not be acceptable
to the people concerned, and there were
no more popular members Of society than
Mrs. and Miss Sneed. who were best
known by their nome de plunies Of Mrs.
and Miss Grundt