The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-30
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
The oficial Circles Governed by Rules of
Etiquette and Rules Of Every Sort.

One of the pecuiiarities Of life in Wash
ington is the existence of official rules
wkch arrange e~verybody's place.
In spite of an air of great simplicity,
the most complicated arrangements go
smoothly because every possible contin-
gency has been provided for.
This is In no place more evident than
at the White House, says the Rosary
Magazine. There Is no appearance OF
ceremonial. and yet everybody's place is 50
fixed that nobody can possibly be en-
barrassed.
At the State receptions the order of pre-
cedeRce Is regulated by the law of Presi-
Dental succession passed under Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration The President, OF
course, is first. NAfter him comes the Vice
President. After this the chief justice
ranks all officials of the United States.
The Vice-President 2 being heir ap-
parent" he precedes at social official func-
tons the ambassadors and ministers. On
New Years day the diplomatic corps IS
always received first by the President.
There is an opinion afoat that the chief
justice should rank even an ambassador,
but this does not seem to be gaining
ground, though az tim es there are not
controversies over 1t. The chief justice
and the judiciary rank cabinet officials,
but they are not expected to stand in
the line at State receptions at the White
House. This is the prerogative of the
cabinet
The newspapers sometimes give the i'm
d de9sssoa are n the AT affa tRe Of 9u the ladies' Us alsG ali
affairs OF etiquette are In american cities
generally. This is erroneous. A chief jus
tice himself, a general of the army, an
admiral of the navy, would make 1t a
matter for serious consideration were his
place taken by another.
Here the Governor of a State, by the
way, comes after a general in the army or
an admiral In the navy.
The diplomatists represent their nations,
and by courtesy they preaede in all coun-
tries. The precedence of an ambassador
or minister Is not a personal matter; he
considers the dignity of his sovereign or
his country. So careful are the diplo-
matists-the heads of embassies or lega-
quire of a hostess when they accept an in
v~itation where they are to be placed. II
there is to be a guest of honor from the
country of the ambassador or minister, he
must not have the place of honor-the
right hand of the hostess-unless he is Of
the royal family.
he took precedence of Baron Speck Won
Sternberg; but no matter now important
any visitor from Germany not of royal
meet him at dinner and take an inferior
place. The British ambassador would
rank the Duke Of Norfolk in Washington,
though in his own country he is a COM
moner, but not a royal duke.
The wives of the ambassadors and min
listers take the rank of their husbands.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. give a dinner, the am
bassador's wife should be taken in to
dinner by the most important man in
rank. The host takes in the wife of the
ambassador and the hostess the am
,bassador.
Az dinners given by d~iplomatists there
is no. record that the Vice President and
the Secretary of State have been invited
at the same time. The reason is that the
Secretary Of State is constantly in close
relations with the diplomatic corps. and a
sentiment of delicacy forbids the invita-
ton of the Secretary to a dinner where
he would be ranked by the Vice Presi-
dent, with whom the dlplomatists have
scant personal relations.
The President does not accept invita-
lions to dinners or receptions In the
houses Of the foreign diplomats. II he
many of the diplomatic houses are in
reality owned by A-mericans-set foot on
allen territory.
The rule which permits no guest to
move until the guest of honor rises Is
rigidly enforced in Washington. If there
is any rule more rigid 1t is that which
obliges everybody to rise when the Presi-
dent enters and TO remain standing while
he stands.
House are so simple and exact that there
is never g break in the comfort Of the
guests. A chart In the hands OF an add
shows where a guest is to sit, and he Is
carefully Informed by another aide whom
he is to take in to dinner. The President
occupies at the state dinners the middle
seat at one side of the table. his wife
being opposite to him; she. of course
giving the signal to rise when the dinner
Is over.
0ficiai and diplomatic etiquette max,
!, punctuaiity a common virtue in Washing
ton. At 8 o'clock. when a dinner II
announced for that hour. no guest will
be absent. At 1890 every guest will
have departed. The President takes int
dinner the ranking guest. and of COURSE
leads the way. The wife Of the Presideni
goes last In the procession with the mar
] e4snef ~ fha nronhr ofat4aI rank