The Washington herald., 1907-01-20

life Of Washington what the salons were
to Paris $50 years ago. and the giving of
this popular form Of entertainment has
become an art unTivaled at any other
capital No such gorgeous, or expensive
dinners, at least. were ever known as
those given just after the war, when the
town was filed with lobbyists who
believed, with Byron, that the royal road
10 peoples hearts was through their
throats and who constantly and sumptu-
ously entertained the politicians, whom
they later victimized. But that was the
day Of big things when a 81, l,0o0 bin was a
small affair. The country is richer now.
to be sure, but money is treated with
more respect. and the reckless expendi-
! ture Of after the war days is unknown.
There is less ostentatiost. 3..9re elegance.
and much more refinement at ti9iz time
than at that hysterical period, and din
ner-g giving has become more general since
simplicity became good form, but dinners
are still, as they always have been and
always will be, an open sesame TO the
hearts and influence Of those in power.
ton are the four official feasts at the
White House. given every season, in
honor Of the diplomatic corps, the Cabi-
net the judiciary, and Congress. In
happily, there is little variety in these
formal affairs. and one who has been q
/ frequent guest becomes used TO the
/ decorations. the china. the menus, and
the obligation of inviting people in the
same official grade often makes the af-
fair dreary one But no matter how
dreary, the dinners at the White House
are not to be compared with the dinners
at foreign courts where official etiquette
( separates the host from his guest and
makes what should be a pleasant social
function a most lugubrious affair. A
former ambassador. asked what was the
most difficult duty he had to perform
when he was stationed at a certain capi-
I tai. replied that il was the attendance at
state dinners. where he declared he re-
ceived neither spiritual nor physical pabu-
| ium. 1t is a case at these banquets Of
water, water everywhere, and not a
/ drop to drink" for, while the bill Of fare
/ is long and elaborate, the service is quick,
and one no sooner serves himself than
/ his plate is jerked away because the
royal parsonage presiding has finished
and since one must take HIS cue from
( the king or queen with whom he is din
/ ing, there IS little conversation attempted.
/ Under President Roosevelts regime the
/ dinners at the White House have become
more what President Arthur-that prince
Of entertainers and king Of hosts-made
I Mountaineering and entertaining. The
I President happily. scorns none Of the
/ good things Of life. and likes a fine dinner
as well as he does a jaUnt across country
( or a performance Of grand opera. while
/ Mrs. Roosevelt, distinctly feminine and
domestic, takes much more interest in
the affairs Of the Executive household
I than did any Of her predecessors. with
+ the result that all the entertainments AT
the White House have a personal note
that is too often lacking IN official affairs
/ Next In Importance 10 the dinners al
( the White House are those given by the
members OF the Cabinet in honor Of the
/ President and his wife, who restrict theh
/ acceptance Of dinner invitations TO this
7 circle very wisely, for it would be practi-
1 cally impossible TO draw the line among
/ the countless numbers who invite the
/ President 10 be their guest. Besides the
/ four official dinners given at the White
/ House innumerable private affairs, OF
/ semi-private would be a better term, &.
! it Is doubtful If the President ever gives
/ anything living IN the glass house that
] Ia
/ dinners are real occasions for pleasure
/ The menu is not TO be criticised. and the
/ conversation meets the requirements oi
/ the most eXactnE Of "PrecieUses-"
/ It will be seen from these few notes
( that it behooves those prominent in politi-
cal and official circles at this capital tC
, learn the science Of dinner giving, foI
more good is projected, more mischief
brewed, more questions finally settled al
I dinner than az the Cabinet table or tht
/ committee rooms Of the Senate anC
I House. Presidents have been made
treaties arranged, great political problems
+ Strengthened out with the feet Of thosC
( interested under the mahogany than IL
any other way. But dinner-giving is g
deep art, and while the arbter can give
]
/ spondents covering this subject. he can
not insure the success of those who have
neither tact nor talent IN this direction.
One must give attention to the number
and character Of his guests. The rule
that there should be at table mo NOR,
than the Muses. does not obtain in Wash.
ington, where large dinners. especially II
official circles are in order. and fifty
/ guests at time is not unusual, but Their,
should never be any crowding, for there
is nothing in worse taste than cramminl
people together in the name Of hospitality
! Invitations for a formal dinner should b,
sent from two to three weeks before tn,
date set for the dinner. and should read
Mrs smith
I requests the pleasure q the company
Of Mr. and Mrs. Jones al dinner,
Wednesday, February the eighteenth. at eigh
O'Clock.
Ill Belmont Lane.
Such a formal invitation -hould b,
answered within an hour. if possibis
after it is received, and If it require.
more than twenty-four hours 70 determine
whether it can be accepted. it should b,
promptly declined, rs It is necessary fol
a hostess to fill her list as speedily a:
/ possible. But no matter what the cir
/ cumstances are. an invitation should
I always be answered. There was a great
commotion in the household of a new
member Of Congress not many moons ago
/ when a telephone message was received
from the White House asking if he anC
his wife were coming to dine that even
ing. They were on the list of guests. il
seems but no answer had been received
TO this invitation. but, if they had NJ
other engagement, the President would
oe happy to see them, as, anticipating
some response, their places had been kept
/ open until the last possible moment TX
postuIated with her by her husband fOl
! -