Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-18
QUESTIONS OF CEREMONIAL.
is Educational in the
Sense That it Softens Manners.
New York. July

There is much talk about the decay
of manners. Our young folk are
brusque. They treat dignitaries and
older persons with what seems to be
great irrevereIce. The boys keep their
hats on when their mats should be off.
The girls Gro IS their legs in street cars
and in drawing rooms. Men are quite
willing to give up their seats in public
vehicles to the women, but the courtesy
of the past no longer exists. There is
4 free and cay manner about every
thing that makes life by no means so
agreeable as it was in the golden age
the golden age always meaning
when you and l were young!
In Washington one finds, as rule.
very good manners. 1t Is probably
true that the boys have better manners
than the girls-aS they seem to have
almost everywhere. The value of team
work in athletics is helping the boy to
know his place: but the average young
girl has learned to believe that her
place is on top-where she sits. there
IS the head of the table. Sometimes
she takes the highest seat and has to
go down. ami this is an unpleasant
thing to be obliged to do.
One of the peculiarities of life In
Washington il the actual existence of
official rules which arrange everybody $
place. And the existence and ac-
acknowledgement Of these rules influence
circles which are not in any sense
official. This is probably the reason
why manners are less uneven and
social intercourse less embarrassing.
than in any other part of the Union.
The influence Of the diplomatic corps
has doubtless something to do with
this result. In Washington, in spite
of an air of great simplicity. the most
complicated arrangements go smoothly
because every possible contingency has
been provided for. This is in no place
more evident than at the White House.
There Is no appearance of ceremonial
And yet everybody's place is so fixed
that nobody can possibly be en-
barrassed. And one of the aims of
social ceremonial is that nobody shall
be embarras ed
In official life the rules are rigidly
fixed. At the State receptions the
order of precedence is regulated by the
law of Presidential succession passed
under Mr.. Cleveland's administration
The president of course, is first. After
him comes the vice president. After
this. the chief justice ranks all officials
of the United States. The vice presi-
dent, being heir apparent" he pre-
cedes at social official functions the
Ambassadors and Ministers. And on
New Years Day the diplomatic corps
is always received first by the presi-
dent. There is an opinion afloat that
the chief jutice should rank even an
Ambassador. But this does not seem
to be gaining ground, though at times
there are hot controversies over it.
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
impression that all these questions of
precedence are the affair of the ladies',
as all matters of etiquette are In
American cities generally. This is
erroneous. A chief justice himself, q